Downtown Vision Inc. celebrated newsmakers and new projects Dec. 10 during the 2024 #DTJax Awards at The Lark.
The awards honor individuals and companies that have contributed to vitality and growth in Downtown. Downtown Vision Inc. is a nonprofit that promotes Downtown, organizes events and activities in the core, and provides maintenance, trash pickup, security and hospitality through its Downtown Ambassador program.
The winners were:
Ambassador of the Year: Brandy Hicks
Downtowner of the Year: Tim Cost, president of the Jacksonville University College of Law
Downtown Retail Project of the Year: Hardwicks Bar, Elias Hionides
Downtown Project of the Year: Friendship Fountain
Small Business of the Year: Chamblin’s Uptown
Downtown Achievement of the Year: John Silveira, Riverside Arts Market
The JU College of Law opened Aug. 26 in renovated space in Jacksonville’s historic former Atlantic Bank building at 121 W. Forsyth St.
Hardwicks Bar, 100 E. Adams St., celebrated its first anniversary in September 2024 after an $847,000 makeover of a building that was once the home of Burro Bar and The London Bridge restaurant. Hardwicks is Jacksonville’s first new LGBTQ bar in 20 years.
Friendship Fountain reopened in February 2024 after a nearly $8 million renovation project that added lights and programmable, movable nozzles that allow for customized light and water displays.
Chamblin’s Uptown bookstore and cafe, 215 N. Laura St., opened in 2008. In 2023, the Jacksonville Daily Record named owner Ron Chamblin as a Top Entrepreneur Legend.
Silveira retired from RAM in August 2024 after eight years, during which time the market’s regular weekly vendor counts grew from 60 to 150. Ram celebrated its 15th anniversary in April 2024.