Five Points Tavern and Dahlia’s Pour House are on tap for new uses
Marah Brewing Co. wants to brew beer, mead and cider for on-site consumption at the former Five Points Tavern, while Brewz 3 LLC intends to buy and convert the building that now houses Dahlia’s Pour House, public records show.
Marah Brewing Co. seeks a zoning exception at 1521 Margaret St., the former Five Points Tavern and O’Brothers Irish Pub.
James Menker is president of Marah Brewing Co. He and Wicked Barley Brewing Co. co-founder Brett Baker will partner in the venture as co-owners.
They intend to set up a 3.5-barrel system to make products to serve at the location. Distribution isn’t planned.
They intend to brew a standard line of ales and lagers and create meads and ciders, including seasonal batches.
They also will offer other beers and wine on tap.
The fully equipped kitchen will allow them to offer a menu of bar food, Menker said. They hope to open in early 2019.
“The site is pretty well laid out from its prior occupants,” Menker said.
He said he has been looking for space for nine to 12 months, “and we found our spot.”
“This is a great neighborhood,” he said of the historic area near Downtown that attracts pedestrians.
Menker said the space is about 2,000 square feet inside and another 2,000 square feet outdoors. He expects about 100 seats but said that is being determined.
Baker said Marah Brewing is separate from his other ventures.
“I love the space,” he said. “It became available and it was something we knew we would make a decision on quickly if we were going to do it.”
Property owner Stanton Hudmon with Westwood Properties Partners LLC said the space generated strong interest.
“I had about 10 viable concepts and went with this one,” he said.
Brewz 3 LLC seeks a waiver of the minimum distance from a church or school so that it can buy the Dahlia’s Pour House location at 2695 Post St., according to an application for a zoning waiver.
Brewz seeks a reduction in the distance from 1,500 to 1,215 from a church or school because it is near St. Paul Catholic Church and School and Riverside Baptist Church.
Dahlia’s is an operating wine and beer bar. Andrea Koralewski owns and manages Dahlia’s Pour House LLC, which owns the building. She declined to comment until the zoning was publicly heard.
Brewz proposes the retail sale and service of craft beer and wine for on-premise and off-premise consumption. Brewz also seeks a zoning exception for the retail sale of beer and wine and on-premise consumption.
Brewz operates in Bartram Park and Atlantic Beach.
“We felt if we could get into the Downtown we would be able to serve most of the population of Jacksonville,” said Brewz LLC founder Brian Slucker.
Slucker said he intends to buy the property in December and transform it to fit the Brewz concept, which includes TVs, wine taps and new bathrooms, paint, floor, bar and more.
“Once the renovation is complete, we will immediately open,” he said. “We are hoping to only be closed down for about a month.”
Slucker said the group hopes to open a rooftop bar within a couple of years.
“We chose Riverside because we thought our concept would fit into the Riverside culture,” he said.
