Bellwether Closing

[fsu813]

Ownership indicated that he could have pivoted to a different model, but didn't want to compromise his personal standards for service/quality, and didn't want to take on the additional cost to change. Think there's definitely a market for fast casual in Downtown CBD still.

[thelakelander]

Here you go!



The side-by-side is a good visual comparison of how far things have fallen over the decades due to horrific planning and implementation regarding projects themed around the buzzword of "downtown revitalization."

I do believe we've bottomed out and have turned the corner. Yet, there are challenges (primarily our own tendency to make bad decisions and investments) that have to be overcome and patience will be needed. Anything people see a rendering of, may or may not happen years down the road. So it is of great importance to keep, utilize and promote what we already have as much as possible.

[thelakelander]

Ownership indicated that he could have pivoted to a different model, but didn't want to compromise his personal standards for service/quality, and didn't want to take on the additional cost to change. Think there's definitely a market for fast casual in Downtown CBD still.

Yes, the model wasn't sustainable at that particular location. Bellwether had been struggling for years. An isolated mid-block spot on West Forsyth Street, a corridor that does not serve an important role in connecting various neighborhoods outside of the Northbank with each other? Yeah, you're going to largely be dependent on the health and occupancy rates of Northbank office space. Not knowing the lease rates or the amount of investment thrown in to build-out the space, that's risky enough on its own. Throw some extra challenge like rising food costs into the mix, and you're really in trouble. More visibility and traffic would address the problem but it will simply take some time and good fortune for that scenario to play out. Unfortunately, opening and closing around random special events likely won't keep you afloat until the day that scenario comes to fruition.

[Jones518]

Here you go!



The side-by-side is a good visual comparison of how far things have fallen over the decades due to horrific planning and implementation regarding projects themed around the buzzword of "downtown revitalization."

I do believe we've bottomed out and have turned the corner. Yet, there are challenges (primarily our own tendency to make bad decisions and investments) that have to be overcome and patience will be needed. Anything people see a rendering of, may or may not happen years down the road. So it is of great importance to keep, utilize and promote what we already have as much as possible.

I like the greenery in today's photo.

But The historic photo shows how buildings used to line the street continuously, which made the area feel much more urban and pedestrian-friendly. The building density is definitely something we need back.


Today's photo shows a lot of:
• dead open space
• parking
• scattered landscaping
• buildings spaced awkwardly apart


Aside from the landscaping, those are all vibrancy killers...

What amazes me is how significantly the stretch from Main & Orange to Main & Adams has declined. Much of that frontage along Main Street is now dead open space, surface parking, or buildings that sit awkwardly apart from one another rather than forming a continuous street presence... we even have dilapidated structures and old parking platforms (like the old Heart of Jacksonville Motel site) that have sat largely untouched for decades..... Instead we choose to tear down the Landing in the name of revitalizing downtown... sigh!! 🤦...Mayor Curry should NOT have any involvement with downtown Jax...EVER AGAIN! I hate to get political here but there were so many more things Mayor Curry could have addressed in downtown Jax instead of demolishing the Landing as a priority... it's like as a city, we rush the wrong decisions and move slow on the right decisions.


Someone get the new DIA CEO, Colin tapped into this forum please...they might learn something...***cough cough why are we demolishing the MOSH building on the south bank ?



I love these conversations!! Thank you to whoever runs this whole page.