The Ivy Bar

[GoGators7781]

Okay guys heres the deal. I know the people involved in this project on Bay Street, but they are keeping tight lipped on whats going on. Here is what I know:

-The location is at 113 East Bay Street right next to Nicky G's
- The owners are not part of the group that was creating Metro
- They are expecting a late july opening
- It is called "The Ivy Bar"
- It will be an upscale bar that will compliment Mark's, Dive, and Twisted but adding its own flavor.
-The space is larger than both Mark's and Dive bar, and has one long 60' bar.
-The owners are using the existing brick to keep with the historic feel, but also make it have a comfortable modern feel.
-It is being billed as a Ultra Bar- I guess meaning that it will have more lounge seating than other bars downtown, with cocktail service and two patios, one out front and a huge one out in the back.
-They've hired one of Jacksonville's Premier DJ's. They won't release his name because he's still under contact somewhere else.
-They are all UNF graduates and have a facebook page under the name of The Ivy. Here is a link but I'm not sure how long it will work for.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13428634220&ref=ts

I've know these guys for years and I can't wait until the doors open!!

[thelakelander]

Here's the logo.  I hope they light that building up with some nice signage.



from their facebook site.

Yes......the rumors are true! A few alumni from UNF are opening a bar in downtown Jacksonville. But as with each new bar comes the excitement of how they are going to be better than existing establishments. Well, The Ivy will be Jacksonville's first Ultra Bar. But what exactly is an Ultra Bar? It is kind of hard at first to explain but simple after you experience it first hand. An Ultra Bar is a hybrid mix of what is best about local bars and super nightclubs. This Ultra Bar concept takes out the things that often turn people away from each. With a local bar you can't really socialize with a lot of people but with Jacksonville's super clubs, too many people are there to get to know. The Ivy will intergrate the best of both worlds. With a 50' bar and more than enough lounge area, getting to know someone will be easier than ever. But what about the dancing? We've got you covered there too. The Ivy will have a large dance floor for those that like to cut it loose after work or even late night. If your not a dancer but like to watch the crowd, we have plenty of places to watch the floor when the night gets grooving.

We will even have true VIP service but that will be discussed later.

[Dapperdan]

I did some lighting work in that space when Chaos Fest used to run there every year. Are they going to use the upstairs space at all? I think a  Super Bowl party was held there as they still had the banners on the wall last time I was in there. It has a huge upper room that would be a  cool VIP area. 

[TREE4309]

- It will be an upscale bar that will compliment Mark's, Dive, and Twisted but adding its own flavor.

Hmmm...sorry if this sounds negative (it probably is), but another "upscale" bar that "compliments" (i.e. emulates) three tragically similar bars (oh sorry...one has cheesy rock posters on the wall) that all cater to the same crowd is not something I'm interested in seeing again, but obviously places like Mark's and Twisted are making money, so I can't blame these guys for following the formula.

[Dapperdan]

So is this another top 40 club? Jax really needs more of those..lol. It would be great if we can get a true dance club that spins House, techno, and trance. Give us a  good European experience, ya know.

[Basstacular]

I completely agree Stephen, the biggest knock my friends give for not going Downtown, is not a lack of variety, but a lack of different places to go.  I live at the beach and go out there all of the time.  Talk about tragically similar and catering to a certain crowd.  The only exception is Ocean Club, which allows 18 and up and doesn't have a great reputation.  Any new place Downtown and especially expanding on this Bay Street "entertainment district" is nothing short of a positive.  This will hopefully continue to bridge the Landing with the other night spots on the East end of Bay.  These current bars and any future one's can hopefully thrive and be established once the dreded courthouse is finally moved.  Great to hear and I can't wait to start enjoying it more when I move into BP2 next year.

[David]

- It will be an upscale bar that will compliment Mark's, Dive, and Twisted but adding its own flavor.

Hmmm...sorry if this sounds negative (it probably is), but another "upscale" bar that "compliments" (i.e. emulates) three tragically similar bars (oh sorry...one has cheesy rock posters on the wall) that all cater to the same crowd is not something I'm interested in seeing again, but obviously places like Mark's and Twisted are making money, so I can't blame these guys for following the formula.

You know you're getting dragged out to it when it opens, Mr. Tree

I agree somewhat with your statement, but It's not like we even have a base downtown to be alternative to yet. Once Bay street gets its night life base at a healthy mass, then the freak bars can open!

Or, you can just keep going to Springfield & Riverside for chill and counter-culture nightlife. Let the plastics have Bay street, people in the Hyatt need something to do and like someone else said, it'll pull people from similar nightspots at the beach & southside downtown, which is always superduper.

[David]

So is this another top 40 club? Jax really needs more of those..lol. It would be great if we can get a true dance club that spins House, techno, and trance. Give us a  good European experience, ya know.

I haven't been to one of those in Jax since the days of the Fat Kat. Maybe things are different than they were 6-8 years ago, but any club that's spun that genre, which i like personally, seems to phase it out due to low turnout. Unless X blows up really big again, and the atf agents take it easy on the raids,  like they did in the late 90's and early 2000's, I doubt it'll happen. Total stereotype I know, but I have a hunch there's a correlation between repetitive electronic music and drug use   A while back Pearl had trip-hop nights  and I do remember Dive Bar doing a downtempo night, but like I said, there's just not much support in town for it.

[GoGators7781]

I had heard that it was Anonymous who was opening DeeJay, is that incorrect then?

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,2045.msg18291.html#msg18291

I can confirm that it is not Anonymous.

Hmmm...sorry if this sounds negative (it probably is), but another "upscale" bar that "compliments" (i.e. emulates) three tragically similar bars (oh sorry...one has cheesy rock posters on the wall) that all cater to the same crowd is not something I'm interested in seeing again, but obviously places like Mark's and Twisted are making money, so I can't blame these guys for following the formula.

From what I understand, they deliberately use the word 'compliments' because like it or hate them, Marks/Dive/Twisted have brought some positive attention to downtown and have built up a scene with just the three of them. That is was is working with downtown right now and thats what the people want. But just from the design that will have lounge couches and a VIP area, along with utilizing the natural brick in the historic Homes building, I can promise you that it won't remind you of anything like Marks/Dive/Twisted.

These guys are young and energetic, and know what they need to do to make it different then the rest. Expect it to be a little more technologically saavy as well as more green, with a huge emphasis on customer service and quick bar service times.

[thelakelander]

The more the merrier.  Beggars can't be choosy and downtown is definately still a beggar at this point.

[Steve]

The more the merrier.  Beggars can't be choosy and downtown is definately still a beggar at this point.

Seriously - sometimes if you want to get laid, you need to bring the fat girl home .

With that said, I happen to really like Mark's.  I'd love to see another place like it.

[TREE4309]

You guys are right, beggars can't be choosers.  I didn't mean to imply that having another bar downtown was a bad thing, which it certainly is not.  My point was simply that it didn't sound like anything new or exciting to me personally, that's all. 

[second_pancake]

The more the merrier.  Beggars can't be choosy and downtown is definately still a beggar at this point.

Seriously - sometimes if you want to get laid, you need to bring the fat girl home .

With that said, I happen to really like Mark's.  I'd love to see another place like it.

ROTFLMMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[David]

You guys are right, beggars can't be choosers.  I didn't mean to imply that having another bar downtown was a bad thing, which it certainly is not.  My point was simply that it didn't sound like anything new or exciting to me personally, that's all. 

Don't listen to this guy, he goes to bed at 9:30pm.