John Valentino buys The French Pantry. Plans being made for second location

[thelakelander]

The French Pantry, a Jacksonville culinary institution, has been sold.

Tim and Barbara Felver, who have owned and operated the popular restaurant on Powers Ave. for 20 years, sold it to Jacksonville native John Valentino, who owns four — soon to be five — Mellow Mushroom pizza franchises across Jacksonville.

Valentino plans to open a second French Pantry and add dinner service. And more good news for the restaurant's customers: the Felvers will stay on.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2015-07-29/story/french-pantry-popular-jacksonville-restaurant-has

[ProjectMaximus]

Man, Valentino is fast becoming a restaurant magnate!!

[TheCat]

He is!

I really really hope they make no compromises and increase quality rather than degrade and systemize this concept.

It's one of the best places in Jacksonville and I hope that Valentino on every level chooses the higher ground for French Pantry.

Otherwise, it will become one more meaningless and lifeless chain with no special attributes.

[Captain Zissou]

It's one of the best places in Jacksonville and I hope that Valentino on every level chooses the higher ground for French Pantry.

Based on the effort he put into the Avondale MM, I'm sure he will choose quality wherever possible here too.

[dp8541]

Excited to see where location number two will be

[Ming The Merciless]

He is!

I really really hope they make no compromises and increase quality rather than degrade and systemize this concept.

It's one of the best places in Jacksonville and I hope that Valentino on every level chooses the higher ground for French Pantry.

Otherwise, it will become one more meaningless and lifeless chain with no special attributes.

So, yet again, progress happens and folks start lining up to say "gee, I like X just like it is and I'm mad that anyone would even thing about changing it."  Seriously, having seen what JV did in Avondale and seeing what is coming with Burrito Gallery in Brooklyn, give the guy some credit - he knows his business, knows his customer and is going to proceed smartly. 

As in so many things, JAX ought to be embracing ways to improve, rather than lamenting change and holding on to some idealized version of the past.

[thelakelander]

I'm excited. Bring them on down to the urban core. They'd be a wonderful addition to any neighborhood down here.

[Tacachale]

I'm excited. Bring them on down to the urban core. They'd be a wonderful addition to any neighborhood down here.

HELL yeah. This is about the best news I've heard all week.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

So, yet again, progress happens and folks start lining up to say "gee, I like X just like it is and I'm mad that anyone would even thing about changing it." 

Yeah, but....

To me, part of the 'charm' is knowing that there's going to be a hellish line to stand in while you're waiting on a seat to open.  A seat that's going to be practically in some stranger's lap, which ultimately leads into table conversation that is spontaneous and unplanned - completely out of the norm for most mid-week lunches.  Oh, and the food is pretty good as well.

If you open it up, make it more accessible and create a more 'restaurant' atmosphere, then a good part of the reason for going is gone.  I don't see him opening another location with 25 seats and family style seating on random 'from your grandma's basement' furniture.

So even if the food is just as good as it is now, the watered-down, homogeneous atmosphere will guarantee that it won't taste as good as it does now. 

Good for him.  I'm sure many will love the expansion and it will do just fine.  I'll probably go.  It just sucks that I'm not even 40 yet and already have too many of those 'do you remember when....' moments.. 

[Ming The Merciless]

NRW, I'll grant you that you can have some unexpected exchanges standing in line/sitting in close quarters and that folks can agree or not whether this is a positive or a negative.

But is standing outside in 95 degree heat for 30 minutes and the shabby-chic decor really the reason you go?  If the food was simply ordinary would you continue to drive to POWERS AVENUE and endure those conditions for a sammich? 

Of course not.  The reason you go is the food -- it is tremendous and there's no way its going to change.  JV's too smart to buy the place, then eliminate the thing that people are willing to go to such lengths to get.

If I'm wrong and the food's not your thing, let me know -- I'd be happy to pick up a chair at a yard sale, take it to the Subway of your choice and charge you a premium to sit in it (the 30 minute wait can be arranged, but it costs extra).

[acme54321]

If you open it up, make it more accessible and create a more 'restaurant' atmosphere, then a good part of the reason for going is gone.  I don't see him opening another location with 25 seats and family style seating on random 'from your grandma's basement' furniture.

So even if the food is just as good as it is now, the watered-down, homogeneous atmosphere will guarantee that it won't taste as good as it does now. 

You're right!  Standing in line out the door in the blazing sun and/or a rainstorm makes the food taste so much better!  Plus who doesn't love sitting a table with a bunch of sweaty random people?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Sure. 

Whatever.

https://www.youtube.com/v/7WRxEY8o3kc?

[fieldafm]

Pretty exciting time for Jacksonville's dining scene. More details:

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2015-07-30/story/new-era-lunch-landmark

[dp8541]

Pretty exciting time for Jacksonville's dining scene. More details:

http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2015-07-30/story/new-era-lunch-landmark

Looks like the current location will not change, and they are looking in the riverside area for location number two (which will have dinner service and a bar).  Awesome news - and a great article on the now former owners

[thelakelander]

Lovely!