Ethnic Centers in Jax

[Captain Zissou]

For the past few months, I have lived in the Deerwood/ Southside & Baymeadows intersection area and I have noticed a disproportionate amount of Indian people and businesses.  There are a large number of Indian, Thai, and eastern restaurants, shops, and grocery stores. 
I was wondering; does Jax have any other centers with high concentrations of people groups or businesses that cater towards them?  I know we don't have any Chinatown or Little Italy, but anything on a smaller scale??

[thekillingwax]

Not that I'm really aware of. There are a ton of filipino nurses that I work with and 95% of them live near or in Orange Park but it's not because of any cultural pull, the houses were just a lot cheaper out there at the time.

You're right about the bay meadows thing though. I don't know how true it is but someone was telling me that a lot of them are there because of rented condos/houses in the area that are paid for by the companies they work for. When I tried out one of the buffet places, the people at the table across from me were asking the waiter about the sudden explosion of indian businesses there and the waiter said something about a lot of folks are here for engineering contracts.

[thelakelander]

That's cool.  Lord knows this city could benefit from more cultural diversity.  I hope the trend continues.

[Ocklawaha]

University South, at Powers, back toward Kings Road, East of St. Augustine. Soy americano, por favor hable Inglés. Little Mexi-Colom-Hon-Rico.

OCKLAWAHA

[riverside planner]

Englewood area.  When I was growing up, it had a large asian population.  These days it is the Eastern European epicenter of Jacksonville.  My dad still lives over there and he has quite a few Bosnian neighbors.

[danno]

Lots of Eastern Europeans Bowden Rd/Spring Park.  The Schnizel Haus has closed.  Looks like the Doner House is opening soon.

[Dog Walker]

Springfield used to be the center of the Jewish population in Jacksonville, but that was many years ago.

I think that Jacksonville, like most Southern cities but New Orleans, had immigrants come in so recently that there wasn't the development of the Little "Whatevers" that the Northern cities had.  It might also be that Southern cities were so racially segregated that any new immigrants were considered white and lived wherever.

So far I have counted over a dozen languages spoken in Riverside.

[sandyshoes]

I remember reading in the T-U that Middleburg has a very large filipino population and they built their own cultural center (like the Ramallah clubs you see around Jax). There was a write-up several years ago about some festival that was coming up.  Most
of the Jewish population is in San Jose/Mandarin d/t proximity of the synagogues and grocery stores carrying more kosher foods.  Lots of Eastern Europeans in Southside/Arlington, too.  There are some Cubans in Southside/Arlington in various places, (barber shops, bakeries/restaurants, cleaning company called The Cleaning Cubans).  Hope this helps.

[jandar]

Westside/Orange Park is a huge Filipino area. Confederate Point was also a spot for Arabics as well.

[Dog Walker]

I think you will find a good sized Filipino population in any Navy town because of the traditional connection between the U.S. Navy and the Philippines.  (Wonder why they are spelled differently?  English is a strange language!)

[GideonGlib]

There are a lot of Germans in the golf course communities in Green Cove Springs and Fleming Island, but most are only part-time winter U.S. residents, there is also a large group of Haitians in Green Cove who came over about 10-15 years ago, as well as West Indies new residents in parts of Springfield/North Jacksonville too. All of Jacksonville is fortunate to have a large and largely integrated population of Greeks and Middle Easterners who contribute tremendously to the local food scene as well as many other aspects of life from law to real estate, etc.

When I moved away for most of a decade I really missed the filipino and middle eastern food.

[sandyshoes]

With regard to the spelling, I was told it's because the country is the Philippines, and the people are (females) Filipinas and (males) Filipinos.  It is curious, isn't it?  I just know I loooooooove me some Lumpia!!! (their wonderful eggrolls)

[mtraininjax]

I find Americans in every section of Jacksonville.

[Dog Walker]

With regard to the spelling, I was told it's because the country is the Philippines, and the people are (females) Filipinas and (males) Filipinos.  It is curious, isn't it?  I just know I loooooooove me some Lumpia!!! (their wonderful eggrolls)

Now you've made me hungry!  We used to have company "potluck" lunches and the lumpia were always a favorite followed closely by moros!

Anybody know where to get good lumpia at a restaurant?  FSUjax?

[jandar]

Many "pocket" filipino stores in Argyle area. They usually server lunch. Panzit and Lumpia galore.