From Facebook:
Ever dreamed of owning your own bar? Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we have to part ways and therefore the entire bar is for sale. Call me at 904-994-2021. Please note that I'm not interested in payments or partnerships. One lump sum....
Déjà Vu: $60,000 buys it all!!! With over $10,000 worth of wine and beer!
Please, they'd have to pay me the $60k before I'd consider having another business subject to the whims of those pit-vipers at SPAR.
Bo, the owner, has made that place incredibly nice. If there is a nicer club in Springfield I have not seen it. He should pitch this to Jason, owner of Dos Gattos. He has been very succesful downtown and maybe he can get the right mojo working over in Springfield.
Deja Vu? Wow man, I could have sworn that this has happened before.
OOH
OCKLAWAHA
Didnt they just open????
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 11, 2011, 07:32:42 PM
Please, they'd have to pay me the $60k before I'd consider having another business subject to the whims of those pit-vipers at SPAR.
so you had a business in Springfield before?
Quote from: 02roadking on August 11, 2011, 06:14:49 PM
From Facebook:
Ever dreamed of owning your own bar? Due to some unforeseen circumstances, we have to part ways and therefore the entire bar is for sale. Call me at 904-994-2021. Please note that I'm not interested in payments or partnerships. One lump sum....
Déjà Vu: $60,000 buys it all!!! With over $10,000 worth of wine and beer!
What is the address? I want to drive by and see this. I'm serious. How many square feet? Palms Fish Camp, I just did a site inspection and this owner never even opened the door and the city is going to just hand over a lump sum payment of over a million bucks?
1800 block of N. Pearl
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 11, 2011, 09:35:50 PM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 11, 2011, 07:32:42 PM
Please, they'd have to pay me the $60k before I'd consider having another business subject to the whims of those pit-vipers at SPAR.
so you had a business in Springfield before?
That I did Tufsu, that I did. You don't think I just run around the city looking for random neighborhood associations to dislike, do you? I mean, if that were the case, RAP is a heckuva lot closer, I would have had to go with them just for convenience sake. There was a period of time I dropped out of college to start a business, that's why I originally moved to Jacksonville. That's also how I originally met Stephen in Springfield. The wonderful folks at SPAR were kind enough to continually call in bogus code complaints on me, sometimes more than a dozen in a day. I dislike them for a very good reason.
Quote from: duvaldude08Didnt they just open????
They had closed for a bit and then reopened
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 12, 2011, 07:01:59 AM
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 11, 2011, 09:35:50 PM
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 11, 2011, 07:32:42 PM
Please, they'd have to pay me the $60k before I'd consider having another business subject to the whims of those pit-vipers at SPAR.
so you had a business in Springfield before?
That I did Tufsu, that I did. You don't think I just run around the city looking for random neighborhood associations to dislike, do you? I mean, if that were the case, RAP is a heckuva lot closer, I would have had to go with them just for convenience sake. There was a period of time I dropped out of college to start a business, that's why I originally moved to Jacksonville. That's also how I originally met Stephen in Springfield. The wonderful folks at SPAR were kind enough to continually call in bogus code complaints on me, sometimes more than a dozen in a day. I dislike them for a very good reason.
Chris is right, SPAR is not friendly to business growth.
What was the story with that place? I don't understand why people in springfield didn't rally behind it when it first opened (under a different name I don't recall). I went in one or twice and it was really nice inside- but I remember someone on here saying SPAR gave the owner a hard time. Isn't this the exact type of establishment they would want? Not a carwash, not a gas station, not a beer store.
SPAR wants Starbucks.
I don't think this one is a "SPAR issue". The venue isn't bad, but I think it is a bit lonely for a night spot. Something like this may make sore sense on Main Street between Shanty and Pearl.
obviously there is a crying need for another spar thread, stephen, chris get busy
Chris, i couldnt agree with you more regarding SPAR. I also have very good reason for not ever doing business or anything else in springfield and its directly related to SPAR.
I think 8th and Pearl is a good spot. The first time it opened as Fusion, it didn't take off because the owner didn't think he had to advertise, or get out in the community, make friends, and "sell" the place. He thought all he had to do was open the doors and people would show up. I don't know why Deja Vu isn't taking off, but it hasn't been open long, either. I don't know why Road King is selling up already.
As to the price, well, do the due diligence and see if the value is there. Up to you. But I think a major intersection like 8th and Pearl is a good spot for a nice little neighborhood club. Someone with a following like Crissy had when she opened The Pearl would do especially well. Someone who is willing to get out to First Friday, and community events, and sell the product too. Who would have thought a coffee shop off the beaten path at 6th and Walnut would be the success Three Layers is? Jeff and Shawn got out and made friends, advertised, they have a cool vibe. People discovered it, and it finally took off. But they didn't just "show up." It took time, talent and patience.
Contact SAMBA (Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association.) PM Miss Fixit, who is a member, for info.
Chris and Kickback, to my knowledge, SPAR has not, and will not, harass Deja Vu. Noone, contact SAMBA.
Quote from Noone:
" Palms Fish Camp, I just did a site inspection and this owner never even opened the door and the city is going to just hand over a lump sum payment of over a million bucks?"
Please tell us more, this is to' incomplete' to understand.
Also, it sounds like there is a defeatist attitude here about opening anything in Springfield. If that is the case what will it take to change things? Reading some of the commentary I am under the impression that no one will ever be able to open a successful place because of the dreaded 'SPAR Monster' that dwells in Hogans Creek.......
"I don't know why Deja Vu isn't taking off, but it hasn't been open long, either. I don't know why Road King is selling up already."
It's not me that owns Deja Vu. (I wish, but no funds) I saw it posted on their Facebook page, then posted here.
Actually, if they had liquor, you could probably find me there on occasion. I'm not really a beer & wine kinda guy. If I were king, we would have a nice little upscale biker bar...LOL
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on August 12, 2011, 12:14:26 PM
Chris and Kickback, to my knowledge, SPAR has not, and will not, harass Deja Vu. Noone, contact SAMBA.
You're one of the only SPAR people I don't mind, and though I've never met you offline, I'm sure it would be a pleasure.
However, regarding SPAR, we've heard time and again that SPAR is not doing this, and not doing that, and is offended at anyone suggesting they were doing the other thing. And, inevitably, it always turns out that they were. SPAR claimed it wasn't supporting demolitions, until Louise's emails were released. SPAR claimed it wasn't harrassing the car wash, until Silas Jones' letters came out naming the SPAR members doing the harassment, each of them calling in a half-dozen code complaints apiece within an hour. Not to mention they filed an appeal against his zoning variance.
SPAR wasn't harrassing Joe and Gloria, until more emails came out, and Louise cooked up bogus assault allegations against him to try and ban him from public meetings. SPAR was in full support of the mothballing legislation, then when it came time not a single one showed up for the meeting, and one of them actually tried to get it off the agenda because SPAR was embarrassed by language revealing how many demolitions it had allowed. Everybody on this site was a liar for talking about SPAR's behavior. Until they showed up at 3 Layers and began drunkenly punching MetroJacksonville members in front of 50 people, and JSO had to show up and remove them from a womens' club meeting.
I'm sorry, and I understand you're caught in the middle here, but with SPAR things are generally exactly what they seem to be. You've just had the owner of one of the most successful businesses in Riverside tell you from the horse's mouth that he considered Springfield and decided against it because of the behavior he witnessed from SPAR. Kickbackssteve, as you might guess, owns Kickbacks. Obviously, I lived through the same experience with SPAR as everybody else. Given everything that's happened, and that continues to happen to this very day (BP station is one current example), I'm not really sure how much more confirmation anybody needs at this point?
I have been around long enough to know that Rap Spar and Smps are all the same. They all make enemies because they are responsible for saying 'no' sometimes to people and creating policy. They are semi government institutions and some people always hate government no matter what government does. Spar has the unforntunate[or fortunate depending on the way you look at it] priviledge of making loud enemies that know how to use a keyboard. Rap has plenty too. Look up Jax Historic on facebook and read their rants about Rap. Anyways im not here to defend anyone but I do think it is important to remember that Spar today is not the Spar of a couple years ago. From my calculations and conversations there are 1 or 2 board members from then and the CPA president who has been there forever should be exiting in the fall. The bad business enviroment on Main st has everything to do with the state of the buildings and who owns them and little to do with anything else. Perosnally I am a member of Spar and Rap because I own property in both areas. Thats my 2 cents about that. A club or bar in that location will struggle until the area has more people living there or is fills a niche. I do want to add that I think these topics are fun to read though even if I do not agree with assesments.
The $60k is for the business. A new owner would have to lease the space for $1500 monthly. The building is not part of the sale.
Also. I love the risk folks take to open up a business, meaning I'd admire them, especially in Springfield. I've watched many (businesses) fold since 2007 for various reasons. In addition to clusters of buisnesses, an establishment in Springfield can only succeed if it builds a clientele outside of the hood too. Businesses can not survive on Springfield alone, they must reach out and bring folks in from other parts of Jacksonville.
There are a handful of folks I know who live in the hood who would like to open up a business on or around Main Street. I know of 4 people off the top of my head. Wonder if the new Wells Fargo on Main has a business loan program: particularly one for Historic Springfield. Maybe we can be special.
I bought one building in Springfield in my life. It was mixed use. I wanted to put two business in the ground floor (not strip clubs or pool halls) and put condos upstairs. My project didnt stand a chance because my building on Walnut St. was smack dab next door to Louise's house (that she was trying to sell). Despite the 18 inch thick brick walls and despite the fact that the building had a collapsed roof for 15 years before my purchase and despite the thousands of dollars i spent emptying the building of trash and despite spending another 10k to brace the building on the inside by an engineer and despite the fact that said engineer knew the building was in absolutely no danger of falling, my building was torn down on an "emergency basis". Coincidence? I think not. Louise made it happen, pure and simple (despite my meeting with her about my project). I really dont want to sicken anyone in these forums with further details. Trust me, I'm sick to my stomach still. I spent $125,000 to buy a building with the means and plans to renovate it, spent $25,000 to try to save it, then for good measure got stuck with a $35,000 demolision bill from the city. Louise snapped her fingers and the building came down (i was able to delay the "3 day emergency" for a few weeks). Now the lot at 114 (i think) walnut is a lovely, overgrown empty lot that the city owns. In summary, I will never, EVER do business in a neighborhood that supports a leader who puts personal agendas ahead of preservation. I have a feeling I'm not alone in my beliefs.
Quote from: John P on August 12, 2011, 02:14:43 PM
I have been around long enough to know that Rap Spar and Smps are all the same. They all make enemies because they are responsible for saying 'no' sometimes to people and creating policy. They are semi government institutions and some people always hate government no matter what government does. Spar has the unforntunate[or fortunate depending on the way you look at it] priviledge of making loud enemies that know how to use a keyboard. Rap has plenty too. Look up Jax Historic on facebook and read their rants about Rap. Anyways im not here to defend anyone but I do think it is important to remember that Spar today is not the Spar of a couple years ago. From my calculations and conversations there are 1 or 2 board members from then and the CPA president who has been there forever should be exiting in the fall. The bad business enviroment on Main st has everything to do with the state of the buildings and who owns them and little to do with anything else. Perosnally I am a member of Spar and Rap because I own property in both areas. Thats my 2 cents about that. A club or bar in that location will struggle until the area has more people living there or is fills a niche. I do want to add that I think these topics are fun to read though even if I do not agree with assesments.
RAP is not SPAR...they would seriously be insulted at the suggestion.
In fact, they tried to cooperate on things a few times, and my understanding was the RAP folks were mortified at SPAR's behavior, after they tried to turn meetings about preservation into some kind of unsubtly-racist diatribe on getting rid of rooming houses and convenience stores. RAP was like "WTF?" They think SPAR is nuts.
Quote from: Kickbackssteve on August 12, 2011, 03:55:18 PM
I bought one building in Springfield in my life. It was mixed use. I wanted to put two business in the ground floor (not strip clubs or pool halls) and put condos upstairs. My project didnt stand a chance because my building on Walnut St. was smack dab next door to Louise's house (that she was trying to sell). Despite the 18 inch thick brick walls and despite the fact that the building had a collapsed roof for 15 years before my purchase and despite the thousands of dollars i spent emptying the building of trash and despite spending another 10k to brace the building on the inside by an engineer and despite the fact that said engineer knew the building was in absolutely no danger of falling, my building was torn down on an "emergency basis". Coincidence? I think not. Louise made it happen, pure and simple (despite my meeting with her about my project). I really dont want to sicken anyone in these forums with further details. Trust me, I'm sick to my stomach still. I spent $125,000 to buy a building with the means and plans to renovate it, spent $25,000 to try to save it, then for good measure got stuck with a $35,000 demolision bill from the city. Louise snapped her fingers and the building came down (i was able to delay the "3 day emergency" for a few weeks). Now the lot at 114 (i think) walnut is a lovely, overgrown empty lot that the city owns. In summary, I will never, EVER do business in a neighborhood that supports a leader who puts personal agendas ahead of preservation. I have a feeling I'm not alone in my beliefs.
As I'm sure you know, they did the literal exact same thing to a mutual friend of ours, except his happened to be next to Eva Ayers' house instead of Louise's. I suffered the same B.S., so did Sheclown and Strider, and just about every other property owner over there who decided not to play ball by their silly, illegal, and artificially-imposed demands. They almost cost Silas Jones his entire life savings, and have managed to run off most of the businesses on main street. I don't know why anybody bothers to stick up for them at this point, I have their number and so does everybody else. Fool me once...
Louise DeSpain has been in KY for 2 years I think. I knew her a little bit and respected her for her toughness. You had to be tough to do what she did by that I mean getting thugs and slum lords out of the neighborhood to make breathing room for development and investors who otherwise would never have come otherwise like myself. She was good at that but her iron hand did not work well in other settings. She was necessary for the time she was there but by the time she left her tactics were unnecessary and she made big mistakes like kickbacksteve described. I know people on Rap Spar boards chrisufwgator and I do not beleive you are correct in their relationship. There is some type of renovation or restoration event they are working on jointly now and more preservation policy I have heard but I do not know the details of either. I have dealt with both organizations a fair amount and they have more or less perspective on business and presevation from my point of view. This is over the past 18 months I cannot speak for it before that. I knew people on a personal level like DeSpain but not professionally in their organizations. I think instances do get blown of of proportion because of what I mentioned before. I have not met with Smps but in passing so cant say. If and when I buy property there I will be able to tell you.
Stephen, please tell us how you really feel about Louise. :-). I guess i can take the credit for her leaving town since the removal of my "would be whorehouse" paved the way for her to sell out and exit stage left.
Quote from: John P on August 12, 2011, 05:00:08 PM
Louise DeSpain has been in KY for 2 years I think. I knew her a little bit and respected her for her toughness. You had to be tough to do what she did by that I mean getting thugs and slum lords out of the neighborhood to make breathing room for development and investors who otherwise would never have come otherwise like myself. She was good at that but her iron hand did not work well in other settings. She was necessary for the time she was there but by the time she left her tactics were unnecessary and she made big mistakes like kickbacksteve described. I know people on Rap Spar boards chrisufwgator and I do not beleive you are correct in their relationship. There is some type of renovation or restoration event they are working on jointly now and more preservation policy I have heard but I do not know the details of either. I have dealt with both organizations a fair amount and they have more or less perspective on business and presevation from my point of view. This is over the past 18 months I cannot speak for it before that. I knew people on a personal level like DeSpain but not professionally in their organizations. I think instances do get blown of of proportion because of what I mentioned before. I have not met with Smps but in passing so cant say. If and when I buy property there I will be able to tell you.
So let me get this straight...
A bunch of backstabbing pit-vipers runs around behind your back and *literally* knocks your place down, but then somehow you're just "blowing it out of proportion" if you're not completely pleased with the situation? Seriously?
Are you @#$!ing nuts?
Are you not hearing what we've all been through with SPAR? Somehow, WE are blowing it out of proportion?
You really must not have heard a thing anyone has been saying. The "thugs and slumlords" you refer to were legitimate business owners whose only crime was not personally getting along with SPAR, and who left Springfield because SPAR's dirty tactics, never to return. Many of them, including me, Steve, and several others, came to Riverside, which is experiencing a renaissance. Unlike the corridor of vacant lots that is Springfield's commercial district. Over here, we all seem to like Kickback's, it's one of the more successful restaurants in Riverside. Sorry it wasn't up to Louise's standards...
How has that strategy worked out for you guys over there, exactly?
Quote from: John P on August 12, 2011, 05:00:08 PM
I knew her a little bit and respected her for her toughness. You had to be tough to do what she did by that I mean getting thugs and slum lords out of the neighborhood to make breathing room for development and investors who otherwise would never have come otherwise like myself.
even from that point ov view, the best that can be said for her is that she made every attempt to discard the infant with the aqua.
I had my differences with Louise, but nothing like some of you experienced. But she is gone now. SPAR is changing and needs to find a new role. Bill is doing great stuff with the block captains. Maybe the public safety issues and quality of life part would make a great focus for SPAR. But overall, the neighborhood is now represented by a diverse set of organizations (SAMBA, Preservation SOS, Sustainable Springfield, SPAR) that keep each other in check. There are some that try to hang on to the dark times of demolitions and rooming house wars. But many of those no longer have a role in SPAR. Yup, there are some left overs even on the current SPAR board, but there are also a lot of new faces.
anyway. so who is buying deja-vu?
I blame FBC.
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on August 12, 2011, 05:19:21 PM
Quote from: John P on August 12, 2011, 05:00:08 PM
Louise DeSpain has been in KY for 2 years I think. I knew her a little bit and respected her for her toughness. You had to be tough to do what she did by that I mean getting thugs and slum lords out of the neighborhood to make breathing room for development and investors who otherwise would never have come otherwise like myself. She was good at that but her iron hand did not work well in other settings. She was necessary for the time she was there but by the time she left her tactics were unnecessary and she made big mistakes like kickbacksteve described. I know people on Rap Spar boards chrisufwgator and I do not beleive you are correct in their relationship. There is some type of renovation or restoration event they are working on jointly now and more preservation policy I have heard but I do not know the details of either. I have dealt with both organizations a fair amount and they have more or less perspective on business and presevation from my point of view. This is over the past 18 months I cannot speak for it before that. I knew people on a personal level like DeSpain but not professionally in their organizations. I think instances do get blown of of proportion because of what I mentioned before. I have not met with Smps but in passing so cant say. If and when I buy property there I will be able to tell you.
So let me get this straight...
A bunch of backstabbing pit-vipers runs around behind your back and *literally* knocks your place down, but then somehow you're just "blowing it out of proportion" if you're not completely pleased with the situation? Seriously?
Are you @#$!ing nuts?
Are you not hearing what we've all been through with SPAR? Somehow, WE are blowing it out of proportion?
You really must not have heard a thing anyone has been saying. The "thugs and slumlords" you refer to were legitimate business owners whose only crime was not personally getting along with SPAR, and who left Springfield because SPAR's dirty tactics, never to return. Many of them, including me, Steve, and several others, came to Riverside, which is experiencing a renaissance. Unlike the corridor of vacant lots that is Springfield's commercial district. Over here, we all seem to like Kickback's, it's one of the more successful restaurants in Riverside. Sorry it wasn't up to Louise's standards...
How has that strategy worked out for you guys over there, exactly?
Thats the part that gets me. Are these people detached from reality? Do they not drive through their own neighborhood & see what this line of thinking has done?? Because it looks more slummy & vacant than it has in a decade.
Oh well. Last I checked, there were plenty of other neighborhoods in the core that were more welcoming & don't have its head up its own ass. And thats exactly where people are going. Oh, but its a "down market", eh guys?? Tell that to Riverside, King, Avondale & San Marco. Hell, even downtown.
Quote from: movedsouth on August 12, 2011, 05:50:04 PM
I had my differences with Louise, but nothing like some of you experienced. But she is gone now. SPAR is changing and needs to find a new role. Bill is doing great stuff with the block captains. Maybe the public safety issues and quality of life part would make a great focus for SPAR. But overall, the neighborhood is now represented by a diverse set of organizations (SAMBA, Preservation SOS, Sustainable Springfield, SPAR) that keep each other in check. There are some that try to hang on to the dark times of demolitions and rooming house wars. But many of those no longer have a role in SPAR. Yup, there are some left overs even on the current SPAR board, but there are also a lot of new faces.
anyway. so who is buying deja-vu?
agreed.
QuoteI have been around long enough to know that Rap Spar and Smps are all the same. They all make enemies because they are responsible for saying 'no' sometimes to people and creating policy. They are semi government institutions and some people always hate government no matter what government does
There is a great misunderstanding here of RAP, SPAR, and SMPS. There are NOT goverenment or semi-government institutions. They are non-profits. They DO NOT create policy, Planning and HPC are the government institutions that create and enfoce policy.
From Facebook:
Déjà Vu
We had interesting people and interesting ideas. Most people don't want to see the bar go. So we are going to give it more time. 2 4 1 HAPPY HOUR EVERY DAY FROM 4-7. :-)
Déjà Vu
Also we are looking for promoters and people that think they can bring the crowd. Musicians, entertainers, comedians... Contact us at 904-994-2021
The person twirling flaming batons and hula hoops in the middle of Pearl Street out front is pretty cool.
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on August 15, 2011, 12:06:12 PM
The person twirling flaming batons and hula hoops in the middle of Pearl Street out front is pretty cool.
Is Hooplady moonlighting? LOL.
Glad for Deja Vu and Springfield.