Liquor menus likely coming to more downtown Jacksonville, Kings Avenue restaurants

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — More restaurants in downtown Jacksonville and along the Kings Avenue corridor could start selling liquor and cocktails thanks to legislation passed off the floor of the Florida House Friday morning.

There’s a popular adage about mixing beer and liquor, but at plenty of restaurants downtown and on Kings Avenue, customers don’t even have the option.

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The Bearded Pig’s Jacksonville Beach location offers signature cocktails.

“We have some fun cocktails we call ‘Pig Tails.’ They’re kind of our twist on some classics,” said co-owner Michael Schmidt.

But at the Bearded Pig’s Kings Avenue location, you’ll only find beer and wine.

That’s because the restaurant only seats roughly 130 guests, just shy of the 150-seat requirement to obtain a liquor license under Florida law.

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“The downtown overlay currently is 100 seats,” Schmidt said.

Legislation passed by the Florida House Friday however, would reduce that seating requirement to just 50 seats and also expand the downtown overlay to include Kings Avenue.

“This just gives people a broader scope of what they can enjoy in the restaurants,” Schmidt said.

Local Steve Furey endorsed the idea.

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“I think they should be able to serve liquor. I think they already make it difficult to get a liquor license to begin with,” Furey said.

And so did Kings Avenue resident Hannah Moore.

“I think it would be a good thing for the street and it would allow for more diverse options. Anything to increase density over here I think would be a good thing,” Moore said.

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And while the change could drive more growth downtown, Schmidt predicts it will lead to an economic boom in the Kings Avenue area.

“Just Kings Avenue you could see five to six new restaurants. Each restaurant, we employ over 50 people here, so you could have an extra 200 jobs just on Kings Avenue and that is something that is desperately needed,” Schmidt said.

Now the bill just needs a “cheers” from Senate to make it to the Governor’s desk.

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