Metro Jacksonville

Jacksonville by Neighborhood => Downtown => Topic started by: thelakelander on March 11, 2026, 12:03:29 PM

Title: 7 riverfront dining experiences that no longer exist
Post by: thelakelander on March 11, 2026, 12:03:29 PM
Quote(https://photos.moderncities.com/Events/Sail-Jacksonville-2007/i-tmD88D9/15/KRM2Nsx7v6VH8KKk9rj3pdmP723zDm2zBCLHB9TvS/L/DSC_0048-L.jpg)

Today, the average person will struggle to find a restaurant to dine along the river in downtown that is not located inside of a hotel. However, riverfront dining was a part of downtown's identity for more than a century. Here is a look at seven downtown riverfront dining experiences that no longer exist.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/7-riverfront-dining-experiences-that-no-longer-exist/
Title: Re: 7 riverfront dining experiences that no longer exist
Post by: Ken_FSU on March 11, 2026, 03:07:31 PM
Anyone know more details about why Harbormasters didn't make it? Bad ownership? Bad operations? Bad luck with the Landing opening right after they did? Surprising that it only lasted a few years, given the prime location.
Title: Re: 7 riverfront dining experiences that no longer exist
Post by: thelakelander on March 11, 2026, 03:39:41 PM
While researching the article, Harbormasters' ownership group ended up in debt pretty quick. Newspaper articles from that era indicated that they had taken on debt to finance the construction of the building.
Title: Re: 7 riverfront dining experiences that no longer exist
Post by: heights unknown on March 11, 2026, 08:22:47 PM
I miss the Landing. It was too hard and such a chore for them to renovate/upgrade it and keep it. Our Leadership during that time were inept, money hungry, uncaring, and misfits to say the least.
Title: Re: 7 riverfront dining experiences that no longer exist
Post by: copperfiend on March 11, 2026, 08:45:18 PM
As a kid, I loved taking field trips downtown. It meant lunch at the Landing food court and an hour or two running around the Ostrich Landing.
Title: Re: 7 riverfront dining experiences that no longer exist
Post by: thelakelander on March 11, 2026, 08:52:34 PM
Good memories indeed. When we were kids, my dad would take me and my brothers to downtown to ride the Skyway. We'd then walk over to the Landing and find a place to eat lunch or dinner before catching the Skyway for the return trip. We did the same in Miami with Metrorail, Metromover and Bayside.
Title: Re: 7 riverfront dining experiences that no longer exist
Post by: jcjohnpaint on March 12, 2026, 07:26:17 AM
Quote from: heights unknown on Yesterday at 08:22:47 PMI miss the Landing. It was too hard and such a chore for them to renovate/upgrade it and keep it. Our Leadership during that time were inept, money hungry, uncaring, and misfits to say the least.

It was a really cool building. I don't think they would have to do much to turn it into a foodhall.
Title: Re: 7 riverfront dining experiences that no longer exist
Post by: Todd_Parker on March 12, 2026, 11:07:25 AM
Quote from: jcjohnpaint on Today at 07:26:17 AM
Quote from: heights unknown on Yesterday at 08:22:47 PMI miss the Landing. It was too hard and such a chore for them to renovate/upgrade it and keep it. Our Leadership during that time were inept, money hungry, uncaring, and misfits to say the least.

It was a really cool building. I don't think they would have to do much to turn it into a foodhall.

Thankfully, we'll still have ESPN to pass off old footage of the Landing as current for every TaxSlayer Bowl until the end of time.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/espn-roasted-for-outdated-footage/ar-AA1TaxXO (https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/espn-roasted-for-outdated-footage/ar-AA1TaxXO)