Grand opening Saturday evening. Don't know much about it, but the address suggests that it's by Walkers & they have a FB link.....
(http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/object2/1004/100/n234062289253_9020.jpg)
http://www.facebook.com/theloftjax
...and a website, theloftjax.com
This is the place that has been on the construction update for like 8 months as a storefront on King. If memory serves..
Its right next door to Park Place. Owned by the same guy that owns Walkers.
Check here....
http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/gallery/11432409_sShgC#803690899_C8fP3-A-LB
New favorite bar in town. The decor is amazing, the music was upbeat and a enjoyable, the service was great, the crowd was diverse and fun. All in all a great place and a great time.
QuoteThe Loft opens on King Street in Riverside, adding after-dark appeal
By Laura Capitano
Riverside night life is growing, people, bursting at the seams. While the neighborhood's Five Points area has traditionally been considered its entertainment hub, a second pocket of action has been bubbling and fizzing several blocks away on King Street, gaining momentum as a leisure destination.
The liveliness of the King Street District, as locals are calling it, stems from the popularity of Kickbacks Gastropub, Park Place Lounge, Walkers Wine Bar and, most recently, The Loft bar and lounge. Vibrant night life is great to see along the formerly dull strip of locksmiths and Laundromats.
The Loft is the latest venture from Scott McAlister, who opened the nearby Walkers Wine Bar in May 2009. Less than a year later, McAlister is in opening mode all over again, a particularly impressive feat considering the renovations the space underwent to take it from the crumbling laundry facilities that lived there before to the open and eye-catching space it is today.
"The overall hope is to create a King Street District that has lots of options, so it can be someone's first choice of where to go for the evening and do a pub crawl on the same block," McAlister said of his commitment to the area. "We want people to think of the King Street District like they do Bay Street or the Beaches - as a destination."
McAlister maintained the minimalist, metropolitan design aesthetic seen at Walkers in the spacious new lounge. Inspired by the look of old St. Louis crate warehouses, McAlister stripped away decades of paneling, sheetrock and drop ceilings to expose original brick and girders. A circular, full-service bar sits at the center of the main room, while cozier, more private couch seating is tucked away under the stairs. Climb the stairs to The Loft's literal loft to find additional sofa seating and space at the rail to oversee the main floor action from above. The Loft is smoke-free, dimly lit and features New Wave and indie rock music selections.
Choice of music genre was a key decision for McAlister.
"Rarely do people want to stay at the exact same place all night and listen to the exact same music, so it's important that each place in the district have its own style and music. Walkers is for relaxing and for people to have a place to sit down and not have too much action around them. The Loft is more upbeat."
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400563/laura-capitano/2010-04-23/loft-opens-king-street-riverside-adding-after-dark
I went to Loft last night with a group of friends- really cool inside with awesome service and music. The only issue is that, that part of King St. is really dark. With the exception of people sitting outside Kickbacks and the gas station on the corner- nothing was lit up. I think better light would make that corner feel a bit safer. Is that something the city could address oe would the bar owners have to take care of that?
JEA is already proposing that they eliminate half of existing street lights to save money, so additional lighting provided by the city seems doubtful!
Quote from: Captain Zissou on April 18, 2010, 05:13:21 PM
New favorite bar in town. The decor is amazing, the music was upbeat and a enjoyable, the service was great, the crowd was diverse and fun. All in all a great place and a great time.
Good service at a bar that has more than 2 people in it at a time is becoming increasingly difficult to find around here. Night before last, I waited 20+ minutes standing at the bar trying to get someone's attention to cash out a tab, while one of the two bartenders was flirting with a group of his friends, and the other one was making every effort to avoid eye contact with everyone at the bar and do as little work as possible. Finally he screwed up and got close enough that I could tap him on the arm and asked for my check, then he couldn't avoid me anymore. If that didn't work, I was going to walk out and call amex from the car on the way home and tell them to just cancel that card I gave them and send me a new one. Ridiculous.
Quote from: Miss Fixit on April 25, 2010, 07:38:12 PM
JEA is already proposing that they eliminate half of existing street lights to save money, so additional lighting provided by the city seems doubtful!
Jea having money issues?
Quote from: Coolyfett on April 27, 2010, 08:25:42 AM
Quote from: Miss Fixit on April 25, 2010, 07:38:12 PM
JEA is already proposing that they eliminate half of existing street lights to save money, so additional lighting provided by the city seems doubtful!
Jea having money issues?
I can't imagine how, after their rate increases.
It's so bad there is actually a group on Facebook now (to which I belong) called "People Against JEA's High Bills."
The Loft is cool
Quote from: ChriswUfGator on April 27, 2010, 10:28:40 AM
Quote from: Coolyfett on April 27, 2010, 08:25:42 AM
Quote from: Miss Fixit on April 25, 2010, 07:38:12 PM
JEA is already proposing that they eliminate half of existing street lights to save money, so additional lighting provided by the city seems doubtful!
Jea having money issues?
I can't imagine how, after their rate increases.
It's so bad there is actually a group on Facebook now (to which I belong) called "People Against JEA's High Bills."
just wait, its going to get worse
Loft is cool, way to go owners of Walker's wine bar.
Scott is a real estate tycoon who operates without any general liability insurance, he is a roller of dice, so if you work for him, get the money upfront, cause we all know how real estate is these days.
I have been so disappointed in The Loft lately and I don't think I will go back. They were cool when they first opened but now the place is overrun with d-bags. The drinks are mediocre at best and kind of pricey. Plus, I don't understand why the music is always so loud. Are they trying to be a dance club? I have gone there a few times recently with some of my friends and we had to leave after our first drink because we were literally screaming and still could not hear each other. I am all for good music, but this was so loud it was obnoxious. Why have a cool space for people to hang out and mingle if you can't hear ANYTHING! I thought The Loft was a good addition to the King Street district but I wish it was more like Dos Gatos. Walker's had potential but it seems like the owner has abandoned it to d-bag it up at The Loft.
When you say d-bags.... What does that exactly.
(http://i.imgur.com/bwllC.png)
Quote from: doglover on August 17, 2011, 08:18:51 PM
I have been so disappointed in The Loft lately and I don't think I will go back. They were cool when they first opened but now the place is overrun with d-bags. The drinks are mediocre at best and kind of pricey. Plus, I don't understand why the music is always so loud. Are they trying to be a dance club? I have gone there a few times recently with some of my friends and we had to leave after our first drink because we were literally screaming and still could not hear each other. I am all for good music, but this was so loud it was obnoxious. Why have a cool space for people to hang out and mingle if you can't hear ANYTHING! I thought The Loft was a good addition to the King Street district but I wish it was more like Dos Gatos. Walker's had potential but it seems like the owner has abandoned it to d-bag it up at The Loft.
Wow. When you put it so eloquently I don't see how anyone can't disagree with you.
What 'type' of people would you like to see at the Loft?? Do you want the return of the judgemental hipsters who buy one PBR and stand outside to smoke cigarettes the whole night? I'd like to say I prefer the more fun and energetic crowd that has been populating The Loft lately.
I like the Loft, and my mother has assured me I am not a D-bag.
BTW, Loft and Rogue are part of the almost world-famous Metrojacksonville Pub Crawl next Friday the 26th.... spanning Riverside, Downtown and San Marco. Tickets at metrojacksonville.com/pubcrawl
Classy people, D-bags, members of Epping Forrest and University Club, hipsters(and hip huggers), punks, goths, fratboys, sorority girls(especially Tri Delts) and debutants all welcome.
Rest assured, Snooki and the Jersey Shore crew will not be there.
I don't know about no d-bags, hipsters, doofuses, furkels (fat Urkels) or what have you being more prevalent there than usual lately, but I will chime in and say I live not too far from the Loft/Rogue and think they're another welcome addition to the King St. District. That said, I will agree that they can get way too freaking loud some nights--I can hear their thumpty-thump bass in my place from a block away or so, which is great to dance to, but can suck when you're trying to sleep at 2 in the morning.
Also, where CAN I get a 13" collar pink polo shirt like the brah in the pic above is rocking?
LP - Do you live behind or in front of The Loft? I am a block down Post in front of them, and I can't recall ever hearing them.
I would also say that I welcome the crowds that Scott's bars bring, and the other establishments around it. I have picked up a few PBR cans from my yard and once a broken bottle, but I will put up with that to have a lively entertainment district that close by.
I am a d-bag, and I think the Loft is doing what it was meant to do. The laid-back hang-out bar is next door (Rogue) or in the back (Independent or whatever they're calling it now that isn't as good a name as Independent). Heck, go upstairs at the Loft and its slightly quieter and a lot more laid-back. I just wish Independent had some better-insulated walls, so you could keep the loud music out of there. but, when you have a big dance floor, its a place to dance. And if you do want some real peace and quiet, Walkers is 100 yards away and, unfortunately and kinda curiously, very empty. Anyway, you're going to have collar-popping guys like me at any place that is filled with beautiful ladies, and the Loft is no exception. Seriously, hot chicks on King St? That's change we can all believe in.
^ I frequent both Loft and Rogue and haven't noticed an overabundance of said "d-bags". However, I do regularly wear collared polos so perhaps I am one them as well. I don't typically rock the collar though.
I'm glad the Loft has opened on King street, it brings some vibrancy to the area. Although it seems to be falling into the routine many clubs around town have fallen into as well, they have one big night, in their case Thursday, and are dead the rest of the week.
Quote from: Lucasjj on August 18, 2011, 10:59:04 AM
LP - Do you live behind or in front of The Loft? I am a block down Post in front of them, and I can't recall ever hearing them.
I would also say that I welcome the crowds that Scott's bars bring, and the other establishments around it. I have picked up a few PBR cans from my yard and once a broken bottle, but I will put up with that to have a lively entertainment district that close by.
Lucas,
I'm on the other side of King St behind the Loft, so I think we get some noise spill from the back door area (Independent?). We've spoken to Scott about it and he's been pretty cool about trying to reduce the sound with better insulation inside, but we still hear the bass sometimes. What can I say, I'm an old man (over 30) and the bass keeps me awake! I tell myself it's the price you pay for living in a vibrant urban environment and that it's better than hearing gunshots, so that usually helps lull me back to sleep.
As far as empty cans and bottles, yeah, I pick them up in the yard occasionally too. I put a request into the city not long ago to install trash cans on the sidewalk at both corners of College and King (I think there are some already at Post and King?) which I think would help with the empties, but was informed the Solid Waste Division is no longer budgeted to install them.
Anyone know who I could bug to get those big black metal trash cans commonly seen around Riverside installed at this corner? I'm thinking RAP could probably help, or maybe our new councilman, Jim Love.
Jim Love's State Farm insurance office is directly next door to Kickbacks. He is a big supporter of what has been going on in that area and has worked out an arrangement to let Kickbacks patrons use his parking. Drop him an email about putting up some more trash cans in the area.
jimlove@coj.net
Don't get your hopes up too high that it will eliminate the PBR cans in the yard though. Might help.
Quote from: stephendare on August 18, 2011, 09:39:31 AM
Ive always thought it was strange how every few months or so, whenever downtown gets slow and King Street is busy, that we get these strangely similar posts from new posters.
They follow the same formula: KingStreet sucks/is unsafe/is populated by stupids -------and its a lot more fun at a few select nightclubs downtown.
Its odd, but for some reason, 100% out of 100% of the people who hate King Street only seem to like the same handful of nightclubs downtown instead. San Marco, the rest of Riverside, Avondale, Five Points, the Southside, and the Beaches are all apparently dead to them.
Isnt that strange?
What a generalization, but it does not apply to me. I think the King Street district is very safe and I frequent Kickbacks. I definitely do not hate the area. I love it and have lived in Riverside 9 years. I wish there were more places like Dos Gatos and prefer that atmosphere to the disappointment that the loft has become. I just don't think The Loft lives up to all of the other wonderful places in my neighborhood. sheesh, and I thought I was a neighborhood snob!!
Wow. When you put it so eloquently I don't see how anyone can't disagree with you.
What 'type' of people would you like to see at the Loft?? Do you want the return of the judgemental hipsters who buy one PBR and stand outside to smoke cigarettes the whole night? I'd like to say I prefer the more fun and energetic crowd that has been populating The Loft lately.
[/quote]
yeah, ditto on your eloquence! It must be nice to be right all of the time. so unlike all those "judgemental hipsters".