Northstar Pizza Bar Closed

[tufsu1]

I spoke with the owner in early June.  He pretty much told me he was giving up at the end of the month.  At one time, Northstar did a pretty good lunch business, but that changed when the courthouse moved.

As noted by others, they stopped replacing kegs recently, which was a pretty clear sign.

[rohicks]

^that explains it...

haha 

[Houseboat Mike]

I spoke with the owner in early June.  He pretty much told me he was giving up at the end of the month.  At one time, Northstar did a pretty good lunch business, but that changed when the courthouse moved.

As noted by others, they stopped replacing kegs recently, which was a pretty clear sign.

speaking of the courthouse, where are all the new food places that were supposed to pop up?

[thelakelander]

Hmmm, between the courthouse opening and Everbank moving in nearby...there's a few places in the courthouse garage, the On-the-Fly food truck at Adams & Jefferson, a 7-Eleven at Forsyth & Julia, and a Nature's Table in Everbank Center. Not quite the anticipated development boom expected a decade ago. Nevertheless, the hot dog cart guy at Pearl & Clay is a lot happier these days! Hopefully, we can get another restaurant or two nearby after Citizens moves their 1,000 employees in.

[tufsu1]

seems like maybe the Convention Center idea at the old courthouse isn't "off the stove" yet

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=545678&utm_source=6.30.15&utm_campaign=6.23.15&utm_medium=email

[IrvAdams]

seems like maybe the Convention Center idea at the old courthouse isn't "off the stove" yet

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=545678&utm_source=6.30.15&utm_campaign=6.23.15&utm_medium=email

The discussions in the link were very forward-thinking, it's good to see the strength of the transition team so far. This is moving in a desirable direction.

[Steve]

Hmmm, between the courthouse opening and Everbank moving in nearby...there's a few places in the courthouse garage, the On-the-Fly food truck at Adams & Jefferson, a 7-Eleven at Forsyth & Julia, and a Nature's Table in Everbank Center. Not quite the anticipated development boom expected a decade ago. Nevertheless, the hot dog cart guy at Pearl & Clay is a lot happier these days! Hopefully, we can get another restaurant or two nearby after Citizens moves their 1,000 employees in.

One thing I'm surprised that hasn't taken off is the happy hour/lite dinner/tapas place. I know there are places, but a place that can do something light at lunch and drinks after work I would think would do well down there.

[thelakelander]

To be honest, there isn't much available building stock. You're pretty much limited to the remaining retail spaces in the courthouse garage, the BB&T garage or the old Cafe 331.  Strike out on one of those three locations and you're looking at spots requiring big bucks to bring up to modern code requirements like the Masonic Building on Broad, the old Chili Bordello on Forsyth, Ambassador, etc. The rest of the area is literally moonscape and foundations of demolished buildings.

[BoldCityRealist]

To be honest, there isn't much available building stock. You're pretty much limited to the remaining retail spaces in the courthouse garage, the BB&T garage or the old Cafe 331.  Strike out on one of those three locations and you're looking at spots requiring big bucks to bring up to modern code requirements like the Masonic Building on Broad, the old Chili Bordello on Forsyth, Ambassador, etc. The rest of the area is literally moonscape and foundations of demolished buildings.

Exactly - there's just no money to make this happen. Restaurants/bars would be operating at a loss for decades paying off those construction loans.

[Jaxson]

To be honest, there isn't much available building stock. You're pretty much limited to the remaining retail spaces in the courthouse garage, the BB&T garage or the old Cafe 331.  Strike out on one of those three locations and you're looking at spots requiring big bucks to bring up to modern code requirements like the Masonic Building on Broad, the old Chili Bordello on Forsyth, Ambassador, etc. The rest of the area is literally moonscape and foundations of demolished buildings.

Are there private or public grants that are available to bring up existing building stock? 

[thelakelander]

Yes, but not enough and the time it takes isn't an efficient process. Given the risks, without a certain amount of subsidies, it's still easier to open a business with private money in other areas of the city.

[marksjax]

As regards the convention center dialog it is quite telling reading John Delaney's remarks that he has no understanding of the importance of the convention business as regards tourism whatsoever. That is inexcusable for a former mayor.

And his point about competing against Orlando is the same argument made against his (and others) current pet project, the deepening of the port. (i.e.) 'why spend all that money when the bigger ships are going to go to Miami anyway?'

Wow, I am stunned but not surprised how far off the radar a 'real' convention center is in these leaders minds!

At least Jerry Mallot gets it.

I rest my case as to why DT Jax is where it is now.   

[tufsu1]

As regards the convention center dialog it is quite telling reading John Delaney's remarks that he has no understanding of the importance of the convention business as regards tourism whatsoever. That is inexcusable for a former mayor.

fully agree...it is VERY disappointing

[Tacachale]

As regards the convention center dialog it is quite telling reading John Delaney's remarks that he has no understanding of the importance of the convention business as regards tourism whatsoever. That is inexcusable for a former mayor.

fully agree...it is VERY disappointing

LOL, it's certainly interesting what you find "disappointing," considering what fails to draw that response.

The convention industry makes a lot of claims about the benefits of convention centers, not all of which hold water. Whether or not you believe this particular claim (that CEOs will visit our convention center and then want to spark economic development), it's not going to the thing that makes a center worthwhile, or realistic. The real questions with a convention center are the same as ever: how much will it cost, where will the money come from, and whether it's really the best investment for the price. I'm sure it would be cool for the bars right across the street and all, but that's a lot of bread we don't have.

[thelakelander]

How much bread do we need and what's the ROI? $50 million, $100 million, $400 million? If we figure these out, then the next question to resolve is where to find the money to implement. We quickly found $60 million for Everbank Field without answering these questions....from the same pot could have been used for a convention center.  A year later, council is surprised that the city's electric bill significantly jumped, suggesting no one knew the real price or ROI. These seem like simple questions but they haven't been answered since I moved to town 12 years ago. No wonder DT Jax struggles.