Laveranues Coles buys Downtown building

[ben says]

Wouldn't that be something! An ex-football player who uses his money to "do good"--and doesn't blow it by 40 on restaurants and drugs.

[CityLife]

^He got a huge wake up call when he was kicked off of FSU back in 99 (deservedly after numerous run ins) and really has turned his life around since. I've heard he's a really good guy these days and have a hunch that he's eager to do good after his rough youth.

[thelakelander]

His career sure turned out better than Warrick's. You never would have imagined that around the time of the Dillard's incident.

[CityLife]

Yep...PDub's NFL career was ruined by a knee injury. The year before it he had 820 yards and 7 TD's, 150 yards rushing, and 250 punt return yards. He was never going to have an NFL career that matched his college career, but the knee injury killed what would have been a solid career.

Coles was on his 3rd strike, while Warrick had been a model student prior to the incident.

[thelakelander]

Coles is planning to open a multi-level restaurant.

Former New York Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles Jr. wants to turn the three-story East Bay Street building he recently bought into a restaurant that he calls "Levels" on his Facebook page.
Coles posted Nov. 3 that "Levels coming soon!" and describes it as an "upscale and grown venue."

The building comprises two floors and a basement.

JAA Architecture of Jacksonville is working on the project. "JAA Architecture is proud to announce that we are collaborating with Laveranues Coles, former New York Jets player, on a new restaurant in Jacksonville, FL," the company posted Sept. 27 on its jaaarchitecture.com blog.

full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=541124

[CG7]

Finally an area athlete that gets it. It sounds like a great project.

[jaxjags]

I like the idea that it will be "upscale and grown up". As an "older" Jax resident whom still wants to enjoy using downtown this will be a great addition to the scene on Bay Street.

[duvaldude08]

I love to see when current or former athletes from our city give back and want to contribute to make things better. I really hope its a hit!

[Tacachale]

This is a really cool idea.

[river4340]

John Allmand of JAA said he and Coles are in the process of bidding the contracting now. Construction should start in a few weeks with the opening around March.

The building has two floors, 5,000 square feet each, and Allmand said there will be a bar and a stage for live music on each floor.

There will be a full kitchen, but the restaurant's theme hasn't been decided, nor has the name.

But he said Coles is leaning toward calling it Levels.

http://members.jacksonville.com/business/2013-11-23/story/sunday-notebook-ex-fsu-star-coles-open-restaurant

[I-10east]

Laveranues Coles: "I heard a big wave is coming." Coles expects a full opening of the restaurant by March 1, 2014.

www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=541245

[thelakelander]

^It's pretty cool what Coles is doing. I look forward to his venue opening.

[thelakelander]

A rendering of the proposed façade changes.