The Malling of Jacksonville

[stjr]

Patti's Restaurant had a second location in the front of Roosevelt Mall for a long time.  See the bottom image on the postcard below:

[DavidWilliams]

^^^^Would that have been late 60's? How long was it there?

[stjr]

^^^^Would that have been late 60's? How long was it there?

Can't say for sure, but I would say a good guess would be mid 60's (maybe earlier) to early 70's or so from my memories.

[jandar]

definitely wasn't there in the late 70's when I grew up in that part of town.

[roninvirginia]

When the Roosevelt mall opened in 1961 there was a huge ad campaign. One of the draws to the Grand Opening was to be the exhibition of two pairs of matched Black Swans from somewhere in South America (if I remember correctly). Unfortunately one of the pairs escaped during the offload process on the waterfront in downtown Jax. These two birds merrily began swimming (escaping) down the St. Johns River. It seems these birds are/were paired for life.

I remember this because our family dog (a handsome black and red mutt of undetermined breeding) apparently took umbrage at their presence in the water near our neighborhood on Greenwood Ave. in Avondale. He jumped from the quay wall into the river and took off in pursuit of the trespassers. Much to our shock and dismay he quickly caught one and promptly killed it. It made the front page of the Times-Union the next day. We were so afraid we would lose our dog, but nothing was ever said. They had to destroy the other bird.  Thats my story and I am sticking to it.