Getting Freebird and downtown together could be a match made in heaven that benefits the entire region, by creating a pedestrian friendly live music and dining district, like Louisville's 4th Street Live (shown above), as opposed to Freebird relocating in a suburban strip shopping center on Atlantic Blvd.  Today, Times Union staff writers pick up the story.

(Times Union article published Wednesday, September 6th, 2006) 

By DREW DIXON and CAREN BURMEISTER Shorelines staff writer JACKSONVILLE BEACH -

A former Jaguars linebacker wants to open a chic restaurant at Freebird Live as the owner of the well-known music venue seeks a larger place in Atlantic Beach and others speculate about moving the venue to downtown Jacksonville.

Freebird owner Judy Van Zant-Jenness' proposal to move from her club at 200 First St. N. to the Atlantic Theatres on Atlantic Boulevard is on hold while city officials there assess what impact its relocation would have on surrounding businesses and neighbors.

Meanwhile, Kevin Hardy, a Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker from 1996 to 2001, wants to open an upscale restaurant, Reign, at Freebird Live, according to his Jacksonville Beach parking application. Hardy's corporation, Pacific Group Investments, is interested in buying the building and is seeking a variance from the Jacksonville Beach Board of Adjustment at 7 tonight. His restaurant concept would add 780 square feet to the club's second floor by closing off the mezzanine and enclosing part of the balcony. Under Jacksonville Beach's building codes, that would require eight new parking spaces, which Hardy said would be impossible based on extensive development in the downtown business district. Hardy declined to comment Friday, saying it was too preliminary to talk about his plans.

At the same time, advocates of downtown Jacksonville revitalization have been speculating about bringing Freebird Live to their area after learning that Van Zant-Jenness was interested in moving to a bigger facility. "Freebird is a unique Jacksonville institution and downtown is a unique area of Jacksonville," said Ennis Davis, one of the founders of the Internet site MetroJacksonville.com and a former member of the now-defunct Downtown Action Plan Committee. Van Zant-Jenness could not be reached for comment. She has not indicated if she would be willing to move west of the Intracoastal Waterway. She has said she'd sell the property if the Atlantic Theatres site is approved.

Freebird Live, which opened in 1999, is named for the famous Lynyrd Skynyrd song. Van Zant-Jenness is the widow of Ronnie Van Zant, the lead singer for the Southern rock group, who was killed with two other band members in a 1977 plane crash. Davis said he has not had any formal discussions with Van Zant-Jenness. But if Freebird Live can't settle on a Beaches location, downtown Jacksonville would be a perfect fit, he said. Jacksonville has set aside $2.4 million to attract more entertainment businesses to the city core. "There's an opportunity there to link the two together and promote both," he said. "This is all speculative at this point."

The mere mention of relocating Freebird, even to Atlantic Beach, sent shock waves through Beaches businesses. Eric Fort, manager of the Seawalk Hotel just west of Freebird, recently said he dreads the possible move because so many of his guests come from Jacksonville to see Freebird shows and stay at his hotel. But businesses near the Atlantic Theatres at 751 Atlantic Blvd. are anticipating a huge windfall if it happens. "This will help out the local business owners in Atlantic Beach, especially in this shopping center," said Po' Boys General Manager Leah Doiron. The Cajun restaurant sits just east of the theater complex.

Atlantic Theatres General Manager Tom Fallon said it's highly unlikely that Freebird would move downtown. "In speaking with Judy, she really prefers to keep the venue at the Beaches," Fallon said. If there were a serious bid to move Freebird to downtown Jacksonville, Beaches businesses would probably rally to stop it, he said. "I would certainly hope they would try and lobby to keep the venue at the Beaches," Fallon said. "We've been very limited in the entertainment options at the Beaches for many years. Freebird's been the one shining star of being able to see a show at the beach." Postings on the MetroJacksonville message board raise several possible venues for Freebird, including the Bay Street Town Center Churchwell building, Snyder Music Hall, Haydon Burns Library and The Jacksonville Landing. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , (904) 249-4947, ext. 6313

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090606/neS_4789466.shtml

Why Freebird should consider downtown as a viable alterative, from various forumers at MetJax.com

• If the Freedbird was incorporated downtown as part of an "entertainment district" then the move makes sense for all parties involved. The Landing or as part of Bay Street would be ideal. Its current Jax Beach location is on a walkable street and is surrounded by hotels, restaurants and bars. That makes it appealing. The potential Atlantic Beach location is in a shopping center on a busy, unwalkable road and would be between the Tree Steakhouse and a new Golds Gym that doesn't want the Freebird there anyway......

• I look at it this way. Except for those living on the beach side of the Intercoastal and maybe Arlington, going to Atlantic Beach is a real drive. For somebody on the Westside, Orange Park or Mandarin it is at least a 45 minute drive on a good day if not more. The drive is full of traffic and red lights. Downtown is a central location. A move opens them up to new customers.......
  
  

• They are less likely to be totally destroyed by a hurricane if they move downtown...

• Finding a good venue may be a challenge downtown. It will be hard to match the old building at the Beach, but hopefully something could be found downtown. As for why downtown, I would say it is more centrally located and can pull more from the westside, northside, Clay and Nassau Counties which are really Lynyrd Skynyrd home territory. Downtown is still the most centrally located areas in the Jacksonville MSA, IMO......

• It would be neat however to have them open another location in downtown. Maybe a bit smaller? I do agree that the Freebird would be a great addition and wonder if some of the ambience it now has will be lost in a strip center.....

• in the rock n' roll pantheon, jacksonville = skynrd. it's a natural fit for us to embrace our musical heritage in a big way. someone has got to find a way to bring the freebird cafe downtown. it might save some townies a night's stay at a motel, also!

Original MetroJacksonville Freebird Article:

Freebird Live Downtown, Why Not?

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/190/5