Four years after announcing the project, Restaurant & Hospitality Investment Group is starting construction of a mixed-use restaurant concept at 400 Riverside Ave. in the Brooklyn area of Downtown Jacksonville.
Southern Grounds, the Sky Bar and Alder & Oak will anchor The HUB, which is at Riverside Avenue and Forest Street.
Space will also be dedicated to an event venue.
Southern Grounds is a coffee shop, The Sky Bar will serve craft cocktails and small plates. Alder & Oak will feature wood-fire entrees.
“This project embodies our commitment to quality and authenticity, uniting our community-first approach with sustainable practices and genuine hospitality,” said Mark Janasik, owner of RHIG, in a news release.
“Our vision for The HUB has always been to create an inviting space where people from all walks of life can connect and experience the best of Jacksonville’s Brooklyn neighborhood, and we look forward to making this a reality.”
Janasik owns Southern Grounds, which has four locations, according to its website. He could not be reached for additional comment.
An RHIG spokesperson said by text that The HUB’s unique design was the main reason that the project has taken so long to start construction and that Janasik is looking at opening in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The building is designed by Cronk Duch Architecture. CD+urban is the developer.
The design will draw on the architecture of surrounding buildings like Catlin Studebaker and Terry Buick dealerships.
CD+urban is a studio within Cronk Duch that is focused on consulting, planning, designing and branding urban infill projects with an emphasis on re-emerging neighborhoods.
The HUB will feature patio and rooftop features. The release said that for energy conservation, there will be more shaded outdoor dining options than traditional restaurants.
The Downtown Development Review Board approved plans in October 2020. They called for a three-level building and 2,593 square feet of outdoor space.
Southern Grounds will use 1,534 square feet of space on the ground floor. The second level event space will be 1,318 square feet.
On Oct. 18, 2023, the Downtown Investment Authority approved two Basic Retail Enhancement Program Grants for the coffee shop and restaurant for a combined $150,350.
Each award is structured as a forgivable, no-interest grant that will amortize at the rate of 2.778% each month after closing for three years with the condition that Alder & Oak and Southern Grounds remain in business at the location for three years.
In October 2022, Janasik paid $285,000 for the 0.21-acre site.
The city issued three permits Jan. 3, 2023, for Danis Construction LLC to build three shell buildings at 400 Riverside Ave. at a construction cost of almost $2.46 million.
The Hub Brooklyn tenant improvements would be done under separate permits.
The Downtown Development Review Board approved the final design in October 2020.