The opportunities and challenges of operating a restaurant in Downtown Jacksonville were on display in 2025, when openings of food and beverage establishments mixed with closures of several others.<\/p>\n
Here is a look at 2025\u2019s closings:<\/p>\n
CLOSINGS<\/p>\n
Intuition Ale Works is closing its brewery, restaurant and music hall in the Sports & Entertainment District, owner Ben Davis announced Jan. 28 on social media.<\/p>\n
In a post on Intuition\u2019s Instagram page, Davis said the operation at 929 E. Bay St. would shut down April 24 when its lease expires. Davis, who announced in April 2025 that he was seeking a buyer for the 15-year\u2013old business, said in the post that \u201cthe right buyer never came.\u201d<\/p>\n
Davis also cited changes in the craft brew industry, including rising costs of supplies, that have created challenges for small, independent breweries.<\/p>\n
He also attributed the decision to what he described as insufficient progress of Downtown redevelopment since Intuition moved to Bay Street from Riverside.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRenderings and potential do not pay the bills,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Tossgreen\u00a0closed its Brooklyn location at 501 Riverside Ave., Unit 107, in January after operating there for five years.<\/p>\n
The restaurant\u2019s location at 76 Laura St., Suite 101,in the VyStar Credit Union building remains open.<\/p>\n
Justice Tavern, 315 E. Bay, ceased operations in February after seven years.<\/p>\n
Its space was converted to Keane\u2019s Irish Pub.<\/p>\n
Plenti provided fast-casual dining at 200 Riverside Ave. for two years before closing in April.<\/p>\n
Owner Dean Nixon called the closure \u201cdeath by a thousand cuts\u201d that included \u201cextremely volatile food costs,\u201d expensive rent and difficulty in hiring high-quality employees.<\/p>\n
Burrito Gallery shuttered the last of its four Jacksonville area restaurants in June. The final restaurant at 90 Riverside Ave., Suite 601, opened in 2016.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Happy Grilled Cheese\u00a0ceased operations in August after eight years at 219 N. Hogan St. The owners said that after a temporary closure, the space would reopen with a new breakfast and lunch concept.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bread & Board, Estrella Cocina and Bread & Burger ceased operations in the VyStar Credit Union campus at 76 S. Laura St. \u00a0in Downtown\u2019s historic core.<\/p>\n
News of permanent closures of the restaurants was in August. \u00a0The restaurants opened in 2021 after receiving a $371,590 forgivable loan from the DIA.<\/p>\n
An agreement with the restaurant operators called for the loan to be refunded 20% annually over five years starting in 2022, with terms including that the eatery would remain open over the five-year period.<\/p>\n
Lily\u2019s Asian-American Food closed in October, nine months after opening.<\/p>\n
Lily Grabb, owner of the establishment at 11 E. Forsyth St., cited such factors as a shortage of lunch customers due to hybrid or remote work policies by Downtown employers.<\/p>\n
Lily\u2019s replaced Super Food & Brew, which Grabb purchased in 2023 and closed in 2024.<\/p>\n
Ground Level, a coffee shop, closed in October the lobby of the Bank of America Tower amid plans for the Starbucks. Ground Level was owned by a member of the family that also owns Akel\u2019s.<\/p>\n
The Mini Market at 233 N. Hogan St. closed less than a year after opening. The establishment served snacks, packaged breakfast and lunch grocery items, fresh pastries, coffee and more.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
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