The Pearl Closes in Springfield

[Metro Jacksonville]

The Pearl Closes in Springfield



The Pearl, opened in 2005 on Main Street, closed on its seven year anniversary.  Owned by Christy Frazier, one of Jacksonville's most colorful and creative nightclub moguls, it leaves behind a barren and now completely dead Springfield Main Street.  Its opening was not without controversy, and the ongoing battles with the city, rival club tsi, and the economy made the seven years a pretty exciting run.  Join us for great photos and more info after the jump.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-sep-the-pearl-closes-in-springfield

[Timkin]

Sorry to see Pearl close its doors.   Im long past the nightclub scene, but still think its a shame that a nice place like this is bullied out of business ( If I am understanding the story correctly)  Many of my friends spoke well of going to the Pearl.

This is just wrong.

I pray for the day that we can say , for once, we have a world-class City that can actually compare to some others.  I am beginning to wonder if that will ever happen here. 

[BigBlackRod]

As long as First Baptist Church is in power, there will not be any viable nightlife in this city...PEACE.

[Adam W]

I was always a TSI person and considered the Pearl tacky. The photos of the shirtless people confirm my suspicions. Christy was wrong for what she did to Ryan and Jason. But they ended up moving and opening a better club and I guess it's all water under the bridge now anyway.

Even if I thought the Pearl was lame, it's a shame to see it close.

As far as the Thursday night thing goes, I always assumed that was a holdover from Einstein a Go Go - they were open from Thursday through Sunday. So Thursday was the first big night out. Most of that crowd moved on to the Moto Lounge when Einstein's closed. And then when the Moto Lounge closed, it was on to the Art Bar.

[birdilicious]

Watching another great place close is just another kick in the teeth from the city.

[GideonGlib]

It's a loss for Springfield to leave Shantytown as the last bar standing, but it's a neighborhood that I think is poised (finally) to come roaring back when the economy recovers a bit more and as Riverside continues to gentrify. I think the neighborhood is down at the moment, but far from out. We've not seen the last of nightlife in Springfield, and my guess is we'll see it sooner than later.

[Bill Hoff]

The bar at Three Layers is still nice for casual hangouts & dates, and under new ownership it's my understanding that they eventually want to expand their hours.

A tragedy is that there is a SPR resident with experience in the entertainment venue/night club industry who was seriously pursuing 9th & Main for the better part of a year, before COJ red tape and incompetance finally deterred him. You'll remember a certail popular pizza restaurant in Riverside was trying to buy it too, but was put off by the same unfriendly/unresponsive process.

If & when COJ gets their "stuff" together and is ready to sell 9th & Main, there will be good buyers.

[Timkin]

Why exactly did the Pearl Close its doors? 

[strider]

It's a loss for Springfield to leave Shantytown as the last bar standing, but it's a neighborhood that I think is poised (finally) to come roaring back when the economy recovers a bit more and as Riverside continues to gentrify. I think the neighborhood is down at the moment, but far from out. We've not seen the last of nightlife in Springfield, and my guess is we'll see it sooner than later.

By the way, Shanty is not the "last bar standing".  The Walnut Inn over on , well, Walnut, is still going strong. A traditional little old neighborhood "blue collar" bar.

The atmosphere in Springfield these days is certainly one that is more open than it was just a few years ago.  What would have met with intense rejection will be very welcome today.

A note about 9th and Main.  Most complain about the city's poor attempts at being a real estate agent, but then balk at just turning the property over to a regular old real estate agency.  That is what should be done.  Allow the market to determine who gets it.  At least then it won't be just sitting and deteriorating, it will be used.

Back to the pearl, as she owns the building, will she be receptive to leasing to a possible "competitor" or is she planning on letting it just sit there?

[triclops i]

Well written and pretty historical accurate. Plus I dont think I had ever seen that picture of myself. Kudos.

[Adam W]

I could've sworn the Art Bar opened in 1999. I was living on Forbes Street at the time and remember the old tenant - I believe it was a bar called the Junction or something - closing. I went to the Art Bar for my friend Jessica's birthday drinks and they were installing the light-up dance floor that day. The Moto Lounge was still open at the time and they didn't have many customers.

It's weird to think about it now - back then it seemed like the Art Bar was open forever before the Pearl arrived. It's hard to believe it was less than 5 years or something like that.

[Bativac]

Why exactly did the Pearl Close its doors?

This is second- or third-hand but what I was told is that there just wasn't enough money coming in. I'm sure that wasn't the only factor but it had to have been a big part of it.

[Adam W]

Why exactly did the Pearl Close its doors?

This is second- or third-hand but what I was told is that there just wasn't enough money coming in. I'm sure that wasn't the only factor but it had to have been a big part of it.

When looking at the photos posted online from the final night, my wife mentioned that the crowd looked surprisingly small. Not sure what you can tell by the pictures, though - but there were a lot of pics and the crowd wasn't what I would've expected a few years back.

Times change. The Pearl has more competition now, too.