Jacksonville Night Life

[toneloc007]

Yeah, it'll be in the heart of downtown...can't divulge the area for no compete, but believe me the place we're looking at is PRIME.

Bay Street!! Bay Street!! Bay Street!! Bay Street!!!

Don't be a Turtle Complete the circle!!

The area we're looking at is literally 3 blocks from Marks area.

[toneloc007]

I'm sure someone will disagree with me .. but I'm just going to throw this out as food for thought.

I don't see how a place that is HIGH ROLLER and COSMOPOLITAN and a live local band mix - I just don't.
What you seem to be trying to achieve is more of a clean, lounge atmosphere with some square white leather couches where people come out with their $350 purses. And what we call that in NJ is a coke club. Because that is exactly what it is. Rich high rollers come there to schmooze, drink some ritzy cocktails and listen to whatever trendy music is hot at the time. Something more reminiscent of the techo/ drum n' bass days with little or no lyrics.

If you are truly looking to create a swanky "it" place to be for a mature, economically stable crowd you probably are not going to be serving food unless it's sushi or some other dainty, non-messy beautiful food.

Most 21 year-old females don't have the cash for the $12 martinis they serve at Bistro AIX and B.B.'s unless daddy is paying their bill or they are out with some 30 year old sugar daddy.

Live Local Music
High Roller
Late Night Food

That is just too much going on.  Pick one approach and stick to it.  A place that tries to be all things to all people just doesn't work in my opinion. Not enough focus.

I'm not opposed to a place that is VIP but just make sure everything you do says that.

A fine dining establishment doesn't put a sign out front that says "fine dining".
Again, not an attack - just food for thought from someone with a marketing & branding background.

Most places like that require if you are sitting, you order a bottle of something and it might be a $150 minimum for example.  Not sure something like that would fly in Jax, esp. downtown.  Maybe at the beach.
Seems like another Dive / Mark's / Pearl would be more viable.

The direction we are going with is not so much to attract the high rollers, even though you have to attract money, but to give people that of a feel of a very nice atmosphere...not your typical cheesy bar/club like most are here.  The clubs here are catered too much to the "young" people and when I say young, I mean those that just got of high school, have no jobs, or your young college crowd.  We are targetting your business professionals that want a place to be entertained that don't have to worry about stupid drama or can honestly enjoy a good drink and music while not being confined to the craziness of a nightclub if not so desired.  Remember there is another crowd out there other than the young people here in Jax that would love to go out and enjoy themselves.  Thank you for your insight.

[toneloc007]

Whatever you choose, would it be possible to offer drunk munchies?  Even the hot dog vendor in front of The Pearl would be great.

We are definitely going to be offering something in that area.  There will be a coffee shop also that will be open the same time offering all that a coffee shop has to offer.  To what extent...we are still working that out.

[toneloc007]

I would like to see a upscale jazz spot. I think that would be nice for the 25 and up crowd with live jazz bands from all over the country to local jazz bands. Downtown of course. as long as u stay open past 2 o,clock

We are going to be implementing a lounge that is going to be separate from the nightclub.  It itself will be offering very nice atmosphere with music, live bands, and we are targeting mostly live jazz bands.  One of the things that we feel is going to make our place successful is being able to serve liquor 'til 3 a.m...and yes it can be done..already approved. 

[toneloc007]

Just went to a bar/club called Halo in Midtown Atlanta last night across from my apartment.  It is in an almost solid brick building with a plain metal door in the side of the building.  It looks almost like nothing but on the inside it is multistoried, there are image screens, cool modern decor, a marble bar that lights up, and the bar looks like something the doctors from Nip Tuck would be regulars at.  It is very cosmopolitan, of course this is Atlanta, so things did not pick up on a Monday night till about midnight!  Jacksonville could not pull something off that late, or probably that cosmopolitan yet, but it is worth a try.  We were the youngest ones in there, but there were not too many people over 30-35.  It was also about half gay half straight, more of a mix than the Pearl which seems sometimes more gay imho, but Jax is of course a little less accepting I think.  Also I agree on your ages, in Jacksonville it seems all the clubs are for kids, they are all 18+ so of course that brings in the 15 y.o.'s, and nobody around here seems to enforce a dress code of some sort, I appreciate J Crew or Express or whatever over South Pole and Ecko with baggy jeans and sneakers.  Oh, but drinks don't have to be expensive  we aren't a rich city yet lol.

Why can't Jacksonville pull something off like that?  That's similar to what we are going to do.  I think Jacksonville IS ready for something like that, been ready.

[toneloc007]

Yeah, we really do need more venues in or near downtown. As for the style, hmmm. Do we have any sleek modern clubs in the area? Something very cosmopolitan like you would find in the nation's largest cities.  I don't think anything on Bay st or anywhere near downtown would fit that description.  I haven't seen ultra bar yet so I don't know if that would count, but I’d imagine something with a minimalistic approach and CLEAN. Maybe a venue that could host spoken word events or open mic like fuel used to do during it's downtime, and then ramp up to host the more typical/mainstream club atmosphere. Hey, maybe it could even book some concerts as the music venues we have in Jax are pretty sparse. If cafe 11 in St Augustine can pull in some good acts like they've been doing, I’m sure it could be done here.

No there isn't really anything like you're describing downtown, the closest thing to that is Tera Novas and thats on Phillips. We are going to be tapping into the local music scene, there is an abundance of talent here.

[toneloc007]

Check out One Ocean at the beach - they seem to be hitting on all cylinders......best of luck.

Yeah, one of my friends is head of engineering there...that place is very nice.

[toneloc007]

I was thinking that Mark's is Higher Class. I must not be the demographic to have an opinion on this topic.

Good luck...

Marks is as close to style as we want but the problem with Marks....TOOOO SMALL.  How can you attract a good crowd when you're fighting for space and have no wheres to recline if desired and one main bar doesn't cut it.

[The Compound]

Who is the "we" and "our". What club or new venue are you talking out. Very vague here with your responses.

[toneloc007]

Who is the "we" and "our". What club or new venue are you talking out. Very vague here with your responses.

Me and my partners.

[The Compound]

Who is the "we" and "our". What club or new venue are you talking out. Very vague here with your responses.

Me and my partners.

I assumed that, what are you trying to open? A bar? a coffeehouse? a dance club?

[toneloc007]

Who is the "we" and "our". What club or new venue are you talking out. Very vague here with your responses.

Me and my partners.

I assumed that, what are you trying to open? A bar? a coffeehouse? a dance club?

Yeah, something that will cater to all three with a new twist.  We're still working out the details, hence the petitioning for input from outside.  Any input would be great.

[Matt]

are you really tone loc? if so, surf ninjas is my favorite movie ever.

[toneloc007]

are you really tone loc? if so, surf ninjas is my favorite movie ever.

LOL...no, I'm not the real tone loc.  But that was a good movie..lol

[Dapperdan]

If you are looking at something around Marks, hopefully you are looking at one of the buildings that has a downstairs and upstairs. I am not sure how you would keep the sound out, but you could have your VIP section upstairs, and your coffee bar/ general public area downstairs. If you can afford it, invest heavily into lighting. Club Paris used to have a  great light show, and I know of no where else in town that replaces that void. I have seen too many places with hodge podge lighting thrown up on trussing that looks like it could fall at any minute. Maybe some ambient LED lighting around the bar areas that change color throughout the night. Also, have a kick butt sign out Front. The only thing about Marks is that their sign is not eye catching enough. And please have one techno night a week..lol No top 40 allowed on techno night.