Neighborhoods: Baymeadows

[duvaldude08]

There is a TipTum Thai in the Winn Dixie Shopping Center on Baymeadows.

I had totally forgotton about the BBC. - Wow.  Some of J'villes really good beers.

Col. Mustards is still open in Neptune off of 3rd St.  I don't know if there were 2 stores or if he relocated, either way, they're awesome burgers.  The Best - sorry 5 Guys.

I remember eating raw oysters until I was couldn't move at CJs.  Good Times, foggy memories.

Five Guys is disgusting to me and not worth the money (just puked me in my mouth)

[duvaldude08]

One no-longer-there place is somewhat of one of those strange coincidences (well, two) - Bombay Bicycle Club at Baymeadows and I-95
Bombay - even though the menu had nothing to do with the subcontinent, and
Bicycle Club - since it was replaced by a motorcycle dealership.

That's what was there! I could not figure it out to save the live of me. Well here's a list of what has shut down the past 8 years: Miami Subs, Burger King, Pizzahut, Bennegin's, China Buffet, Bulls bar-b-que, Bombay, Steak N Ale and Steak Out. Whew. One thing I did notice though is that some of the resturants that closed, were closed nationally, not just specific to Baymeadows Rd (Steak N Ale, Bennegin's and Miami Subs)

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Don't forget Rio Bravo / Chevy's.

Loved that place, too.

[duvaldude08]

Don't forget Rio Bravo / Chevy's.

Loved that place, too.

I never been there. Before I stayed out here, I worked in baymeadows back in 2001-2006 when I worked for BCBS. Me and my friend hit just about EVERY resturant on baymdedows rd atleast once. Guess we miss that one. OH YEAH and Lee's Chicken. Another chain that closed its doors. Loved their lunch buffet!

[danno]

Have lived in Baymeadows since I moved here 10 years ago and I agree the diversity in restaurant choices is great.  Noticed no one mentioned Tories Restaurant near Lemongrass nor Gubbio's Italian.  Both are really good and underrated.  Sorry to see Colonel Mustard's Burgers go out of business though.  Col. Mustard's was greasy and low brow but a great "hole in the wall."

Last time I went to Gubbio's last year it had gone downhill.  Food quality was poor and service was sub par.  I believe that they were sold and were no longer owned by the original family.

[Jaxson]

Why does Baymeadows have to be so f'ing far away from anything 'urban core'...whether I'm driving from San Marco, Riverside, Ortega, Downtown, Springfield, it's alwaaaayyys too long to get there. Love the food, love the international markets--hate the drive & location.

That is the same thing I was thinking. Depsite what people may think, Jacksonville is VERY diverse. Problem, everything is so spread out and hidden that many people do not even know how diverse the city really is.

I think Baymeadows has become what it is today because of several organic factors at play.  These include:

Age

Baymeadows was the Southside's booming retail district in 25-30 years ago.  During that era, the section between Southside and Old Kings filled up with strip malls on nearly every corner and national chain style businesses in the outparcels.  In addition, several multifamily communities and office complexes were developed as well, making the corridor a pretty dense suburban area by Jacksonville's standards.  As time has gone on many of these places have moved on to today's booming latest and greatest, leaving behind a ton of building stock for new uses.

Immigration

At the same time Baymeadows was aging and the first wave of national retailers relocating, our region was (and still is) seeing a major increase in foreign-born population.  Given the location, the availability of affordable housing, cheaper retail leasing rates, access to I-95, etc. the diverse population and businesses we see in the corridor today makes a lot of sense.  That's pure organic growth at play.

Unfortunately, for urban core advocates, its a good drive away but it appears (at least to me) its simply a place that had the right available ingredients at a time when we witnessed major foreign-born population growth.  Other than the era of time, its really no different from the organic growth that resulted in places like Tampa's Ybor or Detroit's Greektown.  If the population wave would have happened 40 years ago, this atmosphere would have probably popped up in an area like Murray Hill or Springfield instead of aging first ring automobile oriented suburban districts.

Nevertheless, long term commuter rail and BRT plans should provide better connectivity between the urban core and the Baymeadows district.

+1! 

Lakelander hit the nail on the head with the above insight.  I always like reading his analysis of a city as a living, breathing organism that evolves as a creature of its times.  It makes for all sorts of speculation about how cities might have developed under different circumstances.  Like, what would have happened if Jacksonville did not experience the Great Fire of 1901?  Or what would have happened in Miami if Fidel Castro did not take over Cuba? 

Excellent article on the Baymeadows area, by the way...

[danno]

I remember Brian Sexton the voice of the Jaguars calling Baymeadows the Ellis Island of Jacksonville.  Many people that first relocated to Jax foriegn or domestic called Baymeadows home.  When I moved back here in the late 90's we had an apartment there and eventualy bought a townhouse.

[BaymeadowsBabe]

Don't see where anyone has mentioned "Stonewood Grill" at the corner of Baymeadows and San Jose.  What a great place to eat!!!

[kells904]

Can any of you folks familiar with the area recommend any apartment complexes?  Moving back to Jax in the fall to go to that "Art Institute" and I want my commute to be a short as possible.  Size doesn't really matter (tee-hee).

[duvaldude08]

Can any of you folks familiar with the area recommend any apartment complexes?  Moving back to Jax in the fall to go to that "Art Institute" and I want my commute to be a short as possible.  Size doesn't really matter (tee-hee).

To be honest, I would only Recommend Green Tree Place and maybe Hunter's Ridge. I currently stay in greentree place and it is worth the money. Majority of the other complexes on baymeadows you might want to stay away from. Not worth the money, bad management and terriable teanets.

[David]

Can any of you folks familiar with the area recommend any apartment complexes?  Moving back to Jax in the fall to go to that "Art Institute" and I want my commute to be a short as possible.  Size doesn't really matter (tee-hee).

I'm moving into Belle Rive apartments to be close to work and they look fairly decent...they're almost 100% occupied  & they have hardwood floors in them which makes the transition easier from my old place in Riverside....but yeah there's a lot of complexes off SS blvd that just aren't up to par. Choose wisely grasshopper!

[duvaldude08]

Can any of you folks familiar with the area recommend any apartment complexes?  Moving back to Jax in the fall to go to that "Art Institute" and I want my commute to be a short as possible.  Size doesn't really matter (tee-hee).

I'm moving into Belle Rive apartments to be close to work and they look fairly decent...they're almost 100% occupied  & they have hardwood floors in them which makes the transition easier from my old place in Riverside....but yeah there's a lot of complexes off SS blvd that just aren't up to par. Choose wisely grasshopper!

I know right! they will fool you because apartments LOOK very nice. You really have to do your homework for sure.

[exnewsman]

Several years back there were three supermarket chains within a block - Publix, Winn-Dixie (in the same locations where they still are today) and Food Lion (which is now a gym). Anyone remember Kenny Roger's Roasters chicken place in that same strip mall (behind Chili's). Just thinking about that place makes me think of the old Seinfeld episode... Rio Bravo was a fun place and the food was decent - nothing to write hoem to your Mexican grandmother about - but good).

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

My grandma was Italian.  I've already written to her about it. 

[kells904]

Looking for a new apartment sucks, I'm not really looking forward to it.

Thanks for the tips, guys.