A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis signed off on a local bill (HB 4053) that will allow booze sales at a concert hall in Jacksonville’s Riverside area.
FIVE on Park Street, the replacement for the beloved Sun Ray Cinema, is hoping to help revive the Five Points commercial strip that has been riddled by businesses leaving in recent years.
The bill creates a new special zone for event centers, known as the “Urban Transition Area North of Park Street,” which allows for expanded alcohol service as long as more than half of the income comes from food and ticket sales.
The district will extend to Margaret Street. FIVE is the only event center in the space otherwise occupied by retail and restaurants.
Republican Rep. Wyman Duggan, the House sponsor, noted during a local hearing in Jacksonville before the Session that these special exception areas are created routinely for “greater opportunity for infill economic development,” with this one focusing on Five Points.
Liquor can only constitute 49.9% of sales, with ticket sales, food and merchandise driving a simple majority of revenue. With some all-ages shows slated for FIVE, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Birdies, which is next door to the concert venue, already sells liquor on the strip.
This won’t be a “full liquor license” like Club 5 had when it occupied the space. Nor would it permit the consumption of alcohol outside the venue.
One comment
Hipster
June 6, 2025 at 7:53 am
“Beloved”?
People stopped going there years ago which led to Sun Ray being in default of its lease agreement due to non payment of rent for many years.
The previous owners of the building felt it best to have something, anything in there in order to keep the systems working, the new building owners wanted to try something new. This of course is there right.
“Beloved”?
No.
Failed concept?
Yes.
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