Mark's Downtown has closed

Started by 02roadking, June 01, 2017, 03:00:40 PM

Print
Go Down Pages1
User actions

02roadking

June 01, 2017, 03:00:40 PM
According to Facebook.
  I hate it, though it was a good run.

Good luck on your other ventures Mark
Springfield since 1998

Adam White

#1
June 01, 2017, 03:19:47 PM
"If you're going to play it out of tune, then play it out of tune properly."

comncense

#2
June 01, 2017, 04:40:45 PM
I remember stumbling upon Mark's when it first opened years ago when there was nothing but Marks, Eclate/Dive Bar, Twisted Martini and Club Paris downtown. I had a great time going there, met a ton of bartenders there that became close friends. I have nothing but good memories of Mark's and also of Mark himself. Always was friendly and seemed to remember just about everyone who frequented his establishment.

Adam White

#3
June 01, 2017, 05:32:25 PM
Quote from: comncense on June 01, 2017, 04:40:45 PM
I remember stumbling upon Mark's when it first opened years ago when there was nothing but Marks, Eclate/Dive Bar, Twisted Martini and Club Paris downtown. I had a great time going there, met a ton of bartenders there that became close friends. I have nothing but good memories of Mark's and also of Mark himself. Always was friendly and seemed to remember just about everyone who frequented his establishment.

I thought Mark's opened after TSI moved downtown. I seem to remember being at TSI the night it opened, but I could be wrong...
"If you're going to play it out of tune, then play it out of tune properly."

marksjax

#4
June 01, 2017, 06:56:34 PM
Hi all, yes Mark's has officially closed for good.
Scott , thank you so much for all of your support over the many years. We had a very, very loyal happy hour crowd that Scott was a part of. I hope he doesn't mind me mentioning that.
Comncense thank you for those kind words. Yes I was lucky to have such a consistently great bar staff!
Opposite of our happy hour were the week-end nights when we opened as more of a nightclub. We had several years of great sales with the line down the sidewalk that you dream of, lol.
But we started noticing a decline on the week-ends a few years ago when Town Center nightclubs opened. It took a few years to really decline but this past year was rough financially. Bars & clubs (especially as destinations) go in and out of favor and that's what happened to Mark's in my opinion. We did have a good run and 'made a little noise' down there, so to speak.
Yes TSI was the first to open after Eclate then Mark's then Dive Bar which was where Eclate was. Note: I closed Dive Bar about two years ago and I have no involvement in its current iteration called Live Bar (creative use of an old sign!).
Just to be clear I fell in love with this forum many years ago and I am still a daily user. Now that I am leaving the downtown business scene I will rely on this great forum to keep up with the downtown and surrounding area goings on.
Thank you,
Mark Hemphill

JaxJersey-licious

#5
March 23, 2018, 11:42:27 AM
Some great news for the old Mark's Downtown. A bar with a legal theme is going to replace it called the Justice Pub.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/hipping-it-up

Best of luck with this!

BridgeTroll

#6
March 23, 2018, 11:47:22 AM
Awesome!  Ian is one of my favorite people!  8)
In a boat at sea one of the men began to bore a hole in the bottom of the boat. On being remonstrating with, he answered, "I am only boring under my own seat." "Yes," said his companions, "but when the sea rushes in we shall all be drowned with you."

Adam White

#7
March 23, 2018, 12:30:32 PM
Let's hope he gets the "all clear" from the Fire Marshal before he opens his doors.
"If you're going to play it out of tune, then play it out of tune properly."

downtownbrown

#8
March 23, 2018, 12:46:31 PM
beer and wine?  Good luck with that...

fieldafm

#9
March 23, 2018, 01:23:04 PM
Quote from: downtownbrown on March 23, 2018, 12:46:31 PM
beer and wine?  Good luck with that...

Going out on a limb, but the guy that has owned/operated more than half a dozen bars with only beer/wine probably knows how to make a living without slinging spirits. 

Steve

#10
March 23, 2018, 03:12:16 PM
Quote from: fieldafm on March 23, 2018, 01:23:04 PM
Quote from: downtownbrown on March 23, 2018, 12:46:31 PM
beer and wine?  Good luck with that...

Going out on a limb, but the guy that has owned/operated more than half a dozen bars with only beer/wine probably knows how to make a living without slinging spirits. 

I think it depends. If he actually wants the legal crowd downtown (Lawyers, Judges, etc.) not having a full bar might be an issue. But....to field's point this isn't Ian's first rodeo here. Plus, even if he only gets 75% of his target market because of the no booze, that might still be 90% of his target profit. Liquor licenses are stupid expensive....beer and wine not so much. He might be willing to forego some extra patrons if it keeps his costs down....which might be a more sustainable model for him.

BridgeTroll

#11
March 23, 2018, 05:33:48 PM
Ian is a "tryer... an attempter".  He see's sumthin with potential and goes for it with no fear of failure and that's what makes me a fan. My bet is that he succeeds...  8)
In a boat at sea one of the men began to bore a hole in the bottom of the boat. On being remonstrating with, he answered, "I am only boring under my own seat." "Yes," said his companions, "but when the sea rushes in we shall all be drowned with you."

DTJAXEYE

#12
March 23, 2018, 08:24:33 PM
Will there be a Go Fund Me page to finance the project?

MusicMan

#13
March 25, 2018, 10:01:38 AM
No pool hall downtown.
Print
Go Up Pages1
User actions