What is a small business you would like to see in Riverside/Avondale?

[The Compound]

What is a small business you would like to see in Riverside/Avondale?
Im curious as to what are some ideas people might have, or something you would like to see in the area that we dont already have?

[blizz01]

I wish that someone could have saved Armor before they closed it (owner passed away).  I'd also like to see a REAL Irish pub.  Also, what's gonna go in the Preservation location?  Has anyone been to Vanilla's (cupcakes)?

[The Compound]

I wish that someone could have saved Armor before they closed it (owner passed away).  I'd also like to see a REAL Irish pub.  Also, what's gonna go in the Preservation location?  Has anyone been to Vanilla's (cupcakes)?

Yeah Armor did pretty well, I guess they tried to sell it, but nothing happened.  Has the old Preservation location been bought yet?  Its definately a pricey spot, but very nice.

[adamh0903]

How do you think an Ace Hardware would do in that area? Do you think there is a market for Neighborhood DIY store.

[The Compound]

How do you think an Ace Hardware would do in that area? Do you think there is a market for Neighborhood DIY store.

Lowes and Home Depot arent far. Im sure if it was close enough people would definately go, but not sure how close you could get with a somewhat larger store like that.  Actually the old Fans and Stoves space in 5points is for Sale/Lease.

[reednavy]

The owner of Armor passed away in a grand way, well tragic grandness. He died by taking too many drugs in an Orlando hotel room and shot himself in the head. He was a drug adict to the core, and he chased his partner off basically, leaving no one to turn Armor over to when he died. Hence, the reason why they are closed, no new owner, so they had no choice. What a tragically grand exit from life, I know many details from a good friend about this. I was not really shocked to be quite honest, sad either way. You lose a life, and a great store at the same time. It will fill up quickly I'm sure with another fine tenant.

[TREE4309]

I'd like to see a true British or Irish pub as well.  Also, a good small/medium sized music venue (sorry Fuel...you leave a lot to desire).  How about a cool indie record store (do they even exist anymore?) or a funky used furniture/home decor store or a retro shoe store or a music instrument shop or a liquor store that had a ton of imported beers (sorry European street...I prefer my bottled beer cold and not so dusty and overpriced).

[fpj]

I'd like to see a true British or Irish pub as well.  Also, a good small/medium sized music venue (sorry Fuel...you leave a lot to desire).  How about a cool indie record store (do they even exist anymore?) or a funky used furniture/home decor store or a retro shoe store or a music instrument shop or a liquor store that had a ton of imported beers (sorry European street...I prefer my bottled beer cold and not so dusty and overpriced).

A place called The Underground is opening sometime next month in the now closed bookstore on Beach Blvd that sounds like what you are after.  Other than that, jump into the way back machine and return to Five Points about 15 years ago

-fpj

[David]

I'd like to see a true British or Irish pub as well.  Also, a good small/medium sized music venue (sorry Fuel...you leave a lot to desire).  How about a cool indie record store (do they even exist anymore?) or a funky used furniture/home decor store or a retro shoe store or a music instrument shop or a liquor store that had a ton of imported beers (sorry European street...I prefer my bottled beer cold and not so dusty and overpriced).

A place called The Underground is opening sometime next month in the now closed bookstore on Beach Blvd that sounds like what you are after.  Other than that, jump into the way back machine and return to Five Points about 15 years ago

-fpj

Very true fpj.

It just sucks that after you get back from a major city visit, they still have all of these things that jax had over a decade ago and lost such as the cd/vinyl stores, unique furniture stores and (not overpriced) clothing shops. Aside from not having a major nightlife desintation like club5, I think 5 points isn't doing so bad these days. Lots and lots of delicious food to be had in the area, a constant stream of youthful energy & it seems the overall momentum is building as well.

[tashi]

How do you think an Ace Hardware would do in that area? Do you think there is a market for Neighborhood DIY store.

I love Ace Hardware, they are the only place I could find a replacement for our very old shower curtain rod. Whenever we see one, we have to go inside to see what they have. They also have good customer service, unlike Lowes and Home Depot.

[fivepointy]

A good cooking supply store with classes. Not just the really high end stuff, but also trendy things -- sort of a mix of Sur La Table, World Market. Also should carry local, handmade tableware, pottery and such. The only place to purchase anything culinary now is Williams Sonama in the malls. The store in San Marco closed a while back, and no one stepped in to fill the void.

Regular scheduled one-day Cooking classes with an emphasis on ethnic cooking would be really popular. Only place to get cooking classes now in Jax is the Publix Aprons program over in Mandarin. They fill up months in advance. Also classes specific to our historic homes/kitchens (Gourment cooking on a hot plate while waiting for your kitchen to be renovated?)

Due to the proximity of the hospitals, classes in diabetic and heart healthy cooking would be well received, and fill a real need. Right now, patients/families are just handed diet plans, and go out with no idea how to make really good food that someone wants to eat.

Oh yea--baking classes too. Hearth pizza, rustic breads. The store would need a teaching kitchen and a good hearth oven too. Renovating some restaurant (The empty Preservation Chophouse?) would be great. Could even have a small gourmet deli incorporated into the store (use the bookstore coffeehouse model).

Wow--I'm so excited just writing this I might have to get this going myself!

Sorry to ramble on...

[jaxlore]

"How about a cool indie record store (do they even exist anymore?)"

I wish, alas all people do is hang out these places anymore no one really buys anything except for the few hunters and collectors. There are very few places to hang and just shoot the $#!+ about music anymore. Hence the three or four that have tried and gone under in the last 3 years.

How about a good Indian restaurant. We really need a Vegetarian\Vegan Restaurant as well.

[stephElf]

"How about a cool indie record store (do they even exist anymore?)"

I wish, alas all people do is hang out these places anymore no one really buys anything except for the few hunters and collectors. There are very few places to hang and just shoot the $#!+ about music anymore. Hence the three or four that have tried and gone under in the last 3 years.

How about a good Indian restaurant. We really need a Vegetarian\Vegan Restaurant as well.

I agree ... a good Vegetarian restaurant would be cool.  Are there any in Jax at all? I'd like to try one

[TREE4309]

Having a good veggie selection at any kind of restaurant is definitely important these days as "vegetarianism" is probably as popular as ever, but do you honestly see an all-veggie restaurant being successful in Jacksonville?  I don't, but that's just my opinion.  It seems like it would immediately be assumed to be a "hippie" restaurant and would turn off a huge portion of the potential clientele that want their meat.

[iluvolives]

There was a vegetarian place for several years in 5 points- it was called Heartworks. I'm not sure when it closed but it's old location is now the location of the new English Pub on Lomax.