The live music venue that intends to open in the closed Sun-Ray Cinema in Five Points is a step closer to being able to serve alcohol after action Jan. 23 by the Jacksonville Planning Commission.
The commission granted conditional approval of a waiver to allow FIVE to serve liquor, beer and wine for on-premises indoor consumption. The approval came on a 7-0 vote, with commissioner Julius Harden abstaining.
Marathon Live, a Nashville, Tennessee-based venue management company, has booked events at FIVE starting with Palaye Royal on Feb. 22. Other shows are booked in February and March at the venue at 1028 Park St., according to fivejax.com.
The commission’s approval was contingent on the owner, 1028 Park LLC, obtaining a zoning exception for the property. Legislation for that exception, Ordinance 2025-0008, is scheduled for a public hearing Jan. 28 before the Jacksonville City Council and Feb. 4 before the Council Landing Use and Zoning Committee.
A staff report on the waiver stated that the Sun-Ray Cinema and another former occupant of the building, Club 5, both served alcohol.
The waiver reduces a required minimum distance from Riverside Presbyterian Church, 849 Park St., from 1,500 feet to 325 feet.
No one spoke in opposition to the waiver application.
The city has been reviewing a permit application for an estimated $1.2 million renovation of the two-story, 13,320-square-foot theater space.
Andrew Seng and Jay Weaver, founders of Union South Partners, bought the building through 1028 Park LLC for $7 million in May 2024. The seller was 5 Points Theatre Building LLC, led by the Shad family.
Sun-Ray operated in the building from 2011 until July 2024, when it closed after its lease expired and was not renewed. Club 5 operated a live music venue in the space from 1991 to 2004.