Metro Jacksonville

Thought this would be a good time to talk about the once vibrant Downtown nightlife scene.
I can remember only a few from when I was much younger.
Perhaps Stephen or others can chime in with names and better memories than mine.

Here's some from the 70's

1) Howard's Bar: @ Main & Bay I believe. Tough reputation & topless to boot if you can believe that in this day & age.

2) O P's (think that is correct) was a notoriously wild gay bar on or near Main St (or nearby I believe).

3) Old Orleans: that is the name of the restaurant I worked at the renewed Hotel Robert Meyer (Holiday Inn City Center). The nightclub below the restaurant in that hotel was top notch & very swank. This was very early 1980.

4) Someplace Else: on the Southbank was the number one singles bar in the early 70's.

That's it from my limited memory, lol!

(Later I want to do one for the beach bars as most are long gone now.)

This is fun to learn about our history and to show that we did, at one time, have a very rich and popular nightlife segment in Downtown Jacksonville.

Please feel free to add to the list!

Any good information or pictures from the old revolving restaurant at the Universal Marion Building?

I can't speak for anything much before, but many other metrojaxons will attest that the great downtown venue of the 90s was the Milk Bar. For those of us too young to remember it, it was open I think from 1990. In the late 90s it merged with the Paradome on 618 W Forsyth in LaVilla and they called it "the Milk Bar at Paradome". They later changed the name to just 618. It was great as a teenager because it was all ages and my mom would let me go ;) After it closed it became a hip hop club called Kartouche, which has since also closed. The original location on Adams is now De Real Ting Cafe.

The best venue of the early 2000s was Rock and Roll Pizza. Good pizza, good (and cheap) beer, and awesome shows. It was originally called the Imperial. It closed in 2004; Cafe 331 is in that building now.

London Bridge on Ocean and Adams was also a great bar for many years when it opened. It eventually fell off and then closed; Fortunately Burro Bar has opened in that space.

That's all I got for now.

Void Magazine has a small piece on the music venues of the last two decades(I saw some of Stephen's pictures in there)

Crawdaddys, Crab Pot, Milk Bar, Einsteins, Pappa Joes and The Edge will all hold very fond places in my heart.

I remember when the only time you wanted to go to the beach was to buy drugs(not that I bought them)... but the beach was really run down in the 80's and even into the early 90's, nothing like it is today

QuoteAny good information or pictures from the old revolving restaurant at the Universal Marion Building?

Embers
It would rotate once around 360 degrees in about the time it took to eat lunch.  It's view was far better than the food.  Honestly, Skyline Cafe blows away Ember in the fact that you can eat lunch very cheaply with a better view... and rent out the place for private parties very inexpensively.  Embers was overpriced.

Quote from: Tacachale on July 05, 2011, 11:52:05 AM
I can't speak for anything much before, but many other metrojaxons will attest that the great downtown venue of the 90s was the Milk Bar. For those of us too young to remember it, it was open I think from 1990. In the late 90s it merged with the Paradome on 618 W Forsyth in LaVilla and they called it "the Milk Bar at Paradome". They later changed the name to just 618. It was great as a teenager because it was all ages and my mom would let me go ;) After it closed it became a hip hop club called Kartouche, which has since also closed. The original location on Adams is now De Real Ting Cafe.

The best venue of the early 2000s was Rock and Roll Pizza. Good pizza, good (and cheap) beer, and awesome shows. It was originally called the Imperial. It closed in 2004; Cafe 331 is in that building now.

London Bridge on Ocean and Adams was also a great bar for many years when it opened. It eventually fell off and then closed; Fortunately Burro Bar has opened in that space.

That's all I got for now.

Amen, Tacachale.  I remember when I first turned 18 and 'graduated' from Einstein-a-Go-Go and went to the Milk Bar for the first time.  I am glad that I had the Milk Bar when I turned 21 and got to purchase my first legal hooch. 

I am thinking, though, that marksjax is looking for memories of downtown Jacksonville's nightlife way back in the day when places like Bali Hai and the Rainbow Room were still around, right?

The Milk Bar being 20 years ago certainly puts is in this category.
But even then we had already lost that spark (although the Milk Bar was the best example of being a start of a potential comeback) Downtown. By then the one's I had mentioned were long gone.

I was also wanting to go back to try and understand what happened. Why did the nightlife dry up, (no pun intended).

Was it the loss of retail and the regency mall? No more peeps staying in the downtown hotels? 
Perhaps there is something to be gained in finding out what happened and use that info to help us regain the momentum of what was evidently a rich and vibrant core in the 40's  and at least up to the early 80's.

I do remember the Old Orleans having difficulty getting residents to come down and dine there. This was a very nice dining room with full french table service, salads made at the table, chateaubriand, flambe bananas foster, etc.

So, perhaps it is the same today: the residents don't support (in great enough numbers) to make it successful. Is that harsh?

Jaxson: The Rainbow Room and Bali Hai? Any info on those would be appreciated.
 

It's the same thing that happened to downtown in general during the period. The people left, the employers left, the retail left, the life left.

This happened to virtually every downtown in the country; the real question is, why have we made so little progress in revitalizing Downtown Jacksonville when other cities have succeeded?

The Bali Hai was in the Hotel Robert Meyer:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-dec-remembering-the-hotel-robert-meyer (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-dec-remembering-the-hotel-robert-meyer)

I remember in the early 2000's that the spot that used to be Sinclair's was the Voodoo Lounge. It was VERY small and cramped but for some reason I enjoyed it. I remember that there always would be a line of people waiting to go inside.

As far as downtown nightlife goes, did the Beaches and 'mega-clubs' kill Downtown as a nightlife destination?

The Rainbow Room was apparently in the George Washington Hotel:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_George_Washington_%28Jacksonville,_Florida%29 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_George_Washington_%28Jacksonville,_Florida%29)

The Ambassador Hotel had a popular bar below street level.  I know a little about these places on Julia St. because my Dad worked at the Federal Reserve Bank which is now the Fire Rescue Headquarters building.  I remember Howard's being called Howard's G-String Lounge and also a place called the Comic Book Club.

Wasn't Leopard Lounge Downtown as well. Back in the early 2000's??

Quote from: stephendare on July 05, 2011, 04:18:23 PM
Here are a few of my favorites.

1.  Metropolis.   This was on Monroe Street in between Main and Laura.  The owners had been former bartenders at Docksides in orteg/avondale and the opened up this very cool place with Neil Levitsky.  They ended up leaving the building and opening the Milk Bar.  Neil then went on to become one of the founding partners of the original Club Five, and afterwards opened up Starlite Cafe, which is now Birdie's in five points.

2.  MotoLounge.  I absolutely loved this place.  Owned by Lisa Leuthold, it was hipster swing heaven.  On Adams Street just a little further up from the Milk Bar.

3.  The French Quarter.  This was a black draq queen bar on Main Street.  Screaming Drag Queens, over the top fabulosity and campy nonsense on three floors of gay mayhem.  It was naturally demolished.

And lets not form The Ambassador. Im older friend always tell me about it.

Quote from: stephendare on July 05, 2011, 04:18:23 PM
3.  The French Quarter.  This was a black draq queen bar on Main Street.  Screaming Drag Queens, over the top fabulosity and campy nonsense on three floors of gay mayhem.  It was naturally demolished.

Yess Stephen. I heard French Quarters was quite a hoot.

Quote from: urbanlibertarian on July 05, 2011, 04:03:04 PM
The Ambassador Hotel had a popular bar below street level.  I know a little about these places on Julia St. because my Dad worked at the Federal Reserve Bank which is now the Fire Rescue Headquarters building.  I remember Howard's being called Howard's G-String Lounge and also a place called the Comic Book Club.

Oh yes Howard's G-string Lounge! That was the name!
And I forgot about the Comic Book Club. Not sure where that one was.
Thanks for these names!

Quote from: comncense on July 05, 2011, 03:40:11 PM
I remember in the early 2000's that the spot that used to be Sinclair's was the Voodoo Lounge. It was VERY small and cramped but for some reason I enjoyed it. I remember that there always would be a line of people waiting to go inside.

As far as downtown nightlife goes, did the Beaches and 'mega-clubs' kill Downtown as a nightlife destination?

I don't think the Beaches killed downtown nightlife. Nightlife there was seriously declining through much of the same timeframe downtown was declining. This was before my time, but my understanding is the deterioration of the Jax Beach boardwalk and amusement park area was the big factor there. It wasn't until the 1990s that Jax Beach was really revitalized, and that took the effort of both the Jax Beach and Jax governments to turn it around. Other than Mayport Road, which has always been a popular navy spot, Atlantic and Neptune Beach weren't a real hotspot until they completed the Town Center (the Beaches Town Center, that is) in 2000.

There were always great places throughout the Beaches, but it wasn't anything like it is now.

Quote from: Tacachale on July 05, 2011, 04:28:02 PM

Quote from: comncense on July 05, 2011, 03:40:11 PM
I remember in the early 2000's that the spot that used to be Sinclair's was the Voodoo Lounge. It was VERY small and cramped but for some reason I enjoyed it. I remember that there always would be a line of people waiting to go inside.

As far as downtown nightlife goes, did the Beaches and 'mega-clubs' kill Downtown as a nightlife destination?

I don't think the Beaches killed downtown nightlife. Nightlife there was seriously declining through much of the same timeframe downtown was declining. This was before my time, but my understanding is the deterioration of the Jax Beach boardwalk and amusement park area was the big factor there. It wasn't until the 1990s that Jax Beach was really revitalized, and that took the effort of both the Jax Beach and Jax governments to turn it around. Other than Mayport Road, which has always been a popular navy spot, Atlantic and Neptune Beach weren't a real hotspot until they completed the Town Center (the Beaches Town Center, that is) in 2000.

There were always great places throughout the Beaches, but it wasn't anything like it is now.

The Beaches are their own nightlife entity for two reasons.  First is because many folks on the other side of the Intracoastal would rather drink rat poison than trek into town.  They are much more comfortable with their scene at the Lemon Bar, Ragtime, the Ritz or whatever.  Secondly, I do not see the Beaches really rolling out the red carpet to the townies.  This is evidenced whenever the Beaches get upset about the changing clientele a their bars, whenever the Beaches try to change their laws to keep out the 'wrong element' and whenever townies complain that they are being disproportionately targeted for DUIs when they cross the 'ditch.'

I know it seems downtown's comeback hasn't happened, but from a nightlife perspective I dont recall us ever having as many options as we do now. Between the Landing, BG, Lit, Poppy Love Smoke, Burro, Dos Gatos & the Bay St bars it seems that our venue count is above a dozen for the first time in recent memory.

As far as the venues being as unique as they were in the past, I can't quite agree with that. It's been hard to match the vibe at the old Milk Bar, Moto Longe or even old wave night at 618/DV8/Milkdome

Those venues each probably drew larger crowds than the 2 or 3 of the current ones put together.

All I know is i have some video footage of my friends and I driving around in 2000 & 2001 on a weekend night downtown and aside from 618, all of the streets were deserted. At least now you get a little foot traffic between Forsyth Ocean and Bay. 

Quote from: Jaxson on July 05, 2011, 04:53:13 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on July 05, 2011, 04:28:02 PM

Quote from: comncense on July 05, 2011, 03:40:11 PM
I remember in the early 2000's that the spot that used to be Sinclair's was the Voodoo Lounge. It was VERY small and cramped but for some reason I enjoyed it. I remember that there always would be a line of people waiting to go inside.

As far as downtown nightlife goes, did the Beaches and 'mega-clubs' kill Downtown as a nightlife destination?

I don't think the Beaches killed downtown nightlife. Nightlife there was seriously declining through much of the same timeframe downtown was declining. This was before my time, but my understanding is the deterioration of the Jax Beach boardwalk and amusement park area was the big factor there. It wasn't until the 1990s that Jax Beach was really revitalized, and that took the effort of both the Jax Beach and Jax governments to turn it around. Other than Mayport Road, which has always been a popular navy spot, Atlantic and Neptune Beach weren't a real hotspot until they completed the Town Center (the Beaches Town Center, that is) in 2000.

There were always great places throughout the Beaches, but it wasn't anything like it is now.

The Beaches are their own nightlife entity for two reasons.  First is because many folks on the other side of the Intracoastal would rather drink rat poison than trek into town.  They are much more comfortable with their scene at the Lemon Bar, Ragtime, the Ritz or whatever.  Secondly, I do not see the Beaches really rolling out the red carpet to the townies.  This is evidenced whenever the Beaches get upset about the changing clientele a their bars, whenever the Beaches try to change their laws to keep out the 'wrong element' and whenever townies complain that they are being disproportionately targeted for DUIs when they cross the 'ditch.'

The beach-vs.-town thing is really overplayed. The Beaches are their own nightlife entity because there are a concentration of nightlife locations that generate a thriving scene, as well as a significant number of people living in the neighborhood to patronize them. That's the same combination with all of our sustained nightlife locations, whether it's Riverside, the Beaches, downtown St. Augustine, etc. In all of those places you have people who'd generally rather stay in the neighborhood when they go out, and why not?

Of course, when you get that, you also get some who take it too far and fall for the notion that their little corner of the world has everything that is worth having, and that going somewhere else even for a visit is abhorrent to their very being. Those people are, of course, idiots. But it doesn't mean everyone who happens to live near them should be painted with the same idiot brush.

Stephen, I knew you would not disappoint with your wealth of knowledge on this subject.
Thanks for the real story!

Quote from: comncense on July 05, 2011, 03:40:11 PM
I remember in the early 2000's that the spot that used to be Sinclair's was the Voodoo Lounge. It was VERY small and cramped but for some reason I enjoyed it. I remember that there always would be a line of people waiting to go inside.

As far as downtown nightlife goes, did the Beaches and 'mega-clubs' kill Downtown as a nightlife destination?

Yeah, I remember the Voodoo Lounge.  That was in Sinclair's?  I was thinking it was closer to where Cafe 331 is now.  I used to see Jaguars players there on Sunday nights after games - I remember seeing Marcus Stroud walk by with a cigarette in his mouth and thinking that Tom Coughlin would not approve of this!

Speaking of Cafe 331 - isn't that where Thee Imperial was?  Tony Allegretti used to have Biggie Tea's Gold Exchange - you would drop your business card in a fish bowl and they would give you free shots of Goldschlager.  I think that was the last time I had Goldschlager. 

I remember Howard's G-String, but it closed down by the time I was old enough to get in. 

Metropolis was the best.  Downtown was still fun, exciting, mysterious back then.  I liked Milk Bar and saw some good shows there, but Metropolis was the place for me. 

I missed out on Moto Lounge, although I heard about it.  Did it last long?  For some reason I never made it before they closed down.  Maybe I was newly married or something. 

This wasn't quite downtown, but I would be remiss if I didn't raise a glass to Art Bar. 

I have always thought the whole beaches residents "I don't cross the ditch" mentality to be a bit silly. I live there and I never acclimated myself to that sort of clique attitude. Kind of like the 'Salt Life' phenomenon. I just roll my eyes to those that take it so seriously.
I am reasonably sure that most everyone at the beach does indeed 'cross the ditch' more often than they will admit to their cronies. Really silly stuff, but, to each his own.

Quote from: marksjax on July 05, 2011, 05:59:48 PM
I have always thought the whole beaches residents "I don't cross the ditch" mentality to be a bit silly. I live there and I never acclimated myself to that sort of clique attitude. Kind of like the 'Salt Life' phenomenon. I just roll my eyes to those that take it so seriously.
I am reasonably sure that most everyone at the beach does indeed 'cross the ditch' more often than they will admit to their cronies. Really silly stuff, but, to each his own.

I agree 100% that it is silly for those folks at the Beaches to have an aversion to crossing the 'ditch.'  I can understand that there is a practical reason as they don't want to have to worry about getting tanked and then debate whether to get a motel room, find a friend's place to crash or risk getting a DUI.  There are others, however, who simply do not believe that there is anything in town that they need.  I know of these people because I work with them at the Beaches and they will never know the fun of brunch in Avondale, an afternoon in Five Points, an evening at downtown ArtWalk or catching a film in San Marco.  Their loss! 

Quote from: David on July 05, 2011, 05:07:56 PM
I know it seems downtown's comeback hasn't happened, but from a nightlife perspective I dont recall us ever having as many options as we do now. Between the Landing, BG, Lit, Poppy Love Smoke, Burro, Dos Gatos & the Bay St bars it seems that our venue count is above a dozen for the first time in recent memory.

As far as the venues being as unique as they were in the past, I can't quite agree with that. It's been hard to match the vibe at the old Milk Bar, Moto Longe or even old wave night at 618/DV8/Milkdome

Those venues each probably drew larger crowds than the 2 or 3 of the current ones put together.

All I know is i have some video footage of my friends and I driving around in 2000 & 2001 on a weekend night downtown and aside from 618, all of the streets were deserted. At least now you get a little foot traffic between Forsyth Ocean and Bay.

I agree! The nightlife is has returned now. Not only downtown, but also in the urban core (springfield).

In a Times-Union article by Bill Foley "Golden Age of Big Hotels Disappears" 02/22/98 he hints at a bit of the downtown bar scene after WW II.

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/022298/met_2b1foley.html (http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/022298/met_2b1foley.html)

QuoteMostly the Seminole sparked a symbiosis that was strengthened one by one by the other grand hotels: the Burbridge with its big game trophies and Babe Hardy the engaging host; the Mason with its grand movie balls; the quiet majesty of the George Washington and its Air Base Lounge; the plush and imposing Carlton, that rare skyscraper built in the middle of a block.

They changed over the years. Downtown's cafe society came to know the Seminole for its Lamplighter Lounge. The Mason became the Mayflower, its rooftop the bastion of the Cavalettes. The GW (everybody called it the GW) changed its Air Base Lounge to the Rainbow Room. The Carlton became the Roosevelt, its Emerald Room and Pub girls local legend. The Burbridge segued to the workaday Floridan.

Brack's Grill and Lounge 1949 location unknown:

(http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/spottswood/sp00157.jpg)

That is a great article and photo!
Thank you.

 Does anyone else remember the Onyx Rail Bar on Bay Street?  It was gone before I was old enough to drink legally, but was a fixture when Bay Street still catered to the seamen from the cargo ships being unloaded on our working waterfront.  I think it was next door to Bennie's Seaman's Supply.  This is going back into the 40's and 50's bar scene.

Ever wonder why Maxwell House Coffee plant is located where it is?  It was because they had their own dock and warehouse where coffee was unloaded off the ships that brought it in.

O.K. all; being that I was virtually based out of Jacksonville (shore based) during my 20 year Navy Career (1974-1994), I used to frequent downtown quite often. Aside from the quarter X-rated arcades, there were bars downtown you could frequent or hang out from time to time. The one's I remember were:

R&R Bar - Was a bar but was also a female girlie/strip joint. When I first reported for duty in Jacksonville in 1974, I spent quite a lot of time at this place being that I was a hot, lusty 18 year old male. Ironically and incidentally, the bar called "French Quarter" was right upstairs over the R&R Lounge; in fact, a lot of the men that frequented "R&R" would go upstairs and take in a drag show or two on Fridays and Saturday nights, and yes, y'all are correct, the French Quarter was "off the chain." I only visited the French Quarter with a male Friend of mine who was in the Navy and who was also bisexual. But we had a lot of fun. Spent a lot of money at the old R&R Lounge.

Night Owl - Was a block or so from the R&R, can't remember what street, but it also was a female girlie bar/strip joint. Lot of Sailors hung out at this bar/strip club also. Spent a lot of money in the Night Owl.

Howards Bar - Another Girlie/Strip Joint near the River but was more upscale, a kind of Gentleman's Strip Joint and Club catering mostly to the businessmen who worked downtown. I didn't really like this bar very much as I was very young and the men who frequented it were middle age and old, and, not very many blacks back then frequented Howard's Bar. My preference for female strip action back then (we're talking 70's here) was R&R Lounge/Bar and the Night Owl.

Old Plantation Club - Was situated right where all of the spaghetti interchanges are leading into Riverside Drive near the Newspaper Company. This Club was gay yes, but a lot of Sailors and Straight Girls (fag hags they called them back in the day) also showed up and frequented this club. We used to make a killing scoring women in this gay bar! It opened I think around 1980 or 1981 and was ran by Don (can't remember last name) who now lives near me in Bradenton, Florida. This Bar was one of the premier gay bars in Florida when it first opened and sported four mirror balls in each corner overhead of the dance floor, in addition to a premier and state of the art lighting system for its time. I didn't frequent this bar very much, but when my friends and I got drunk enough, we'd go in, hang out with the girls that we knew that frequented the bar, and also got to know some really cool gay guys and lesbians!

Flamingo Bar - This Bar was located on Main Street in the middle of the block off of Duval Street where the back of the new Public Library is today. There was a hat store next to it on the northwest corner of Main and Duval right across from the old Bafano's Restaurant (also on the corner of Main and Duval but on the southeast corner). This Bar was my Favorite place to hangout! I was liberal back in the day and had all type of friends, and everyone and anyone came into this bar. On any given day, and especially at night and on the weekends this bar was filled with Bikers, Seedy but attractive females, female prostitutes, male prostitues, hustlers of every kind both male and female, Sailors, drag queens, transvetites, and straight people who wandered in and later stayed and became a part of the family. The Bar was ran by a Jewish Man everyone called Papa, and John the Bartender (he had blonde hair and was gay), and Jeannie and Louise (who was old but didn't take no sh** off nobody)! This Bar was off the chain and the gays and drag queens, on the weekend nights would leave at around 10:00 to go to the French Quarter, and everyone else who stayed was either straight, bisexual or straight and we would just have a fuc**** good time! The tore the Flamingo down in early 1985 and it stayed empty for a decade or more until they tore it down, and the lot stayed empty until the new library was built. One more thing, there was a liquor store next to it which was a part of the Flamingo. The Liquor Store was ran by "Papa" who owned the Flamingo.

Well, this is all I can remember right now. Y'all have learned quite a lot about me, and I hope Jacksonville through some of the memories I share of various things. And yes, I was young, wild, and willing to experience anything back in those days but it was just plain fun fun fun!!!!!!!!!!! Hope y'all enjoyed my post.

"HU"

Quote from: stephendare on July 05, 2011, 04:30:33 PM
The bar at the Ambassador was called the Downtowner Lounge, and it had three decades of popularity and local fame.

I forgot about the Ambassador Lounge; thanks Stephen for reminding me. I also frequented this bar as well. And, this bar kind of had the same spirit as the old Flamingo which was torn down in 1985, and then a lot of the old Flamingo crowd hung out at the Ambassador Lounge. Again, as with the old Flamingo, Ambassador Lounge also was frequented by all different types of people...Bikers, Hustlers, Prostitutes, Drag Queens, Transvetites, Gays, and of course the normal everyday straight crowd in which some didn't really like the idea of their bar being frequented by such a rought, raunchy and roughshod crowd. But on weekend nights, this bar was aflame and on fire!

"HU"

There is a saying: If you remember the Milk Bar....you weren't there. ;)
If I remember right "Thee Imperial Lounge" was running before "Voodoo Lounge" was even though they were neighbors.
Rock & Roll Pizza came later,and it really made sense to have pizza ovens on the premises with touring acts showing up.   Didn't Lisa own both of these?

True war story: One night as sound equipment was being loaded into Thee Imperial...a mummified stray cat head made it's way into the club on a road case or some box...HIGHLY disturbing the bar tender and the sound man...it remained on a 12 foot speaker until some Goths took it.
Both Clubs actually had good acoustics and didn't need excessive Volume...you could have a conversation even with a snarling Punk band onstage.

Heights you have a fantastic memory. Excellent details! Thanks very much.

I googled R&R Liquors and stumbled on this cool site:

http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php (http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php)

From an article in the Times-Union Millennium Moments by Ann Hyman 8/24/99 about Jax in 1963:

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/082499/mom_1a2milMo.html (http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/082499/mom_1a2milMo.html)

QuoteAt Polly's Night Owl Club on Main Street, you could bring your own bottle and dance until dawn.

At the Happy Hour Lounge on Normandy Boulevard, you could sing along with Robin.

At the Hotel George Washington, Emery Evans Cavaliers played from 8:30 until . . .

We have a few postcard images of downtown restaurants and bars scattered throughout our online collection. Here are a few of 'em:

Embers interior: http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/dlc/florida/pc/PCJPG/PCJAX032-029.html
Rainbow Cocktail Lounge and Bar: http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/dlc/florida/pc/PCJPG/PCJAX032-011.html
J and M Town House (SoJax but it's a great card): http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/dlc/florida/pc/PCJPG/PCJAX032-013.html

The general page of Restaurants, bars, etc. is here: http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/dlc/florida/pc/032.html.

Raymond

HU, the restaurant on the corner of Main and Duval was Nicola's not Bufano's.  Owned and run by Nicola Buano a native of Naples, Italy who was a lawyer and banker in his native country, but who married an American woman in the military and followed her here to Jacksonville when she left him with their son.  Cooking was his hobby in Naples, but became his livelihood here.

When they tore the building down, he moved his restaurant into the space that was later occupied by 24 Miramar, but couldn't make it work there.

Nicola (Nick) was a lifelong friend and mentor and a true character.  He was a lieutenant in the Italian army during the invasion of Albania and was captured by the British in the desert of North Africa.

Quote from: Dog Walker on July 07, 2011, 02:34:44 PM
HU, the restaurant on the corner of Main and Duval was Nicola's not Bufano's.  Owned and run by Nicola Buano a native of Naples, Italy who was a lawyer and banker in his native country, but who married an American woman in the military and followed her here to Jacksonville when she left him with their son.  Cooking was his hobby in Naples, but became his livelihood here.

When they tore the building down, he moved his restaurant into the space that was later occupied by 24 Miramar, but couldn't make it work there.

Nicola (Nick) was a lifelong friend and mentor and a true character.  He was a lieutenant in the Italian army during the invasion of Albania and was captured by the British in the desert of North Africa.

Thanks for the correction Dog Walker; I do remember the sign on the building as "Bufano's." I frequented that area too many times not to remember that sign, and I even ate at that restaurant many times before going out to party. I believe you relative to Nicola owning that restaurant, but the sign said Bufano's; I even had a picture, that I lost years ago, of me and some friends in front of the Flamingo with the Bufano's sign in the background; wish I still had that pic. Anyway, thanks for the correction and the info.

"HU"

Quote from: urbanlibertarian on July 07, 2011, 10:06:10 AM
I googled R&R Liquors and stumbled on this cool site:

http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php (http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php)

I can't believe this article! Some, or most of Southern Rock was born in an Apartment/Hotel ABOVE the R&R Lounge, a lounge I frequented, and in which the old Apartment/Hotel that these stars would collaborate in, which was above the R&R Lounge, would later turn into a Gay Bar called "The French Quarter," in which I also frequented with a Bisexual Friend of mine in the mid and late 70's. Wow! You never know about things until you dig on the internet in our internet and information laced age! Thanks "Urbanlibertarian" for this article. As a Musician I really appreciate the info relative to Rock and Roll, Soul, and Rhythm and Blues groups and bands and how they collaborated, and how all these genres are reated to each other and Southern Rock was born in Jacksonville, and some or most of it born in a place that would later become a gay bar upstairs over the old R&R Lounge that I frequented as a young Sailor; all I can say is......WOW!!!!!!!

"HU"

Quote from: heights unknown on July 07, 2011, 07:41:52 PM

Quote from: Dog Walker on July 07, 2011, 02:34:44 PM
HU, the restaurant on the corner of Main and Duval was Nicola's not Bufano's.  Owned and run by Nicola Buano a native of Naples, Italy who was a lawyer and banker in his native country, but who married an American woman in the military and followed her here to Jacksonville when she left him with their son.  Cooking was his hobby in Naples, but became his livelihood here.

When they tore the building down, he moved his restaurant into the space that was later occupied by 24 Miramar, but couldn't make it work there.

Nicola (Nick) was a lifelong friend and mentor and a true character.  He was a lieutenant in the Italian army during the invasion of Albania and was captured by the British in the desert of North Africa.

Thanks for the correction Dog Walker; I do remember the sign on the building as "Bufano's." I frequented that area too many times not to remember that sign, and I even ate at that restaurant many times before going out to party. I believe you relative to Nicola owning that restaurant, but the sign said Bufano's; I even had a picture, that I lost years ago, of me and some friends in front of the Flamingo with the Bufano's sign in the background; wish I still had that pic. Anyway, thanks for the correction and the info.

"HU"

Was that restaurant still in business between 1982 - 1984?

I remember a fantastic lasagna that has never been duplicated. (better that my now deceased Italian relatives).
If it is the same place I remember it had a high, stamped tin ceiling.

Quote from: Ralph W on July 07, 2011, 08:38:28 PM

Quote from: heights unknown on July 07, 2011, 07:41:52 PM

Quote from: Dog Walker on July 07, 2011, 02:34:44 PM
HU, the restaurant on the corner of Main and Duval was Nicola's not Bufano's.  Owned and run by Nicola Buano a native of Naples, Italy who was a lawyer and banker in his native country, but who married an American woman in the military and followed her here to Jacksonville when she left him with their son.  Cooking was his hobby in Naples, but became his livelihood here.

When they tore the building down, he moved his restaurant into the space that was later occupied by 24 Miramar, but couldn't make it work there.

Nicola (Nick) was a lifelong friend and mentor and a true character.  He was a lieutenant in the Italian army during the invasion of Albania and was captured by the British in the desert of North Africa.

Thanks for the correction Dog Walker; I do remember the sign on the building as "Bufano's." I frequented that area too many times not to remember that sign, and I even ate at that restaurant many times before going out to party. I believe you relative to Nicola owning that restaurant, but the sign said Bufano's; I even had a picture, that I lost years ago, of me and some friends in front of the Flamingo with the Bufano's sign in the background; wish I still had that pic. Anyway, thanks for the correction and the info.

"HU"

Was that restaurant still in business between 1982 - 1984?

I remember a fantastic lasagna that has never been duplicated. (better that my now deceased Italian relatives).
If it is the same place I remember it had a high, stamped tin ceiling.

I think those were about the last years it was there.  The secret ingredient in the lasagna was nutmeg in the meat sauce.  Gave it a really different and rich taste.  It was really fantastic.  One of Nick's signature dishes.

You remember the ceiling correctly.

Heights that is a great article about the birth of Southern Rock right here in our city. Wish Judy Van Zant had opened Freebird Cafe in Downtown Jax now that I know where it all started.

I remember the Atlanta Rhythm Section opened for the Stones in the Gator Bowl in !975. Must have been about 70,000 there that day. For $10 you saw The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Chaka Khan with Rufus, The J Geils Band (w/Peter Wolf) and then the Rolling Stones. Quite the deal!

QuoteI remember the Atlanta Rhythm Section opened for the Stones in the Gator Bowl in !975. Must have been about 70,000 there that day. For $10 you saw The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Chaka Khan with Rufus, The J Geils Band (w/Peter Wolf) and then the Rolling Stones. Quite the deal!

I was there for that!  When the Stones played 'Honkey Tonk Woman' two gigantic inflatable women sprung up on stage left and right. 

Quote from: fieldafm on July 08, 2011, 10:40:23 AM

QuoteI remember the Atlanta Rhythm Section opened for the Stones in the Gator Bowl in !975. Must have been about 70,000 there that day. For $10 you saw The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Chaka Khan with Rufus, The J Geils Band (w/Peter Wolf) and then the Rolling Stones. Quite the deal!

I was there for that!  When the Stones played 'Honkey Tonk Woman' two gigantic inflatable women sprung up on stage left and right.

that all sounds quite terrifyïng.

glad you weren't there then  ;)

That show has a lot of history in itself. The Stones had a week off prior to the gig and spent it at the Sea Turtle in Atlantic Beach. They occupied the entire top two floors. Jagger was eating and drinking  amongst the locals without entourage or security. Many parties in the hotel no doubt. A high school friend worked room service at the hotel and he said it was a wild week. They went 24/7 non-stop. British stamina!

Quote from: marksjax on July 08, 2011, 06:58:34 PM
British stamina!

LOL, I think it also comes in 'powder' form.   ;)

LOL powder substance...
I think Keith Richards record for staying awake is 9 days in a row (yikes)!

Field, if memory serves the 1975 tour had the 60' inflatable penis that Jagger 'rode' on stage. They banned them in San Antonio for this reason. I think by Jax the penis had been eliminated from the stage show due to 'hydraulic issues' or technical difficulties  of some sort. Wild band in their prime. Still the best stage show I ever saw and I've seen a few.

I noticed someone mentioned Stacey Newton.  Because the performers of that time was pre internet, it is hard to find any mention of them.  I very much miss Stacey, Carolyn Fry, Maxine Marshall. 

from "Lynyrd Skynyrd:An Oral History" by Lee Ballinger

QuoteJudy Van Zant:

I was born in Georgia and I moved to Jacksonville in 1968.  I met Dean Kilpatrick first, he was a friend of mine and one of the roadies who was really with the band the whole time.  He introduced me to Gary [Rossington].  There were playing in a place in Jacksonville called the Comic Book Club and I worked downtown, and I went over there when I got off work and Dean introduced me to Gary and I met Ronnie a little bit later.  The Comic Book Club was a very cool, nonalcoholic club that everyone hung out at.  You could go there on any given night and someone like Gregg Allman or Duane Allman would drop in, people like that.  The Allman Brothers actually lived in Jacksonville and formed in Jacksonville.  We lived on Riverside Avenue in one house called the Green House and down the street was the Gray House where Berry Oakley and his wife, Linda, lived and Duane and his girlfriend and Gregg would come in all the time.  There was a place called the Forest Inn where everyone played; Friendship Park, there would be free concerts there, there was a lot going on, a lot of places to play.

Quote from: heights unknown on July 07, 2011, 07:54:22 PM

Quote from: urbanlibertarian on July 07, 2011, 10:06:10 AM
I googled R&R Liquors and stumbled on this cool site:

http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php (http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php)

I can't believe this article! Some, or most of Southern Rock was born in an Apartment/Hotel ABOVE the R&R Lounge, a lounge I frequented, and in which the old Apartment/Hotel that these stars would collaborate in, which was above the R&R Lounge, would later turn into a Gay Bar called "The French Quarter," in which I also frequented with a Bisexual Friend of mine in the mid and late 70's. Wow! You never know about things until you dig on the internet in our internet and information laced age! Thanks "Urbanlibertarian" for this article. As a Musician I really appreciate the info relative to Rock and Roll, Soul, and Rhythm and Blues groups and bands and how they collaborated, and how all these genres are reated to each other and Southern Rock was born in Jacksonville, and some or most of it born in a place that would later become a gay bar upstairs over the old R&R Lounge that I frequented as a young Sailor; all I can say is......WOW!!!!!!!

"HU"

I wanted to add a couple of thoughts. My Grandfather and Uncle were bartenders at the R&R in the very early 40's. And how sad that we had to demolish a building that contained an important part of the early history of Southern Rock. Also the R&R became a gay bar at the end of its life.
This is even more reason to have a Southern Rock Museum right here where it was born.
The OP was a gay bar almost in name only. Everybody went because it was two stories and a great place to dance.
Again the block where it was located had some great buildings that foolishly were demolished. The potential in that area was amazing, yet JTA razed it. I'm actually sad and also glad that many of you did and didn't get to know that part of town. Sad because it was a great experience but glad because you would be sick to your stomach if you could remember what was lost when they gutted and destroyed a great area and left it to dirt and weeds.
Downtown Jacksonville would be a completely different place if we had not destroyed so much of our history and particularly west of Broad Street.
I still get sad, driving down Forsyth Street where the Seminole Hotel used to stand. How on earth did we allow that  incredible building to be destroyed. By the way one of the Indians on the facade is in the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee. Imagine what could be done with that building now. And I still daydream about what could have been in the areas surrounding the Prime Osborne.

Quote from: marksjax on July 08, 2011, 10:12:37 AM
Heights that is a great article about the birth of Southern Rock right here in our city. Wish Judy Van Zant had opened Freebird Cafe in Downtown Jax now that I know where it all started.

I remember the Atlanta Rhythm Section opened for the Stones in the Gator Bowl in !975. Must have been about 70,000 there that day. For $10 you saw The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Chaka Khan with Rufus, The J Geils Band (w/Peter Wolf) and then the Rolling Stones. Quite the deal!

I know this is an old post but it was Labelle that opened for the Stones, not Chaka and Rufus. That was a great experience. There were so many people smoking pot at that concert I'm surprised the cops weren't  high just from the second hand smoke. LOL.

Definitely was Chaka not LaBelle. Remember her huge hair?
And it was brutally hot as referenced by this link:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Rolling-Stones-578/2009/9/f/Stones-Gator-Bowl-1975.htm

Quote from: fieldafm on July 08, 2011, 10:40:23 AM

QuoteI remember the Atlanta Rhythm Section opened for the Stones in the Gator Bowl in !975. Must have been about 70,000 there that day. For $10 you saw The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Chaka Khan with Rufus, The J Geils Band (w/Peter Wolf) and then the Rolling Stones. Quite the deal!

I was there for that!  When the Stones played 'Honkey Tonk Woman' two gigantic inflatable women sprung up on stage left and right. 

Field.... How old are you???  If you can recall a concert from 1975, then you're not as young as I imagined.

I think Field is referring to the 1989 Gator Bowl Stones show. I think that one had the inflatable "Ladies".
The Stones are now somewhat dismissed as ancient but in their day they were quite ahead of the curve.
They pretty much invented the complex and innovative staging that is now quite commonplace for rock shows.

Check out this article and realize this was being done nearly 40 years ago.

http://www.concertstagedesign.com/2011/04/rolling-stones-tour-of-americas-1975.html?m=1

Mark is right, it was the Stones show in '89. 

QuoteAfter touring England and most of the continent of Europe, I returned to Jacksonville. The Classics IV, The Bitter Ind., The Second Coming, future members of The Atlanta Rhythm Section and several other rockers like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Molly Hatchet Band were beginning to eat, sleep and drink rock 'n roll. Other bands like Blackfoot would soon follow. Southern rock was in the womb and Jacksonville was the mother.

great quote from "The Days of Love & Blood" -- I'm going to use it in the Southern Rock thread.

Quote
Later, I was in Jacksonville to discover Gregg, Duane and company were crashing above the R&R Liquor Store on Main Street. It was a funky old apartment with nothing but mattresses and music. This was the real beginnings of Southern Rock.

Where on Main Street???

Definitely miss the OP ... one of my favorite places from the past.   I presume the end came for it with the replacement of the Acosta Bridge.    A lot of fun times there.

Glad this got bumped. Great reading. Some were talking about the building that housed Voodoo and then The Sinclair, currently Secrets. Before Voodoo, who remembers Joann's Chili Bordello? I was fortunate to spend a little time in the 90's in that place. Closest places to a real "Cheers" Bar ever. Where everyone knows your name.  :)

Quote from: sheclown on January 21, 2013, 05:19:59 PM

QuoteAfter touring England and most of the continent of Europe, I returned to Jacksonville. The Classics IV, The Bitter Ind., The Second Coming, future members of The Atlanta Rhythm Section and several other rockers like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Molly Hatchet Band were beginning to eat, sleep and drink rock 'n roll. Other bands like Blackfoot would soon follow. Southern rock was in the womb and Jacksonville was the mother.

great quote from "The Days of Love & Blood" -- I'm going to use it in the Southern Rock thread.

Quote
Later, I was in Jacksonville to discover Gregg, Duane and company were crashing above the R&R Liquor Store on Main Street. It was a funky old apartment with nothing but mattresses and music. This was the real beginnings of Southern Rock.

Where on Main Street???

SE corner of Main and Ashley.  I worked there (and other night spots) 1969-71 for the Provost/Renzler Consortium.

Serious card turners frequented the Waldorf Lounge at E Forsyth and Market; and in the back of Pete's Bar at 517 W Bay between the James Hotel and Pete's Pawn.

Let's not overlook Hans Tanzler's role in screwing with Jax nightlife.  On a humorous note, in late 1971, the city council attempted to outlaw topless dancing and the response was the dancers went bottomless.  I spent a couple of weeks frequently visiting the DCJ posting their bail until the council backed off.

As for corruption, over the years the reputations of Tom Heaney and Dorcas Drake have been sanitized.....but you didn't do liquor business or gambling unless you paid someone.

Oh....as far as I'm concerned, Southern Rock didn't take off until the night Ed King ripped the opening riff of Sweet Home Alabama in the Comic Book Club.

Been a great read and y'all take care.

Quote from: stephendare on July 05, 2011, 04:18:23 PM
Here are a few of my favorites.

1.  Metropolis.   This was on Monroe Street in between Main and Laura.  The owners had been former bartenders at Docksides in orteg/avondale and the opened up this very cool place with Neil Levitsky.  They ended up leaving the building and opening the Milk Bar.  Neil then went on to become one of the founding partners of the original Club Five, and afterwards opened up Starlite Cafe, which is now Birdie's in five points.

2.  MotoLounge.  I absolutely loved this place.  Owned by Lisa Leuthold, it was hipster swing heaven.  On Adams Street just a little further up from the Milk Bar.

3.  The French Quarter.  This was a black draq queen bar on Main Street.  Screaming Drag Queens, over the top fabulosity and campy nonsense on three floors of gay mayhem.  It was naturally demolished.

Hi; I am severely old school. I lived in Jax in the 1960's, we moved away in 1967, and 7 years later I joined the Navy and my first duty station was NAS Cecil Field with an Air Squadron, Attack Squadron 15. Naturally as a Sailor, and intimately familiar with Jacksonville (as a child we lived in Lavilla in one of those 2 story rooming houses at 817 west Duval), I knew where everything was. As best I can remember, I will share what clubs were down there, at the time, that I frequented. One more thing, I was pretty liberal back then (still am), and me and a friend, who was bisexual, would crawl from bar to bar...so, here we go: 1) Howards Bar - a strip joint which was at the foot of the Main Street Bridge, kind of east; 2) R&R Lounge - A strip joint which was at the corner of church and main as I remember correctly...this was one of my favorite hangouts on the weekend, and for Sailors from the 3 Navy bases back in the day; 3) The French Quarter - yes, it was a gay bar, and yes, us Sailors would sneak in...it was right above and on top of the R&R Lounge which was a strip joint, and, there was a secret stairway from the R&R Lounge up to the French Quarter (if you knew the bartenders or the owner they would let you go upstairs to the gay bar)...kind of weird but this happened; 4) The Night Owl Lounge - A strip bar on church street one block west of main right down from the French Quarter gay bar and the R&R Lounge...this was also frequented quite often by Sailors; 5) The Flamingo Bar and Lounge - on Main street between duval and church, not far from The French Quarter, R&R Lounge, and The Night Owl Lounge...THIS PLACE WAS WILD AND OFF THE CHAIN AND I LOVED IT...all kinds of people came into the Famingo to water down before hitting the strip joints, gay clubs, and other night clubs downtown...straights, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, drag queens, everyone came to the flamingo, and, we had a super great time and NO ONE WAS PHOBIC...even Sailors in uniform came in from time to time as did Sailors like me in civilian clothes..during the day the Flamingo was traditionally straight...but around 5:00 PM or so, all of the goblins and gouls came out and into it...and it was off the chain....it closed down in 1984; 6) Old Plantation or "OP" - a disco at the foot of riverside avenue and water street where the spaghetti overpasses now are in downtown...it was the only building there before it was demolished...all kinds of people also frequented the OP; 7) The Producers - was a gay and straight friendly disco which was on the top floor of the old Mayflower Hotel where the Everbank building (formerly Southern Bell) now is...It was lovely up there as you could see the River...Monroe Midyette, now deceased, and who was the owner of several gay clubs and other bars and watering holes in Jax back in the day, was the Owner of this disco...Monroe was also the owner of the French Quarters, the gay bar which sat on the second floor on top of the R&R "strip club" Lounge on the corner of church and main; 8) Brothers Disco - was a gay club and straight friendly club where the old 3D (now a lesbian club "INKAHOOTZ" I understand) was located...Brothers was very nice and was also owned, initially, by Monroe Midyette (I might be wrong,  I think Monroe had a partner named Don); 9) There were numerous rinky dink taverns/bars that were on main street in Springfield but these were very roughshod filled with red necks, street hustlers (male), prostitutes (female), and anyone else who frequented them....these type of bars/taverns were all throughout springfield back in the day when springfield was run down, very low income, etc...these little bars and taverns had all types of races and ethnicities who frequented them as well, so though they were run or mostly frequented by rednecks, blacks, Mexicans, etc. also frequented them. This is it for now; no, I am not gay, but I am very liberal and always hung out with everyone regardless of who they were. We had fun back then and enjoyed ourselves without ipads, iphones, computers, cell phones, etc. Just saying. I'll add more as I can remember...it's been a long, long time.

Very interesting couple of posts. My question for the oldtimers is what happened to cause all of these places to close? Also, a lot sound like they were in buildings that have since been demolished. Did the demolition of these structures have something to do with a movement to "purge" the downtown area of its nightlife?

Quote from: thelakelander on August 29, 2015, 07:54:34 PM
Very interesting couple of posts. My question for the oldtimers is what happened to cause all of these places to close? Also, a lot sound like they were in buildings that have since been demolished. Did the demolition of these structures have something to do with a movement to "purge" the downtown area of its nightlife?

I believe so Lakelander; The French Quarter on the corner of church and main and the R&R Lounge, the strip joint on the first floor below the French Quarter was in a building that was demolished, and nothing else was built there; I believe that now is a surface lot. The Mayflower Hotel of course was demolished in the early 1980's to make way for the Southern Bell Building. Hence, Monroe Midyette, nightclub and disco mogul of the 70's and early 80's, had to move the old Producers Night Club, that was on top of the Mayflower, to a new spot inside of the Phillips Highway Mall. The places where most or all of these bars, disco's, and taverns or nightclubs once sit, are either now surface parking lots, and only one of them was demolished (in the building that it was in, the Mayflower), and something meaningful built in its place. I think our old guard civic leaders of the 60's and 70's meant well, and really thought that developers, investors, and others, would immediately come along and, "build it because they will come," however that never happened. None of these bars, nightclubs, etc., would ever had lasted in my opinion, but something could have been done more creatively and more meaningful to and for those buildings that once housed these bars and clubs towards the improvement, betterment, etc. of the urban core and downtown rather than demolishing them right out with no plan or vision, and the subsequent properties sitting idle, blighted, and with no use for decades.

I know its an OLD thread,but Lord ,the memories it brought up ! I remember one night at the French Quarter we were all hanging around in the parking lot after closing and a truck full of rednecks pulled up and started running their mouths and this one transvestite named " Miss TT" took umbrage at their actions,whipped this big old .38 out of her gigantic purse ,and started popping off rounds ! Those boys left half their tread peeling out of there ! Picture a little black queen in gold lame standing in the middle of the street shooting ! Hilarious ! Miss Cleo,Miss TT,Rose,Jean,Theresa Anteya Larika Lakeesh ,Bea,so many old friends long gone,so many memories of good times.
I was a little white middle class burbs baby (15 !) and those girls took me in and protected me and befriended me and never once did me a dirty turn. And the Flamingo ,my God,how many times did my underage ass roll out of there drunker than a hoot owl clinging to the arms of my latest "love" ! Soldiers,dockworkers,businessmen,lawyers,they all went there looking for a trip on the dark side ! But the OP,now there was a legendary bar and my personal favorite. Does anyone remember Dons notorious After parties when the bar closed ? More than once I rolled out of those when the dawn was breaking. Caligula would have blushed at some of the antics in those after parties!
The Downtowner (remember Little Joe,the bartender? ) was another personal favorite,and it assuredly got wide open in there after the sun went down ! Remember the copper covered tables and the wallpaper with nudes ? I used to laugh so hard in there my stomach would hurt the next day. Some batshit crazy yet hilariously funny people ! I think a lot of those places closed because of the landing and the southbank opened up.I had some lovely times in River Rally,Harbormasters,Fat Tuesdays (Oooo,Triple Bypass,yum!) ,but they sure didn't beat the seedy ,seductive bars of my misspent youth.

Quote from: johncb on August 30, 2015, 02:53:17 AM
I know its an OLD thread,but Lord ,the memories it brought up ! I remember one night at the French Quarter we were all hanging around in the parking lot after closing and a truck full of rednecks pulled up and started running their mouths and this one transvestite named " Miss TT" took umbrage at their actions,whipped this big old .38 out of her gigantic purse ,and started popping off rounds ! Those boys left half their tread peeling out of there ! Picture a little black queen in gold lame standing in the middle of the street shooting ! Hilarious ! Miss Cleo,Miss TT,Rose,Jean,Theresa Anteya Larika Lakeesh ,Bea,so many old friends long gone,so many memories of good times.
I was a little white middle class burbs baby (15 !) and those girls took me in and protected me and befriended me and never once did me a dirty turn. And the Flamingo ,my God,how many times did my underage ass roll out of there drunker than a hoot owl clinging to the arms of my latest "love" ! Soldiers,dockworkers,businessmen,lawyers,they all went there looking for a trip on the dark side ! But the OP,now there was a legendary bar and my personal favorite. Does anyone remember Dons notorious After parties when the bar closed ? More than once I rolled out of those when the dawn was breaking. Caligula would have blushed at some of the antics in those after parties!
The Downtowner (remember Little Joe,the bartender? ) was another personal favorite,and it assuredly got wide open in there after the sun went down ! Remember the copper covered tables and the wallpaper with nudes ? I used to laugh so hard in there my stomach would hurt the next day. Some batshit crazy yet hilariously funny people ! I think a lot of those places closed because of the landing and the southbank opened up.I had some lovely times in River Rally,Harbormasters,Fat Tuesdays (Oooo,Triple Bypass,yum!) ,but they sure didn't beat the seedy ,seductive bars of my misspent youth.

JCB...wow, I tell you, I wasn't gay, maybe curious or quasi bisexual, but I (and we) had a ball back then. One reason I am replying; I run a private social service agency in Sarasota and Manatee Counties Florida. About 7 years ago, a kid, then 29, came to me for help; his name is Brendon (he is now 37), and after doing an intake on him, he told me he was from Jacksonville, and after further conversation, he told me that he was living with his roommate and close friend; I casually asked, being that he was from Jax, what his friends name was; he said DON STRICKLAND; I remembered a Don Strickland from back in the day who owned the old OP, and later the 3D; and they live here in our area in Bradenton. Brendon still calls and visits me from time to time and keeps in touch; it's a small, small world!

So...at no point during what was obviously a 20-year wave of destruction that took Jax from an actual city (read stories above) to a bunch of empty parking lots, did anybody say, hey, wait a minute, this isn't working, let's stop before all we have left is parking lots? It's sad reading this, and knowing what it looks like now.

Quote from: heights unknown on August 30, 2015, 11:03:42 AM

Quote from: johncb on August 30, 2015, 02:53:17 AM
I know its an OLD thread,but Lord ,the memories it brought up ! I remember one night at the French Quarter we were all hanging around in the parking lot after closing and a truck full of rednecks pulled up and started running their mouths and this one transvestite named " Miss TT" took umbrage at their actions,whipped this big old .38 out of her gigantic purse ,and started popping off rounds ! Those boys left half their tread peeling out of there ! Picture a little black queen in gold lame standing in the middle of the street shooting ! Hilarious ! Miss Cleo,Miss TT,Rose,Jean,Theresa Anteya Larika Lakeesh ,Bea,so many old friends long gone,so many memories of good times.
I was a little white middle class burbs baby (15 !) and those girls took me in and protected me and befriended me and never once did me a dirty turn. And the Flamingo ,my God,how many times did my underage ass roll out of there drunker than a hoot owl clinging to the arms of my latest "love" ! Soldiers,dockworkers,businessmen,lawyers,they all went there looking for a trip on the dark side ! But the OP,now there was a legendary bar and my personal favorite. Does anyone remember Dons notorious After parties when the bar closed ? More than once I rolled out of those when the dawn was breaking. Caligula would have blushed at some of the antics in those after parties!
The Downtowner (remember Little Joe,the bartender? ) was another personal favorite,and it assuredly got wide open in there after the sun went down ! Remember the copper covered tables and the wallpaper with nudes ? I used to laugh so hard in there my stomach would hurt the next day. Some batshit crazy yet hilariously funny people ! I think a lot of those places closed because of the landing and the southbank opened up.I had some lovely times in River Rally,Harbormasters,Fat Tuesdays (Oooo,Triple Bypass,yum!) ,but they sure didn't beat the seedy ,seductive bars of my misspent youth.

JCB...wow, I tell you, I wasn't gay, maybe curious or quasi bisexual, but I (and we) had a ball back then. One reason I am replying; I run a private social service agency in Sarasota and Manatee Counties Florida. About 7 years ago, a kid, then 29, came to me for help; his name is Brendon (he is now 37), and after doing an intake on him, he told me he was from Jacksonville, and after further conversation, he told me that he was living with his roommate and close friend; I casually asked, being that he was from Jax, what his friends name was; he said DON STRICKLAND; I remembered a Don Strickland from back in the day who owned the old OP, and later the 3D; and they live here in our area in Bradenton. Brendon still calls and visits me from time to time and keeps in touch; it's a small, small world!

My God,I long thought Don was dead !!! Hes got to be in his 70s now! He always liked them much younger . Id venture to say 75% of the people I knew in the bad old days are no longer with us,so it really surprises me hes still kicking !

Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 30, 2015, 02:08:40 PM
So...at no point during what was obviously a 20-year wave of destruction that took Jax from an actual city (read stories above) to a bunch of empty parking lots, did anybody say, hey, wait a minute, this isn't working, let's stop before all we have left is parking lots? It's sad reading this, and knowing what it looks like now.

Chris,are you new to jax ? I ask that because the city government has always done exactly what they want no matter how much people scream. Im in my 50s,and its never been any different. The people mover is the greatest example of them all.Well,until the courthouse, that is.

Quote from: Foots on August 29, 2015, 02:58:45 PM

Quote from: sheclown on January 21, 2013, 05:19:59 PM

QuoteAfter touring England and most of the continent of Europe, I returned to Jacksonville. The Classics IV, The Bitter Ind., The Second Coming, future members of The Atlanta Rhythm Section and several other rockers like Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Molly Hatchet Band were beginning to eat, sleep and drink rock 'n roll. Other bands like Blackfoot would soon follow. Southern rock was in the womb and Jacksonville was the mother.

great quote from "The Days of Love & Blood" -- I'm going to use it in the Southern Rock thread.

Quote
Later, I was in Jacksonville to discover Gregg, Duane and company were crashing above the R&R Liquor Store on Main Street. It was a funky old apartment with nothing but mattresses and music. This was the real beginnings of Southern Rock.

Where on Main Street???

SE corner of Main and Ashley.  I worked there (and other night spots) 1969-71 for the Provost/Renzler Consortium.

Serious card turners frequented the Waldorf Lounge at E Forsyth and Market; and in the back of Pete's Bar at 517 W Bay between the James Hotel and Pete's Pawn.

Let's not overlook Hans Tanzler's role in screwing with Jax nightlife.  On a humorous note, in late 1971, the city council attempted to outlaw topless dancing and the response was the dancers went bottomless.  I spent a couple of weeks frequently visiting the DCJ posting their bail until the council backed off.

As for corruption, over the years the reputations of Tom Heaney and Dorcas Drake have been sanitized.....but you didn't do liquor business or gambling unless you paid someone.

Oh....as far as I'm concerned, Southern Rock didn't take off until the night Ed King ripped the opening riff of Sweet Home Alabama in the Comic Book Club.

Been a great read and y'all take care.

Go on...tell us more about how Tanzler screwed with night life. Was it just banning of topless dancing?

Court upholds ban on dancing topless in Jacksonville fl (Sarasota herald-tribune)

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19791128&id=5zogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s2cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5412,7059524&hl=en (https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1755&dat=19791128&id=5zogAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s2cEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5412,7059524&hl=en)

Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 30, 2015, 02:08:40 PM
So...at no point during what was obviously a 20-year wave of destruction that took Jax from an actual city (read stories above) to a bunch of empty parking lots, did anybody say, hey, wait a minute, this isn't working, let's stop before all we have left is parking lots? It's sad reading this, and knowing what it looks like now.

Yeah Chris; it's a crying shame. It seems that when they started the demolition (derby), it was on to see just how many empty surface lots they could create in downtown Jax. At least they could have panned out a plan for most of those old buildings to save them and renovate and reconstruct them into lofts, apartments, or other type businesses with residential above.

Quote from: johncb on August 30, 2015, 03:18:52 PM

Quote from: heights unknown on August 30, 2015, 11:03:42 AM

Quote from: johncb on August 30, 2015, 02:53:17 AM
I know its an OLD thread,but Lord ,the memories it brought up ! I remember one night at the French Quarter we were all hanging around in the parking lot after closing and a truck full of rednecks pulled up and started running their mouths and this one transvestite named " Miss TT" took umbrage at their actions,whipped this big old .38 out of her gigantic purse ,and started popping off rounds ! Those boys left half their tread peeling out of there ! Picture a little black queen in gold lame standing in the middle of the street shooting ! Hilarious ! Miss Cleo,Miss TT,Rose,Jean,Theresa Anteya Larika Lakeesh ,Bea,so many old friends long gone,so many memories of good times.
I was a little white middle class burbs baby (15 !) and those girls took me in and protected me and befriended me and never once did me a dirty turn. And the Flamingo ,my God,how many times did my underage ass roll out of there drunker than a hoot owl clinging to the arms of my latest "love" ! Soldiers,dockworkers,businessmen,lawyers,they all went there looking for a trip on the dark side ! But the OP,now there was a legendary bar and my personal favorite. Does anyone remember Dons notorious After parties when the bar closed ? More than once I rolled out of those when the dawn was breaking. Caligula would have blushed at some of the antics in those after parties!
The Downtowner (remember Little Joe,the bartender? ) was another personal favorite,and it assuredly got wide open in there after the sun went down ! Remember the copper covered tables and the wallpaper with nudes ? I used to laugh so hard in there my stomach would hurt the next day. Some batshit crazy yet hilariously funny people ! I think a lot of those places closed because of the landing and the southbank opened up.I had some lovely times in River Rally,Harbormasters,Fat Tuesdays (Oooo,Triple Bypass,yum!) ,but they sure didn't beat the seedy ,seductive bars of my misspent youth.

JCB...wow, I tell you, I wasn't gay, maybe curious or quasi bisexual, but I (and we) had a ball back then. One reason I am replying; I run a private social service agency in Sarasota and Manatee Counties Florida. About 7 years ago, a kid, then 29, came to me for help; his name is Brendon (he is now 37), and after doing an intake on him, he told me he was from Jacksonville, and after further conversation, he told me that he was living with his roommate and close friend; I casually asked, being that he was from Jax, what his friends name was; he said DON STRICKLAND; I remembered a Don Strickland from back in the day who owned the old OP, and later the 3D; and they live here in our area in Bradenton. Brendon still calls and visits me from time to time and keeps in touch; it's a small, small world!

My God,I long thought Don was dead !!! Hes got to be in his 70s now! He always liked them much younger . Id venture to say 75% of the people I knew in the bad old days are no longer with us,so it really surprises me hes still kicking !

@ JCB.....no, he's still alive; he hung up his club owner hat and is retired I think from what Brendon told me. What I remember most about him is that he seemed miserable and moody most of the time especially to his employees. Brendon tells me that he is still that way but of course to only those around him. Brendon came over for a visit one day and I took him home, and Don was sitting outside. He's still tall, but heavier (as us all), and his hair is Lillie white. He waved and I spoke, and I told him that I was a patron of his back in the day, and spent many a dollar in his clubs. He laughed. Yes, he lives in Bradenton, Florida; does he know you? Next time I see Brendon, I'll let him know about this thread, these posts, and you.

Quote from: johncb on August 30, 2015, 03:21:14 PM

Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 30, 2015, 02:08:40 PM
So...at no point during what was obviously a 20-year wave of destruction that took Jax from an actual city (read stories above) to a bunch of empty parking lots, did anybody say, hey, wait a minute, this isn't working, let's stop before all we have left is parking lots? It's sad reading this, and knowing what it looks like now.

Chris,are you new to jax ? I ask that because the city government has always done exactly what they want no matter how much people scream. Im in my 50s,and its never been any different. The people mover is the greatest example of them all.Well,until the courthouse, that is.

JCB...The Downtowner Lounge...was that the one in the basement or cellar in the Ambassador Hotel? That place was wicked. I tried to stay out of there as it seemed that the clientele (during its last and latter years) were really the lowest of the low, but, most of my friends and some of the sailors from the base frequented that lounge. Also, when the old Flamingo closed down, everyone started going to the Downtowner Lounge. There was also another nice lounge in the old hotel, "THE HEART OF JACKSONVILLE." I used to go there to meet decent ladies (decent by my account), every once in a while. What memories, and everything was within walking distance downtown; didn't need no car; in fact, I used to leave my car at home and take the bus downtown and walk (or bar crawl as us sailors called it), from bar to bar. Wow. What memories.

Heights,Im sure that Don wouldn't remember me specifically,I was one of a LONG line of underage twinks Im sure ! I was 15/16 when we were acquainted,and look vastly different now ! Of course being 52 has a lot to do with that ! I was closer to the staff really,Scarlett Butler,FiFi,Ron to name a few. They were more the reason I was invited to the after parties. Its so funny now to think,here I was ,screamingly underaged,hanging out with drag queens and denziens of the night. That's surely wouldn't fly these days,but it was a different world then for sure.
Im rather glad I stumbled onto this thread,Ive thought about people I haven't remembered in 30 years. I think ,because I was so different from the usual suspects ( I went to private school no less!) that I was as unique to them as they were to me ! But I cant stress enough how wonderful most were to me,very protective,very kind. Aids really decimated my friends,so many were gone so quick it still leaves me reeling.

Quote from: johncb on September 02, 2015, 11:55:46 AM
Heights,Im sure that Don wouldn't remember me specifically,I was one of a LONG line of underage twinks Im sure ! I was 15/16 when we were acquainted,and look vastly different now ! Of course being 52 has a lot to do with that ! I was closer to the staff really,Scarlett Butler,FiFi,Ron to name a few. They were more the reason I was invited to the after parties. Its so funny now to think,here I was ,screamingly underaged,hanging out with drag queens and denziens of the night. That's surely wouldn't fly these days,but it was a different world then for sure.
Im rather glad I stumbled onto this thread,Ive thought about people I haven't remembered in 30 years. I think ,because I was so different from the usual suspects ( I went to private school no less!) that I was as unique to them as they were to me ! But I cant stress enough how wonderful most were to me,very protective,very kind. Aids really decimated my friends,so many were gone so quick it still leaves me reeling.

You're still here; that should tell you something. So continue to be the nice person that you are (or that you seem to be...I don't know you but it seems you're a decent person, as I also try to be (I hope so)). Just make an impact...not too many decent people left. I didn't know too much about the after dark parties, but I knew that he always had an entourage with him...this was mostly back in the OP days; as he got older, not too many people hung around Don, but I was told that he still had certain people he preferred and that hung around him for whatever reason. It was wild and crazy back then, but we didn't hurt anyone (like they do nowadays), and I loved the house parties (everyone brought some liquor with them and the house it was held at threw the food, and, everyone brought a pot of food, desserts, or snacks), and, after that, everyone headed for the bars...in my circle of friends it could have been straight or whatever, it didn't matter. Miss those days.

Quote from: stephendare on November 02, 2015, 11:26:00 AM

Quote from: johncb on August 30, 2015, 02:53:17 AM
I know its an OLD thread,but Lord ,the memories it brought up ! I remember one night at the French Quarter we were all hanging around in the parking lot after closing and a truck full of rednecks pulled up and started running their mouths and this one transvestite named " Miss TT" took umbrage at their actions,whipped this big old .38 out of her gigantic purse ,and started popping off rounds ! Those boys left half their tread peeling out of there ! Picture a little black queen in gold lame standing in the middle of the street shooting ! Hilarious ! Miss Cleo,Miss TT,Rose,Jean,Theresa Anteya Larika Lakeesh ,Bea,so many old friends long gone,so many memories of good times.
I was a little white middle class burbs baby (15 !) and those girls took me in and protected me and befriended me and never once did me a dirty turn. And the Flamingo ,my God,how many times did my underage ass roll out of there drunker than a hoot owl clinging to the arms of my latest "love" ! Soldiers,dockworkers,businessmen,lawyers,they all went there looking for a trip on the dark side ! But the OP,now there was a legendary bar and my personal favorite. Does anyone remember Dons notorious After parties when the bar closed ? More than once I rolled out of those when the dawn was breaking. Caligula would have blushed at some of the antics in those after parties!
The Downtowner (remember Little Joe,the bartender? ) was another personal favorite,and it assuredly got wide open in there after the sun went down ! Remember the copper covered tables and the wallpaper with nudes ? I used to laugh so hard in there my stomach would hurt the next day. Some batshit crazy yet hilariously funny people ! I think a lot of those places closed because of the landing and the southbank opened up.I had some lovely times in River Rally,Harbormasters,Fat Tuesdays (Oooo,Triple Bypass,yum!) ,but they sure didn't beat the seedy ,seductive bars of my misspent youth.

Don is quite alive, and ended up being a charming, cultured thoughtful older man.

When he retired and sold Third Dimension, he gave me and John Allen his complete sound system, and a massive collection of hard to find commercial liscensed 1980s music videos designed to be played in 'video bars'.

Very fond of Don actually.

Yes He has mellowed Stephen. I am friends of one of his roommates, and I've been told he still has his moments; a few months back he was sitting in his yard and I spoke to him, I was dropping his roommate Brendon home, and I told him about the old days when I spent a ton of money during my youth in his bars (wild & crazy back then).

Quote from: heights unknown on August 30, 2015, 11:03:42 AM

Quote from: johncb on August 30, 2015, 02:53:17 AM
I know its an OLD thread,but Lord ,the memories it brought up ! I remember one night at the French Quarter we were all hanging around in the parking lot after closing and a truck full of rednecks pulled up and started running their mouths and this one transvestite named " Miss TT" took umbrage at their actions,whipped this big old .38 out of her gigantic purse ,and started popping off rounds ! Those boys left half their tread peeling out of there ! Picture a little black queen in gold lame standing in the middle of the street shooting ! Hilarious ! Miss Cleo,Miss TT,Rose,Jean,Theresa Anteya Larika Lakeesh ,Bea,so many old friends long gone,so many memories of good times.
I was a little white middle class burbs baby (15 !) and those girls took me in and protected me and befriended me and never once did me a dirty turn. And the Flamingo ,my God,how many times did my underage ass roll out of there drunker than a hoot owl clinging to the arms of my latest "love" ! Soldiers,dockworkers,businessmen,lawyers,they all went there looking for a trip on the dark side ! But the OP,now there was a legendary bar and my personal favorite. Does anyone remember Dons notorious After parties when the bar closed ? More than once I rolled out of those when the dawn was breaking. Caligula would have blushed at some of the antics in those after parties!
The Downtowner (remember Little Joe,the bartender? ) was another personal favorite,and it assuredly got wide open in there after the sun went down ! Remember the copper covered tables and the wallpaper with nudes ? I used to laugh so hard in there my stomach would hurt the next day. Some batshit crazy yet hilariously funny people ! I think a lot of those places closed because of the landing and the southbank opened up.I had some lovely times in River Rally,Harbormasters,Fat Tuesdays (Oooo,Triple Bypass,yum!) ,but they sure didn't beat the seedy ,seductive bars of my misspent youth.

JCB...wow, I tell you, I wasn't gay, maybe curious or quasi bisexual, but I (and we) had a ball back then. One reason I am replying; I run a private social service agency in Sarasota and Manatee Counties Florida. About 7 years ago, a kid, then 29, came to me for help; his name is Brendon (he is now 37), and after doing an intake on him, he told me he was from Jacksonville, and after further conversation, he told me that he was living with his roommate and close friend; I casually asked, being that he was from Jax, what his friends name was; he said DON STRICKLAND; I remembered a Don Strickland from back in the day who owned the old OP, and later the 3D; and they live here in our area in Bradenton. Brendon still calls and visits me from time to time and keeps in touch; it's a small, small world!

I also spent quite a bit of my twenties around those haunts. I knew Cleo and TT. Cleo is still with us, TT is not. We used to sit on that bus stop on Ashley and Main, smoking weed until we were zooted enough to go in the club and dance it off...

Quote from: fieldafm on July 08, 2011, 10:40:23 AM

QuoteI remember the Atlanta Rhythm Section opened for the Stones in the Gator Bowl in !975. Must have been about 70,000 there that day. For $10 you saw The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Chaka Khan with Rufus, The J Geils Band (w/Peter Wolf) and then the Rolling Stones. Quite the deal!

I was there for that!  When the Stones played 'Honkey Tonk Woman' two gigantic inflatable women sprung up on stage left and right. 

I know this is an old post but I was at the same Stones concert. But I recall the group was Labelle not Chaka Khan and Rufus.

Quote from: avonjax on January 08, 2018, 08:18:25 PM

Quote from: fieldafm on July 08, 2011, 10:40:23 AM

QuoteI remember the Atlanta Rhythm Section opened for the Stones in the Gator Bowl in !975. Must have been about 70,000 there that day. For $10 you saw The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Chaka Khan with Rufus, The J Geils Band (w/Peter Wolf) and then the Rolling Stones. Quite the deal!

I was there for that!  When the Stones played 'Honkey Tonk Woman' two gigantic inflatable women sprung up on stage left and right. 

I know this is an old post but I was at the same Stones concert. But I recall the group was Labelle not Chaka Khan and Rufus.

I have been confused all these years. Labelle played with the Who the following August 1976 at the Gator Bowl. I saw Chaka Khan and Rufus again at the Coliseum a few years later.

I was not at the '89 Stones show (Gator Bowl) or the '76 Who shows so maybe Labelle opened for one or both of those (perhaps)?
But I was a youngster at the '75 show (my first of nine Stones concerts) and for sure it was Chaka at that show, not Labelle.
'75 show was also infamous for the Stones demanding their fee to be paid in advance and in all cash ($500,000) after tiring of dealing with the antics of the notorious local promoter Sidney Drashin of 'Jet Set Enterprises'.

This info below (that I found on the web) confirms correctly who played in '75. Four bands for $10!

August 2, 1975 ~ Gator Bowl ~ Jacksonville, FL

1975 Tour Of Americas. Atlanta Rhythm Section, Rufus with Chaka Kahn and J. Geils Band opened. Tony, his girlfriend Nancy, and Dave drove from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville, about 600 miles and the farthest Dave had ever driven to a show at that point of time. It was a real hot day and the show started early. As the day wore on, the crowd grew restless and rowdy. Security soaked them down with water hoses to cool them off. Of all the openers for the day, J. Geils played the best set. It was last time Dave ever saw them. The Stones came on just as it was getting dark. Dave remembers they played "Get Off My Cloud" with Billy Preston, who stole the show. Later, Preston got a chance to play a couple of numbers of his own, including the funky instrumental "Outta Space." New member Ronnie Wood, filling in for the departed Mick Taylor, did a great job, playing second guitar alongside Keith. "Star Star" and "Ain't To Proud To Beg" were new numbers added to the set. They also played "Fingerprint File" from "It's Only Rock And Roll," a real rarity. This would be Dave's last Stones show for almost 15 years.

Quote from: Dog Walker on July 07, 2011, 02:34:44 PM
HU, the restaurant on the corner of Main and Duval was Nicola's

Nicola helped establish a fencing club in Jacksonville and got some of the high schools to offer it as a sport. I was in the club at DuPont, and met him through that. He was an admired person who ran an excellent restaurant with the best Italian food I've ever eaten. Thanks DogWalker for bringing Nicola's to mind.

Quote from: avonjax on January 21, 2013, 09:43:35 AM

Quote from: heights unknown on July 07, 2011, 07:54:22 PM

Quote from: urbanlibertarian on July 07, 2011, 10:06:10 AM
I googled R&R Liquors and stumbled on this cool site:

http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php (http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php)

I can't believe this article! Some, or most of Southern Rock was born in an Apartment/Hotel ABOVE the R&R Lounge, a lounge I frequented, and in which the old Apartment/Hotel that these stars would collaborate in, which was above the R&R Lounge, would later turn into a Gay Bar called "The French Quarter," in which I also frequented with a Bisexual Friend of mine in the mid and late 70's. Wow! You never know about things until you dig on the internet in our internet and information laced age! Thanks "Urbanlibertarian" for this article. As a Musician I really appreciate the info relative to Rock and Roll, Soul, and Rhythm and Blues groups and bands and how they collaborated, and how all these genres are reated to each other and Southern Rock was born in Jacksonville, and some or most of it born in a place that would later become a gay bar upstairs over the old R&R Lounge that I frequented as a young Sailor; all I can say is......WOW!!!!!!!

"HU"

I wanted to add a couple of thoughts. My Grandfather and Uncle were bartenders at the R&R in the very early 40's. And how sad that we had to demolish a building that contained an important part of the early history of Southern Rock. Also the R&R became a gay bar at the end of its life.
This is even more reason to have a Southern Rock Museum right here where it was born.
The OP was a gay bar almost in name only. Everybody went because it was two stories and a great place to dance.
Again the block where it was located had some great buildings that foolishly were demolished. The potential in that area was amazing, yet JTA razed it. I'm actually sad and also glad that many of you did and didn't get to know that part of town. Sad because it was a great experience but glad because you would be sick to your stomach if you could remember what was lost when they gutted and destroyed a great area and left it to dirt and weeds.
Downtown Jacksonville would be a completely different place if we had not destroyed so much of our history and particularly west of Broad Street.
I still get sad, driving down Forsyth Street where the Seminole Hotel used to stand. How on earth did we allow that  incredible building to be destroyed. By the way one of the Indians on the facade is in the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee. Imagine what could be done with that building now. And I still daydream about what could have been in the areas surrounding the Prime Osborne.

Bringing this thread back from the grave! Anyone know exactly where R&R Liquors was located on Main Street in downtown?

Quote from: thelakelander on June 25, 2021, 01:34:12 PM

Quote from: avonjax on January 21, 2013, 09:43:35 AM

Quote from: heights unknown on July 07, 2011, 07:54:22 PM

Quote from: urbanlibertarian on July 07, 2011, 10:06:10 AM
I googled R&R Liquors and stumbled on this cool site:

http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php (http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php)

I can't believe this article! Some, or most of Southern Rock was born in an Apartment/Hotel ABOVE the R&R Lounge, a lounge I frequented, and in which the old Apartment/Hotel that these stars would collaborate in, which was above the R&R Lounge, would later turn into a Gay Bar called "The French Quarter," in which I also frequented with a Bisexual Friend of mine in the mid and late 70's. Wow! You never know about things until you dig on the internet in our internet and information laced age! Thanks "Urbanlibertarian" for this article. As a Musician I really appreciate the info relative to Rock and Roll, Soul, and Rhythm and Blues groups and bands and how they collaborated, and how all these genres are reated to each other and Southern Rock was born in Jacksonville, and some or most of it born in a place that would later become a gay bar upstairs over the old R&R Lounge that I frequented as a young Sailor; all I can say is......WOW!!!!!!!

"HU"

I wanted to add a couple of thoughts. My Grandfather and Uncle were bartenders at the R&R in the very early 40's. And how sad that we had to demolish a building that contained an important part of the early history of Southern Rock. Also the R&R became a gay bar at the end of its life.
This is even more reason to have a Southern Rock Museum right here where it was born.
The OP was a gay bar almost in name only. Everybody went because it was two stories and a great place to dance.
Again the block where it was located had some great buildings that foolishly were demolished. The potential in that area was amazing, yet JTA razed it. I'm actually sad and also glad that many of you did and didn't get to know that part of town. Sad because it was a great experience but glad because you would be sick to your stomach if you could remember what was lost when they gutted and destroyed a great area and left it to dirt and weeds.
Downtown Jacksonville would be a completely different place if we had not destroyed so much of our history and particularly west of Broad Street.
I still get sad, driving down Forsyth Street where the Seminole Hotel used to stand. How on earth did we allow that  incredible building to be destroyed. By the way one of the Indians on the facade is in the Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee. Imagine what could be done with that building now. And I still daydream about what could have been in the areas surrounding the Prime Osborne.

Bringing this thread back from the grave! Anyone know exactly where R&R Liquors was located on Main Street in downtown?

Yes, if I remember correctly it was on the corner of Main and Church on the east side of main street facing main if you're heading north on Main. R&R was a package/liquor store and in the back was a strip club. On top of R&R was a gay club called the French Quarter. Yeah, many guys went to the strip joint in R&R, but there was a secret stairway in R&R leading up to the French Quarter; the main entrance of the French Quarter was in the back of the building; a stairway in the back led up to the 2nd story to the French Quarter. The building that was the R&R and French Quarter is now a parking lot. How do I know all of this? As a young Sailor stationed at Cecil Field Naval Air Station (you know those Sailors LOL) from 1974 to 1978, I used to frequent downtown quite often in those days with my buddies to hit the strip joints. We would spend all of our money at the strip joints and then were broke for two weeks. We lived in the barracks and ate in the chow hall so it was not a problem. Me and a bisexual buddy of mine sometimes went up to the gay club just to see the shows and then we'd leave and catch the bus back to the base. We only did that when we were snot slinging ass leaking drunk and sh** faced. Those were the days. There were like 3 or 4 strip joints in that area, and a Bar called the Flamingo liquors and lounge on Main in between duval and Church Street and everyone frequented that bar, regular/straights, gays, bisexuals, drag queens, and we all had fun; it was way before its time. My other favorite strip joint was the Night Owl on Ashley I believe; and then you had Harveys near the foot of the Main Street Bridge. The library I believe sits over where the Flamingo was. Jax was popping and pumping back then but was clearly on the decline.