Team behind The Local bringing new restaurant concept to Jacksonville's Five Points

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Nearly a year after plans first surfaced for a new Five Points restaurant from the team behind The Local, work is set to begin on The Lomax Restaurant.

The new, 8,877-square-foot restaurant will take over the former Wells Fargo bank branch at Lomax and Oak streets. There, the existing bank building will be renovated and joined by a new, two-story building where the bank’s drive-thru lanes canopy once stood.

Construction on the building marks a milestone for restaurant developers Ted Stein and J.C. Demetree, whose pursuit to open a restaurant in the historic Riverside neighborhood dates to 2015, when the pair incorporated Roost Restaurants, LLC, and proposed The Roost at the former Deluxe Laundry and Dry Cleaners in the 2200 block of Oak Street in the former Deluxe Laundry and Dry Cleaners and Deluxe Launderette buildings.

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That project — now proposed as the third location of their popular The Local concept — faced notable opposition then — and again, now — from some area residents concerned about the impact of traffic and noise on the quiet street located two blocks from Publix.

Although The Roost never took root in Riverside, Stein and Demetree went on to open two locations of The Local, a restaurant concept — as its name suggests — of a neighborhood spot to gather for good food, booze and caffeine and to enjoy it all with friends. The restaurant debuted in 2017 at 4578 San Jose Blvd. in Miramar. A second location opened in 2019 at 301 Atlantic Blvd. in Neptune Beach.

In early 2021, Stein and Demetree launched Wonderbird, a fast-food restaurant in Jacksonville Beach based on the popular chicken sandwich from The Local menu. That restaurant closed earlier this year.

The Lomax is the next concept from Roost Restaurants.

According to a food service plan submitted to the state in late July, The Lomax will have seating for about 160 guests in multiple dining areas.

Plans show four bars, with counter seating ranging from four to 11 seats, and lounge and/or dining areas seating dozens more at tables and banquettes. The largest will be to the right of the restaurant’s main entry on Oak Street, located in the two-story building addition. There, in addition to the 11-seat bar and table seating for 58, the area includes a platform, presumably for live entertainment.

Two other bars, lounge/dining seating, a large kitchen and restrooms comprise the remainder of the main floor.

The restaurant’s second floor — much of which is open to the area below — includes a small bar, a lounge area with sofas and seating for up to 30 diners at five banquettes, plans show.

An Aug. 3 building permit for the two-story addition estimates construction costs at $2.215 million. A building permit pending for renovation work of the existing bank building estimates work at $600,000.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: The Lomax restaurant coming to Jacksonville's Five Points