Downtown Bars: A History

[Ernest Street]

There is a saying: If you remember the Milk Bar....you weren't there.
If I remember right "Thee Imperial Lounge" was running before "Voodoo Lounge" was even though they were neighbors.
Rock & Roll Pizza came later,and it really made sense to have pizza ovens on the premises with touring acts showing up.   Didn't Lisa own both of these?

True war story: One night as sound equipment was being loaded into Thee Imperial...a mummified stray cat head made it's way into the club on a road case or some box...HIGHLY disturbing the bar tender and the sound man...it remained on a 12 foot speaker until some Goths took it.
Both Clubs actually had good acoustics and didn't need excessive Volume...you could have a conversation even with a snarling Punk band onstage.

[marksjax]

Heights you have a fantastic memory. Excellent details! Thanks very much.

[urbanlibertarian]

I googled R&R Liquors and stumbled on this cool site:

http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php

[urbanlibertarian]

From an article in the Times-Union Millennium Moments by Ann Hyman 8/24/99 about Jax in 1963:

http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/082499/mom_1a2milMo.html

At Polly's Night Owl Club on Main Street, you could bring your own bottle and dance until dawn.

At the Happy Hour Lounge on Normandy Boulevard, you could sing along with Robin.

At the Hotel George Washington, Emery Evans Cavaliers played from 8:30 until . . .

[RWNeal]

We have a few postcard images of downtown restaurants and bars scattered throughout our online collection. Here are a few of 'em:

Embers interior: http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/dlc/florida/pc/PCJPG/PCJAX032-029.html
Rainbow Cocktail Lounge and Bar: http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/dlc/florida/pc/PCJPG/PCJAX032-011.html
J and M Town House (SoJax but it's a great card): http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/dlc/florida/pc/PCJPG/PCJAX032-013.html

The general page of Restaurants, bars, etc. is here: http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/dlc/florida/pc/032.html.

Raymond

[Dog Walker]

HU, the restaurant on the corner of Main and Duval was Nicola's not Bufano's.  Owned and run by Nicola Buano a native of Naples, Italy who was a lawyer and banker in his native country, but who married an American woman in the military and followed her here to Jacksonville when she left him with their son.  Cooking was his hobby in Naples, but became his livelihood here.

When they tore the building down, he moved his restaurant into the space that was later occupied by 24 Miramar, but couldn't make it work there.

Nicola (Nick) was a lifelong friend and mentor and a true character.  He was a lieutenant in the Italian army during the invasion of Albania and was captured by the British in the desert of North Africa.

[heights unknown]

HU, the restaurant on the corner of Main and Duval was Nicola's not Bufano's.  Owned and run by Nicola Buano a native of Naples, Italy who was a lawyer and banker in his native country, but who married an American woman in the military and followed her here to Jacksonville when she left him with their son.  Cooking was his hobby in Naples, but became his livelihood here.

When they tore the building down, he moved his restaurant into the space that was later occupied by 24 Miramar, but couldn't make it work there.

Nicola (Nick) was a lifelong friend and mentor and a true character.  He was a lieutenant in the Italian army during the invasion of Albania and was captured by the British in the desert of North Africa.

Thanks for the correction Dog Walker; I do remember the sign on the building as "Bufano's." I frequented that area too many times not to remember that sign, and I even ate at that restaurant many times before going out to party. I believe you relative to Nicola owning that restaurant, but the sign said Bufano's; I even had a picture, that I lost years ago, of me and some friends in front of the Flamingo with the Bufano's sign in the background; wish I still had that pic. Anyway, thanks for the correction and the info.

"HU"

[heights unknown]

I googled R&R Liquors and stumbled on this cool site:

http://www.sweethomemusic.fr/Interviews/DaysOfLoveAndBloodUS.php

I can't believe this article! Some, or most of Southern Rock was born in an Apartment/Hotel ABOVE the R&R Lounge, a lounge I frequented, and in which the old Apartment/Hotel that these stars would collaborate in, which was above the R&R Lounge, would later turn into a Gay Bar called "The French Quarter," in which I also frequented with a Bisexual Friend of mine in the mid and late 70's. Wow! You never know about things until you dig on the internet in our internet and information laced age! Thanks "Urbanlibertarian" for this article. As a Musician I really appreciate the info relative to Rock and Roll, Soul, and Rhythm and Blues groups and bands and how they collaborated, and how all these genres are reated to each other and Southern Rock was born in Jacksonville, and some or most of it born in a place that would later become a gay bar upstairs over the old R&R Lounge that I frequented as a young Sailor; all I can say is......WOW!!!!!!!

"HU"

[Ralph W]

HU, the restaurant on the corner of Main and Duval was Nicola's not Bufano's.  Owned and run by Nicola Buano a native of Naples, Italy who was a lawyer and banker in his native country, but who married an American woman in the military and followed her here to Jacksonville when she left him with their son.  Cooking was his hobby in Naples, but became his livelihood here.

When they tore the building down, he moved his restaurant into the space that was later occupied by 24 Miramar, but couldn't make it work there.

Nicola (Nick) was a lifelong friend and mentor and a true character.  He was a lieutenant in the Italian army during the invasion of Albania and was captured by the British in the desert of North Africa.

Thanks for the correction Dog Walker; I do remember the sign on the building as "Bufano's." I frequented that area too many times not to remember that sign, and I even ate at that restaurant many times before going out to party. I believe you relative to Nicola owning that restaurant, but the sign said Bufano's; I even had a picture, that I lost years ago, of me and some friends in front of the Flamingo with the Bufano's sign in the background; wish I still had that pic. Anyway, thanks for the correction and the info.

"HU"

Was that restaurant still in business between 1982 - 1984?

I remember a fantastic lasagna that has never been duplicated. (better that my now deceased Italian relatives).
If it is the same place I remember it had a high, stamped tin ceiling.

[Dog Walker]

HU, the restaurant on the corner of Main and Duval was Nicola's not Bufano's.  Owned and run by Nicola Buano a native of Naples, Italy who was a lawyer and banker in his native country, but who married an American woman in the military and followed her here to Jacksonville when she left him with their son.  Cooking was his hobby in Naples, but became his livelihood here.

When they tore the building down, he moved his restaurant into the space that was later occupied by 24 Miramar, but couldn't make it work there.

Nicola (Nick) was a lifelong friend and mentor and a true character.  He was a lieutenant in the Italian army during the invasion of Albania and was captured by the British in the desert of North Africa.

Thanks for the correction Dog Walker; I do remember the sign on the building as "Bufano's." I frequented that area too many times not to remember that sign, and I even ate at that restaurant many times before going out to party. I believe you relative to Nicola owning that restaurant, but the sign said Bufano's; I even had a picture, that I lost years ago, of me and some friends in front of the Flamingo with the Bufano's sign in the background; wish I still had that pic. Anyway, thanks for the correction and the info.

"HU"

Was that restaurant still in business between 1982 - 1984?

I remember a fantastic lasagna that has never been duplicated. (better that my now deceased Italian relatives).
If it is the same place I remember it had a high, stamped tin ceiling.

I think those were about the last years it was there.  The secret ingredient in the lasagna was nutmeg in the meat sauce.  Gave it a really different and rich taste.  It was really fantastic.  One of Nick's signature dishes.

You remember the ceiling correctly.

[marksjax]

Heights that is a great article about the birth of Southern Rock right here in our city. Wish Judy Van Zant had opened Freebird Cafe in Downtown Jax now that I know where it all started.

I remember the Atlanta Rhythm Section opened for the Stones in the Gator Bowl in !975. Must have been about 70,000 there that day. For $10 you saw The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Chaka Khan with Rufus, The J Geils Band (w/Peter Wolf) and then the Rolling Stones. Quite the deal!

[fieldafm]

I remember the Atlanta Rhythm Section opened for the Stones in the Gator Bowl in !975. Must have been about 70,000 there that day. For $10 you saw The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Chaka Khan with Rufus, The J Geils Band (w/Peter Wolf) and then the Rolling Stones. Quite the deal!

I was there for that!  When the Stones played 'Honkey Tonk Woman' two gigantic inflatable women sprung up on stage left and right. 

[KuroiKetsunoHana]

I remember the Atlanta Rhythm Section opened for the Stones in the Gator Bowl in !975. Must have been about 70,000 there that day. For $10 you saw The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Chaka Khan with Rufus, The J Geils Band (w/Peter Wolf) and then the Rolling Stones. Quite the deal!

I was there for that!  When the Stones played 'Honkey Tonk Woman' two gigantic inflatable women sprung up on stage left and right.

that all sounds quite terrifyïng.

[fieldafm]

glad you weren't there then 

[marksjax]

That show has a lot of history in itself. The Stones had a week off prior to the gig and spent it at the Sea Turtle in Atlantic Beach. They occupied the entire top two floors. Jagger was eating and drinking  amongst the locals without entourage or security. Many parties in the hotel no doubt. A high school friend worked room service at the hotel and he said it was a wild week. They went 24/7 non-stop. British stamina!