The Universal Marion Building

[Ocklawaha]

Y'all had my wife and I out of our minds for a couple of days. Got it, IVEYS was NEVER in the Marion Building - rather it was on the corner of Laura and Church. That location is the JEA offices today, and I guess it's connected to the UM tower, but the store itself was a more typical 2 or 3 floor IVEYS, around the corner. I had to call in another old friend and former Divisional officer to get this right. So there you have it - CONNECTED but not in the tower.

LAKE, it really was like a little Los Angeles or Chicago, sad indeed.

OCKLAWAHA

[Ocklawaha]

You guys are lucky to have memories of downtown being a retail powerhouse.

I really don't know if it's lucky or tragic. For old romantics like myself I live with 10,000 ghosts. I can't pass Jacksonville Terminal without hearing the voices of untold train announcements, I can still smell the scents of the air, see the arcades and lights, the rush and the millions of hugs, tears, hellos and goodbyes, that I witnessed. To see it today isn't lucky - but other worldly, as if I'm in the wrong space in time and I can't go back. I do anything to recapture the Jacksonville of my youth, but time is fleeting. Damn, I am haunted!

OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

Yes, the former Ivey's store is not in the actual vertical tower, but it was a part of the Universal Marion Building project at 21 West Church Street.  Today, excluding a small corner owned by FBC, JEA occupies the entire block.

[thelakelander]

Here is an image of the former department store portion.

[heights unknown]

Back in the mid-70's when I was in the Navy, someone told me that a nightclub was at the very top. Being a disco and nightclub crawler I wanted to check it out as no one knew exactly what was up there (or so they said).  A friend and I checked it out and before we arrived at the top floor came to the conclusion that it was a gay club (men dressed up like women and giggly broken wristed men came out of the elevator).  We went and checked it out anyway and a very nice bar (circular with windows all around), and a very plush nightclub/disco greeted us.  We had one drink and didn't stay long as there were very very few women, and numerous men were starting to hit on us.  But anyway we were kind of liberal minded (reason why we hung out for a short time and checked it out) and then left, but it was a very nice bar and was lined with shag carpeting (which was elegant during the 70's) from floor to wall to ceiling.  Anyhoo, the answer is yes, at one time there was a very nice nightclub/dance club/disco up on that top floor.

Heights Unknown

[heights unknown]

Stephen;

I do know Don Strickland; he now lives in Bradenton, Florida (in my neck of the woods).

Heights Unknown

[avonjax]

and Ock I may be off a floor but it was originally 6 or 7 floors
As downtown began to die, Ivey's began to close down floors until it stopped at 3 in the end.
You could also park free for the 1st two hours under the building.

[jeh1980]

As downtown began to die, Ivey's began to close down floors until it stopped at 3 in the end.
You could also park free for the 1st two hours under the building.

[/quote]
As far as I'm concerned, downtown was NEVER dead (we all due respect). Anyway, before the JEA logo first appeared at the top of the building, there was another name that was on it that had white letters. I remember that it did have it but I didn't recognize the name. Can someboby tell me who had the naming rights of that place and can you dig up any pictures with that logo on the building?

[Keith-N-Jax]

Not sure but I think it was Charter something Charter life? not sure,,Does anyone really know?   

[Charles Hunter]

Oooh, Keith-n-Jax, that jogged a memory.  I think you are right that the Charter company bought the UM building, and converted the old Embers restaurant into either their board room or executive offices for the head guy - who, I think - was Raymond Mason.

Why do I remember that, and forgot to buy bread at Winn-Dixie last weekend?

[civil42806]

Charter Oil.  Raymond Mason, a Jacksonville banker who finally devised for the United States the proper business structure to allow our firms to do business with their firms was a president for a while.

The company went down in flames after unsuccessful investments in Offshore Power Systems OPS, and an attempt to create offshore nuclear power plants.

Ray Mason is a legend in US business history and his son is the president of Center Bank in San Marco.

If ever there was a man in need of a biography it is the illustrious Mr. Mason.

Don't forget all the expansion they did towards the end into areas they weren't familiar with, they bought a lot of magazines and other odd companies.

[MattnJax]

This is one of the ugliest buildings in downtown Jacksonville, IMO.  I suppose it's the window, but to me it's very medieval/islamic looking in design. Anyone out there with architectural knowledge know what style this is?

[blizz01]

I suppose it's the window, but to me it's very medieval/islamic looking in design.

Moorish.

[thelakelander]

Its Mid 20th century modern architecture.  Other examples from this era include Riverplace Tower and the Haydon Burns Library.

[RiversideGator]

Here is an image of the former department store portion.

I wonder why the architect put no windows on the facade?  It would have made that building so much more attractive.