Five Points News stand closing(turning into BBQ?)

[Jaxson]

The internet killed their real profit center.

True.  When I was in high school, I liked reading out-of-town newspapers.  It was great to read of perspectives from other cities and writers.  I especially liked reading The New York Times, The Miami Herald (Carl Hiaasen is great!), the Atlanta Constitution and the Tampa Tribune.  I remember that the news stand also sold Sunday editions of a variety of papers from San Francisco to Boston.  Over the years, I saw the number of newspapers dwindle.  I noticed that the number of magazines also dropped off.  Before long, it seemed that only the adult material was still getting a lot of shelf space.  
For a time, they opened up other locations at the Beach and near Mandarin.  And, now, they will be no more.  All in all, I am going to miss the Five Points News Stand.  

[stjr]

5 Points newsstand is likely the last true newsstand left in Jax.  I wished the T-U or MJ would do a retrospective on it.  It's one of the older businesses in Jax and definitely a piece of a bygone era.

I remember Jake's newsstand downtown, too.  Both were a little bit of NYC in Jax.  We also used to have Whites/Duval News.

The internet killed their real profit center.

You must mean the XXX materials!    Not to mention newspapers and mags online from everywhere and kids not reading comic books anymore because they play video games.

[billy]

NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
This was a childhood icon, I never even went into the back room!

I used to buy Melody Maker there during the 1970's.

[RiversideLoki]

Chicken little, sky is falling. Give me a break!

The main problem is the property owners and some bad decisions by some business owners. It's sad that the news stand is closing. But honestly, how many of you ever bought a darn thing from there? Honestly?

I'm seeing a bit of a push by some parties to trash 5-points and make the "king street district" look like the new "hot spot". Which is laughable. Emily's doing great with Underbelly, and Lomax is bringing in some good stuff. But the property owners of the empty properties that want to charge exorbitant rents need to get a clue or watch their properties sit empty like downtown. It's also sad that Fu Hao closed, but one neighborhood doesn't need 4 sushi places.

[RiversideLoki]

I suppose the "Bro-dude" "Salt-life mouth-breather" crowd does pay the bills. It kept Bourbon Street Station open for quite a while. (which may still be open, but still full of Salt-life mouth-breathers.) But everything around the place crumbled.

But back on topic. It's really just sad to see another 5-points institution go down. I ask again though, how many of us actually bought stuff from him? You can't be sad for a place you never supported.

[EDIT] Because I got venue names mixed up. And I've had 4 beers and I'm punchy. And I love my 'hood. So I apologize if I come off as a d-hole.

[Jaxson]

Chicken little, sky is falling. Give me a break!

The main problem is the property owners and some bad decisions by some business owners. It's sad that the news stand is closing. But honestly, how many of you ever bought a darn thing from there? Honestly?

I'm seeing a bit of a push by some parties to trash 5-points and make the "king street district" look like the new "hot spot". Which is laughable. Emily's doing great with Underbelly, and Lomax is bringing in some good stuff. But the property owners of the empty properties that want to charge exorbitant rents need to get a clue or watch their properties sit empty like downtown. It's also sad that Fu Hao closed, but one neighborhood doesn't need 4 sushi places.

Thank you.  I don't even think that downtown Tokyo has such a high density of sushi places.  Before people whip out the Tokyo yellow pages, please be assured that I am only kidding...

[5pointy]

I always bought my Florida Times Union there every day, instead of the paper box just because I liked to see them there, the little icon that it was. And my dog liked to visit the old guy who gave her water with ice cubes in hot weather and a piece of beef jerky. But I know you can't pay rent on papers alone. Maybe it could be "Five Points Paper and BBQ"...

[TheProfessor]

In NYC the newsstand always has something for sale in addition to the periodicals.  Perhaps he should have sold other items to make up for the lacking newspaper sales?  I wish there was a good bookstore/magazine shop over there with a coffee shop inside.

[Ocklawaha]

Growing up in the 50's and 60's, as a rabid reader I learned that nearly every city had it's news stand. God knows I've done my part to keep the 5-Points stand open back when they still sold transportation and mechanical interest magazines. Maybe I'm old fashioned but I still get perhaps 15 magazines per month at my door. I can glance at the cover and know which issue has the articles I'm looking for without waiting for a download. Moreover the internet for all of it's wonders hasn't been able to replace a good print editor in setting up related stories and companion articles all in one place without a google search. One more thing? If I want some really first class photos of my trains, boats, planes etc. all I have to do is open the pages of my favorite magazines, without wading through 200 photos of some idiot riding a bike off a cliff. You get what you pay for, and if you have a favorite magazine, it's probably because you have a cosmic connection with the editor.

Damn! Just Damn! God I hate to see that little piece of Americana fade away.


OCKLAWAHA

[ChriswUfGator]

I think rents are reasonable in 5 Points.

I love your business, and not trying to stir anything up. However, if rents in 5 Points were reasonable there wouldn't be such a high number of vacant properties. The market determines what's reasonable, not you or I. That's just how it goes.

[Captain Zissou]

I'm seeing a bit of a push by some parties to trash 5-points and make the "king street district" look like the new "hot spot". Which is laughable. Emily's doing great with Underbelly, and Lomax is bringing in some good stuff. But the property owners of the empty properties that want to charge exorbitant rents need to get a clue or watch their properties sit empty like downtown. It's also sad that Fu Hao closed, but one neighborhood doesn't need 4 sushi places.

I don't think anyone is trying to trash five points.  Anyone that thinks one area needs to decline for another area to succeed is delusional.  It would be better for both areas if they were both successful.  Their battle is not with eachother, but with the southside and the beach.  The areas cater to different crowds and provide a different type of experience.  It sounds like if you and both of your friends prefer 5 points, I'd like King Street better.

I suppose the "Bro-dude" "Salt-life mouth-breather" crowd does pay the bills. It kept Bourbon Street Station open for quite a while. (which may still be open, but still full of Salt-life mouth-breathers.) But everything around the place crumbled.

Sorry you don't think having people in a bar is a good thing, but I don't care who patronizes my business as long as they play nice with others.  A discriminatory attitude like that is a quick way to sink a bar.  There's not enough demand in riverside to treat patrons with disdain, no matter how un-hip they might be.  Looks like you need to get off your high horse/fixie and grow up.  Maybe someone's skinny jeans are on too tight.

[Fallen Buckeye]

The fact that 5 Points has a supermarket, my favorite local pizza joint, my landlord's offices, and the Cummer and RAM nearby keeps me coming to 5 Points. As long they maintain a mix of uses like that I think you have to argue that it's still a vibrant area. With the economy as it is, only the best business models can make it period. I'm pretty sure the vacancy rate in 5 Points fares very well in comparison to Jax overall.

[ChriswUfGator]

The fact that 5 Points has a supermarket, my favorite local pizza joint, my landlord's offices, and the Cummer and RAM nearby keeps me coming to 5 Points. As long they maintain a mix of uses like that I think you have to argue that it's still a vibrant area. With the economy as it is, only the best business models can make it period. I'm pretty sure the vacancy rate in 5 Points fares very well in comparison to Jax overall.

The publix shopping center isn't what we're referring to when we say "5 Points". I think most people are referring to the original core of 5 Points, e.g. the original commercial district around Park & Lomax. Much/most of it is vacant. Of course the Publix is doing well, it's Publix. That has little to do with the rest of 5 Points.

[copperfiend]

The fact that 5 Points has a supermarket, my favorite local pizza joint, my landlord's offices, and the Cummer and RAM nearby keeps me coming to 5 Points. As long they maintain a mix of uses like that I think you have to argue that it's still a vibrant area. With the economy as it is, only the best business models can make it period. I'm pretty sure the vacancy rate in 5 Points fares very well in comparison to Jax overall.

The Publix is not in Five Points

[5 Points Theatre]

I don't think it's right to say that much or most of 5 Points is vacant.  Currently there are four vacancies on Park Street - the old Latitudes space, the old Peterson Events space, Fuel, and maybe Fu Hao (but I hear that may re-open).  I that's comparable to Avondale or San Marco (or anywhere on the Southside for that matter).

For 5 Points to be successful, I think people need to think of it as including everything from the Publix to RAM, including Lomax and the other end of Margaret Street.  If you take that definition, there's as many stores as a mall, and people from across town begin to think of the area in a new way.  This is where smart urban planning and urban design can play a huge role - in tying the area together with signage, streetscaping, etc.