Has anyone heard about this? My wife said that she read something in the Folio & that it's supposed to open in a month.
What is it?
artsy bar?? ???
OK - grabbed a Folio this evening - excerpts from Jason Yurgartis:
QuoteBROAD STROKES: A DOWNTOWN NIGHTSPOT GETS A MAKEOVER WITH THE ARTS IN MIND
Inside an unassuming storefront on West Forysth Street in downtown Jacksonville, 27-year old Brennan Hamill flips a switch that brings four air conditioners roaring to life. Exposed ductwork pumps air into the dimly lit, brick-walled room, stirring the smell of fresh paint
QuoteInspired partially by the equipment found upstairs, which was used for meat cutting and packing, the bar will be called THE SINCLAIR., named after a novelist and meat-packing industry muckraker Upton Sinclair. Hamil says the natural aesthetic of the near-century-old build is already in place, but wants the bar to have the feel of an old lodge or a private club. Creepy portraits of his literary and social heroes will adorn the walls...
Quote"I was inspired by the turn-of-the-century French parlors where artists, writers, and musicians would get together to discuss things." Hamil envisions the bar as a haven for the arts rather than a business, a socially minded enterprise.
- Confirmed - former site of Club Voodoo &/or JoAnn's Chili Bordello. Sounds pretty cool. How will this compliment the "entertainment district" with regard to proximity?
Quote from: blizz01 on November 12, 2008, 09:21:11 PM
- Confirmed - former site of Club Voodoo &/or JoAnn's Chili Bordello. Sounds pretty cool. How will this compliment the "entertainment district" with regard to proximity?
The Voodoo Lounge?
Thats closer to Jefferson Station than it is the Riverfront District. The club hasn't been poppin since 2003. Its not near those other clubs on Bay Street. I know its an ODD number address, I want to say the corner of Forsyth & Clay or Forsyth & Broad...not sure exactly.
So is he setting up shop in an area antonymous of anything else to compliment the bar (for now)?
Ballsy.
This is now open. Dropped by yesterday at Happy Hour to welcome them to the hood. Pretty nice inside. Beer and wine only, but a few unusual brews. Check them out.
This places sounds cool. It's good to see someone take a chance away from the Bay Street area.
I'm planning on going sometime this weekend. A few friends of mine went and said it was a "chill" bar.
Is this place only going to be a bar or are they going to try and use it for concerts again? It seems to be a big place to support if it is only a bar. Especially since it is on its own away from other places to garner foot traffic.
There's a decent sized stage inside, so it COULD be used for concerts...I hope they do.
Indeed, we are open and we will be featuring entertainments of all sorts! Please come in and check us out!
I went to The Sinclair this evening and had a terrible experience. I want more than anything for some more bars to open in this town, especially downtown, and everything about The Sinclair could work if the staff were not impossibly rude. Simply stated, these people are in the wrong business. The space was inviting, the music great, and selection of beer and wine was adequate. At my suggestion several of my friends met there this evening. We ordered six bottles of wine and tipped well but the staff were simply rude from the moment we arrived and it only progressed with time to the point it was almost comical. Regretfully, I will never go back to this place and it had such promise. I even liked the monogrammed matchbooks. So if you go make sure to wear your skinny jeans because these people would rather not have your money unless you fit their target demographic.
I went last night, was a nice mix of people. Was a VERY Indie crowd tho.
Limited selection in beer and wine, no harder liquore and limited seating. Is a good "Starter bar" someplace you go to socialze before going to your destination for the night.
Not my scene, probley wont go back. Me and my friend that went wernt really fitting in at all. ALTHOUGH $1 sakie shots kept me entertained.
Just very Scenie and Indie if that makes any since to anyone.
edit: In responce to River, the staff was more then accomidating to me and my friend and we didnt fit, actually did sakie shots with them. You might have come off as rude although it is a very young staff so Im sure they are still learning on bar serving
My first time was last Wednesday, I took a friend who just recently moved back to Jax after being away for school for four years. He and I were both fairly impressed. The CO2 on their Bold City tap was messing up or I would have supported my local brewery once again. So the bar tender let us sample several other beers in small sample cups. He seemed to be fairly knowledgable of the selection and types of beer. Very impressed with the overall look of the bar to say the least. Definately a vintage vibe to the place, which is always cool in my book. Not sure about the talk of an "indie" crowd though... when I went it was a mix of people from mid 20's to early 30's in age. But I guess most of you would consider me "indie" if you were to meet me, haha. I will without a doubt go again.
The Sinclair has to be one of my favorite places in Jacksonville to just be. A really chill (but not too cold) atmosphere, featuring beer and wine and water, that is approachable any time that they are open.
I recommend it!
What nights are the busy nights? It seemed to draw a good crowd on Saturday nights at first, but lately it's been pretty quiet.
The last couple times I've gone by it's been dead...I want to support, but I'm not interested in sitting in an empty bar by myself either.
I think the few times I've been there have been on nights ranging from Thurs-Sat. Most times it's been fairly busy, I think I've been in their once in the past few weeks and been one of maybe 15 people. I just like the atmosphere personally. Sometimes the bands / artist they have on stage are not my cup of tea but I don't mind going in there for a couple of beer before going elsewhere.