Museum and Cafe

[GatorShane]

What does the following list of musiscians have in common. Pat Boone, Ray Charles, Rita Coolidge, Slim Whitman, Lynard Skynard, 38-Special, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchett, 69 Boys, 95 South, Limp Bizkit, Yellowcard, Cold, Shinedown, and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. To easy I know. All are from or have significant roots in J-ville.  With all of this talent coming out of this area, wouldnt a museum-restaurant-club be an instant success in our downtowm. This could be our version of Hard Rock Cafe or House of Blues.

[blizz01]

Freebird Cafe at the Beach is the closest thing to that - obviously capitalizing on Skynyrd.  Can't say that any of the others would be able to sustain exclusively (maybe Ray Charles, but I believe his JAX association was limited) - & that's a pretty mixed bag to throw together collectively.  BTW, crazy - my wife met Slim Whitman (today, coincidentally!) & says that he's a SUPER nice guy.  I can't say that I could go for Slim's yodeling followed by Tootsie Roll while trying to get my $10.95 hamburger down, however.

[alta]

A Freebird type venue that would cater to up and coming bands and established artists I think would do well in the Urban Core.  An emphasis on all types of music would probably be helpful.  A building that comes to mind is at Ocean and Bay.  The one that has the Jaguar paintings on the windows.

[thelakelander]

We tried to plant the seed of them coming downtown two years ago (I didn't realize it was that long ago). 

Free Bird Live Downtown, Why not?
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/190/115/

Rumors swirl of a downtown Freebird, MetroJacksonville Stirs the Pot!
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/198/114/

Shortly after Freebird made it clear they wanted no parts of downtown, we briefly worked off the scene with a group that wanted to open a southern music hall of fame in downtown.  At that time, we were trying to get Kuhn to consider the Laura Trio's Marble Bank for such a space.  However, that eventually fizzled away.  Hopefully, given our history, we will get that museum and cafe one day.

[copperfiend]

The funny thing about the Freebird is they needed a new space, would never consider downtown and then didn't move anyway. The spot they were eyeing was at the Atlantic Theater strip mall on Atlantic Boulevard. That property has seen many tenants come and go since it was renovated a few years back. I noticed the theater portion is now occupied by a church. Probably not what they had in mind.