100 Year Old Warehouse Downtown Restored as Special Event Venue

[stjr]

More good news for an old building downtown.  Note Mr. Sifton's comments about historic buildings highlighted in red below!  Way to go.  Hope he does well with this and inspires others.  A great idea.

New Downtown venue debuts today

09/23/2009
by Max Marbut
Staff Writer

Entrepreneur and restaurateur Paul Sifton is unveiling his latest venture today. Called “927” in reference to the building’s street address on West Forsyth Street (at Lee Street near the Osborn Center), it’s a multipurpose facility designed and furnished for special events with guest lists from 10 to 200 people.

Sifton, who is a partner in Koja Sushi at the Landing and The Galley restaurant at Beach Marine, has spent the last three years renovating the building.

Originally a feed store and warehouse when it opened 100 years ago, all the floors have been refinished, the original brick walls restored and 21st-century plumbing and electrical service was installed. For 40 years prior to Sifton taking on the building and the project, it was a restaurant equipment company’s warehouse and repair shop. Many of the fixtures in 927 were salvaged from the inventory.

“There was an unbelievable amount of stuff in this building when I bought it. We used what we could and then filled 33 dumpsters with the rest,” he said.

Sifton is licensed to provide in-house catering and beverages, or clients can make their own arrangements.

“It’s up to you. You can be as little or as much involved as you wish,” he said.

Sifton’s 927 offers 10,000 square feet of flexible party and meeting space on two floors. He has already booked several business meetings, birthday and anniversary parties and weddings. Games include billiards, table tennis and an indoor golf range. There’s also an elevated stage equipped with a baby grand piano and part of Sifton’s collection of late model and vintage motorcycles is showcased in the decor.

Sifton came to Jacksonville 20 years ago and discovered the neighborhood when he opened a document storage business in the building two blocks from 927 that’s now the home of Sally Industries. He was inspired to tackle the renovation because he loves old warehouses.

“They just don’t build them like this anymore. 927 is a very interesting old building and the renovation was a lot of fun. It would have been a shame to see it torn down,” he said.

For rental rates and other information, call Chris Brown at 655-6603 or e-mail forsythevents@hotmail.com.













From: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=529136&searchtext=sifton

[ProjectMaximus]

This place was featured in the May issue of Jacksonville magazine! Haha, in that article they wouldn't reveal the owner's name or the location for his own safety (instead giving him an alias of "Jim") but as I read this posting it just had so many similarities to the magazine article. And after examining the photos it is definitely the same place. Cool to know he's a partner at Koja Sushi and the Galley. The magazine article was intentionally ambiguous about his business ventures.

[DavidWilliams]

Don't know the history. Why so secretive?

[ProjectMaximus]

dont know. but i guess it's a moot point now

[mtraininjax]

Has anyone read the Koja Sushi Health complaints? If I owned a piece of it, I would not be bragging about it, instead, I'd fix it. 6 Critical at the location downtown and 15 at the Baymeadows location.

Cool building, but sometimes, less is more.

[nestliving]

love the Jaguar poking his head from behind the Christmas tree. very tasteful.hehe.

[Timkin]

 Being a Historic Building buff, I am delighted that he undertook the project and made it something really beautiful.  KUDOS!!!