Small Businesses celebrate ‘904 Day’

Civic and community leaders from across Northeast Florida have joined together to support “904 Day”, a campaign to rally support for local businesses on Saturday, September 4, 2021 (9/04).

Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to support all things local over Labor Day Weekend — from one-of-a-kind shops and independent restaurants, to attractions and destinations that contribute to Northeast Florida’s unique quality of life.

904 Day has been celebrated as a grassroots movement for several years, with Northeast Florida residents, organizations and companies alike showing their support by tagging posts with #904Day on September 4.

Melissa Ross, host and producer of “First Coast Connect” and “The Florida Roundup” on WJCT Public Media, saw an opportunity to expand the concept’s visibility after witnessing widespread support for similar campaigns in other Florida cities, such as Orlando (407 Day) and Miami (305 Day).

Additional campaign partners for 904 Day include Downtown Vision, the nonprofit Business Improvement District for Downtown Jacksonville; the JAX Chamber, the not-for-profit chamber of commerce that serves members across Northeast Florida; Visit Jacksonville, the city’s official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO); the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which connects and promotes Hispanic-owned and operated businesses; and Wingard, a Jacksonville-based marketing and communications agency.

“The conversation started on social media, which has become an even more important way for people to find information about local businesses during the pandemic,” said Ross. “Our collective goal in launching the 904 Day campaign is to shine a light on these businesses in a fun, celebratory way. Whether you are a longtime resident or just visiting for Labor Day weekend, we hope you’ll seek out local businesses on Saturday, September 4.”

904 Day celebrates all local businesses, especially small ones. According to the Small Business Administration, Florida has more than 2.7 million small businesses — representing 99.8% of businesses across the state. As Northeast Florida’s population continues to grow, these independent ventures are critical to creating jobs on the First Coast.

“Local businesses are the heartbeat of our community, as well as our economy,” said Ben Johnson, President of Martin Coffee Company and the JAX Chamber’s 2020 Overall Small Business Leader of the Year. “Supporting independent shops, restaurants, destinations and organizations on 904 Day — and every day — is vital to maintaining Northeast Florida’s reputation as a great place to live, work and play.”

Business owners, residents and visitors can participate in the campaign by tagging their social media photos and posts with #904Day. Campaign graphics are available for download at bit.ly/904Day2021.

About Downtown Vision: Downtown Vision is a not-for-profit organization revitalizing Downtown through clean and safe initiatives, experience creation, marketing and information management. Created by commercial property owners through a self-assessment and governed by a board representing Downtown property owners, DVI administers a 90-block Business Improvement District. For more information, visit dtjax.com/dvi.

About Visit Jacksonville: Visit Jacksonville is a Destinations International accredited Destination Marketing Organization contracted by the Duval County Tourist Development Council (TDC) to champion the growth of business and leisure tourism in Jacksonville. For a closer look at all there is to see and do in Jacksonville, go to www.VisitJacksonville.com or contact 800-733-2668.

About the JAX Chamber: The JAX Chamber is the business membership organization dedicated to driving quality economic growth in Northeast Florida to make this region the best place to live, work and play. Membership provides the opportunity to connect with and buy from other Chamber members. The connections result in business growth and a more prosperous economy.

About the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: The First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is Northeast Florida’s premier Hispanic Chamber. We strive to establish and encourage better Hispanic-owned and operated businesses by looking for opportunities to foster an understanding of Hispanic heritage on the First Coast. For more information, visit fchcc.com.

Cocktail Room opening in downtown JAX

Manifest Distilling, Downtown Jacksonville’s only full-scale organic distillery, today announced plans to expand its operations through the opening of The Cocktail Room at Manifest Distilling. The bar will open to the public on Friday, September 3, 2021 to showcase organic distillery’s products in a social setting.

Following the passage of the 2021 Florida Craft Distilleries bill, the opening of The Cocktail Room represents a unique opportunity for Manifest Distilling to sell its products directly to customers in cocktail form.

“When we opened in Downtown Jacksonville in 2016, our goal with the tasting room was to create a sense of place within our community and give guests a relationship with our spirits through hospitality. Thanks to recent developments within Florida’s craft distilling laws, we can now fully realize that vision by creating a destination cocktail bar that delivers an exceptional, full-service experience,” said David Cohen, Co-Founder and President of Manifest Distilling.

The Cocktail Room will serve a rotating menu of craft cocktails, created with Manifest Distilling’s signature spirits: non-GMO potato vodka, Florida citrus vodka, organic gin, barrel-aged gin, Florida botanical gin, organic rye whiskey and 100% rye whiskey, along with a host of spirits that are only available for consumption on-site at the distillery. Ben Golden and Corey Gros have been appointed as Beverage Managers to lead The Cocktail Room’s menu development and operations. Together, they bring more than 12 years of bar management experience to the new venture.

“Our menu reflects a modern minimalist approach that allows the flavor of our spirits to shine,” said Golden. “Each recipe is carefully designed with the base spirit in mind to offer the guest a unique sensory experience. We want The Cocktail Room to be a place to expand your palate and experience the care that goes into every Manifest product.”

The Cocktail Room’s debut menu showcases a variety of classic cocktails, ranging from a Highball and Milk Punch to an Old Fashioned and Flip. Menu prices will range from $8 to $12. Guests may also order mixed drinks and tasting flights of Manifest Distilling’s signature spirits. Pre-packaged cocktails and craft cocktail ice will be available for purchase.

The Cocktail Room will present live music weekly, starting with its grand opening on September 3 and continuing with Jazz Night every Thursday in September. Programming will be curated by Ulysses Owens, Artistic Director of Don’t Miss A Beat, a local nonprofit that aims to blend music art, academic achievement and civic engagement for children and teens in the Brooklyn, Riverside and Woodstock communities. Owens is a Jacksonville native and professor at The Juilliard School in New York City.

Manifest Distilling has long been committed to giving back to the Northeast Florida community. The opening of The Cocktail Room presents an opportunity to expand the distillery’s charitable giving program. Throughout the month of September, a portion of all sales from The Cocktail Room will be donated to LIFT JAX, a nonprofit composed of business and community leaders working to eradicate generational poverty in Jacksonville. Proceeds will support LIFT JAX’s ongoing efforts to implement the Purpose-Built Communities model in the Eastside (Out East) neighborhood.

“When businesses invest in the neighborhoods they serve, everybody benefits,” said David Garfunkel, President of LIFT JAX. “Manifest Distilling’s support of LIFT JAX’s mission adds to its longstanding commitment to improving our local communities. We’re proud to stand by their side as we aim to bring meaningful change to the Out East neighborhoods.”

The Cocktail Room will be open from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. every Wednesday and Thursday, and 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.

 

Vista Brooklyn opens at 200 Riverside Avenue

Vista Brooklyn, Jacksonville’s newest luxury apartment community, is now open in one of the River City’s oldest neighborhoods.

Previously Jacksonville’s central business district, Brooklyn has undergone a transformation over the last several years. This newest development enhances the residential real estate options in the neighborhood. Situated conveniently between Five Points and Downtown Jacksonville, Vista Brooklyn is ideal for those desiring a luxury living experience in an urban setting.

Located at 200 Riverside Ave. on the corner of Riverside Avenue and Jackson Street, Vista Brooklyn boasts 308 dwelling units, from studios to three-bedroom apartments. Designed with a focus on wellness, the community offers spacious living areas, elegant common and co-working spaces, and unparalleled views of Downtown and the St. Johns River. Residents and their guests will enjoy a rooftop pool, beer garden and gathering space, a yoga and meditation suite, on-site dog park and grooming, a bike shop and storage area and a high-tech fitness center complete with Technogym equipment — the same technology used by the PGA Tour and U.S. Olympic athletes.

The community also features over 13,000 square feet of new Class-A retail space on its ground floor, lining Riverside Avenue. Featuring opportunities for a restaurant concept, coffee shop or other retail, the newly completed structure will have everything residents desire most without ever leaving home. NAI Hallmark is the leasing agent of record for the development’s commercial spaces.

Many details were enhanced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including touchless faucets in the kitchen, antimicrobial quartz countertops throughout each home, smart technology throughout the units and bluetooth-enabled locks.

Bristol Development Group, a multifamily real estate company based in Franklin, Tenn., is known for their breadth of luxury residential experience in markets across the Sunbelt. Bristol developed Vista Brooklyn in partnership with Hallmark Partners, a Jacksonville-based development firm that galvanized recent commercial growth in Brooklyn. This new property reinforces Bristol’s reputation for providing high-quality, amenity-focused communities in growing cities.

“Jacksonville is one of our favorite and most important markets,” said Charles Carlisle, Bristol’s CEO. “It is a great quality of life city with a vibrant and diverse business, cultural, and social scene. We’re excited about welcoming new residents to Vista Brooklyn. We’ve worked hard to create a living experience not found anywhere else in the market. In addition, the evolving Brooklyn neighborhood is at the center of everything, with historic neighborhoods, riverfront views, nightlife, dining and shopping.”

Brasfield Gorrie served as the general contractor for Vista Brooklyn, with ETM as the civil engineer, and J Davis Architects as the architect. To learn more, book a tour or find your new home today, visit vistabrooklyn.com. Virtual tours are also available.

Downtown JAX is coming alive

SouthEast DevelopmentGroup announced yesterday its vision for the Riverfront Jacksonville: a comprehensive, multi-phased, mixed-use plan for the Northbank of Downtown Jacksonville.

The Riverfront Jacksonville comprises more than 15 acres of public green space and 2.3 million square feet of new mixed-use programs that embrace the region’s most iconic natural resource: the St. Johns River. The Riverfront Master Plan was presented to the public and the City of Jacksonville earlier today as a vision to transform the heart of Downtown. The team intends to formally pursue a public-private partnership with the Downtown Investment Authority later this summer.

JAX Sports Complex traffic and parking changes

Due to the large number of events happening in Jacksonville on Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10, 2018 there is high attendance anticipated in and around the Downtown Sports Complex. A larger amount of traffic is expected along with current construction projects.  Please plan routes accordingly and allow extra time for travel and parking.

Friday, March 9, 2018:
Gate River Run packet pick-up at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds – 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
High school baseball games at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville
  Nease vs. Trinity Christian – 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  University Christian vs. Bolles – 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
  TNXL vs. Stoneman Douglas (Fundraising Event) – 5 p.m.-7 p.m.
  Jumbo Shrimp Press Conference at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville – 1 p.m.
  Icemen hockey game at Veterans Memorial Arena – 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

*Please note that the starting line for the Gate River Run on Gator Bowl Blvd. will also be under construction beginning at 1 p.m. which will slow traffic in the area.  Due to this limited access on Gator Bowl Blvd., it is recommended that any patrons attending an event at the Baseball Grounds or Arena Friday evening should approach the sports complex from the west side of the city, through Downtown.  At this time, all bridges are scheduled to be open on March 9th.

Saturday, March 10, 2018:
  Gate River Run throughout the Sports Complex – 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
  A Night of Symphonic Hip Hop featuring Wyclef Jean and the Jacksonville Symphony – 8 p.m. (Doors open at 7 p.m.)
  Icemen hockey game at Veterans Memorial Arena - 7:30 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)
  Various private events at EverBank Field

*Please note that there will be closures of the Main Street and Hart bridges throughout the day.  For information on these events and more, visit www.jaxevents.com.

Clara White Mission homeless Veterans Villa opens in downtown JAX

The Clara White Mission had the Grand Opening of its “Beaver Street Veterans Villas”, on Wednesday, April 19, 2017.  The mission celebrated the completion of its new permanent housing initiative for homeless veterans that is located at 605 West Beaver Street, Jacksonville, Florida.  To the surprise of Ju’Coby Pittman, CEO/President of Clara White Mission, Damien Haitsuka of Wells Fargo Banks presented BSVV with a check of $200,000.  The generous donation will help with maintaining the facility for a little while.  Sponsors are still needed to consider sponsoring the furnishing of an apartment.  The property will be managed by Magnolia Properties Management.

The opening of BSVV represents the culmination of a public-private partnership begun in 2012, that has transformed a historic vacant downtown structure into a life-changing mix of housing and services for homeless veterans and low-income residents.  Major partners and contributors include: the City of Jacksonville (CDBG & DIA), HUD, Wells Fargo, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Fanny Landwirth Foundation, Jessie Ball duPont Fund, Delores Barr Weaver Fund, Wells Fargo Foundation, Acon Construction, Reynolds Smith and Hills, and the Home Depot Foundation, Synovous Bank, CORTS Furniture, Ashley Home Store, Penske, The Grimes Companies, Cox Media and Kim Larson.

The furnished, “One-Stop-Shop Full-Service Permanent Housing Facility”, with supportive services will feature 16 private apartments on its upper two floors, and a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community Resource and Referral Center (CRRC) on the ground floor.  The project goal is to provide homeless veterans transitioning from the streets or shelters with incentives and options that will encourage a more stable, sustainable lifestyle and the ability to live independently.  Supportive services will be coordinated through both the VA CRRC and Clara White Mission, and will include case management, substance abuse counseling, mental health counseling, medical services, housing placement, job training and placement, budget and financial counseling, life skills training and educational services.  Currently, the mission has 5 new residents.

“The renaming of the facility will be dedicated to Dr. Eartha M. M. White, founder of the Clara White Mission, and philanthropist Henri Landwirth.  The legacy of these two generations of philanthropist continues to help veterans and low-income residents in need.  In addition, to  honoring and naming the floors after long time philanthropist Delores Barr Weaver and Wells Fargo, will be a part of the program. This unique and important milestone, would not have been possible without the support of the community and longtime partners”, said CEO/President, Ju’Coby Pittman.

Honored guests included: Mayor Lenny Curry, Sheriff Mike Williams, Senator Audrey Gibson, Congressman John Rutherford, Delores Barr Weaver, Henri Landwirth & Family, Mia Jones, Sherry Magill, renown Author Brenda Jackson, Jacksonville City Council representatives, Bishop Rudolph McKissick, and many more.