Restaurants: What's new or coming soon to Jacksonville's downtown, San Marco, Five Points

Gary T. Mills and Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
·5 min read

Even though we’ve seen some notable restaurant closings already this year, plenty of new restaurants have opened across Jacksonville – and even more are on the way.

From burger, taco and pizza joints to Italian and Mexican restaurants to breakfast, brunch and buffet spots, the area’s dining scene is growing, from downtown to the Beaches to the Southside, Westside, St. Johns and more, not just the St. Johns Town Center, which has served as the destination for many restaurant chains entering the market over the last two decades.

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Here's a look at what's new in 2024 or coming soon to the Downtown, San Marco, Riverside and Springfield areas. (And be sure to bookmark this story for regular updates.)

Anejo Cocina Mexicana

Anejo Cocina Mexicana, based in Ponte Vedra Beach, opened its newest Mexican restaurant Memorial Day in a nearly 3,600-square-foot space at 2039 Hendricks Ave. in the Publix-anchored East San Marco retail center.
Anejo Cocina Mexicana, based in Ponte Vedra Beach, opened its newest Mexican restaurant Memorial Day in a nearly 3,600-square-foot space at 2039 Hendricks Ave. in the Publix-anchored East San Marco retail center.

2039 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville

Family owned and operated, Anejo Cocina Mexicana, a Mexican restaurant chain based in Ponte Vedra Beach, opened in a nearly 3,600-square-foot space at 2039 Hendricks Ave. in the Publix-anchored East San Marco retail center. It is the chain's eighth Florida location including a half-dozen in the Jacksonville area. The restaurant chain is known for its classic and inspired Mexican dishes including birria, enchiladas, fajitas, tacos, burritos and more. | Read more

Cinco de Mayo

The lunch portion of the chicken chimichanga at the recently opened Cinco de Mayo, 301 E. Bay St., in downtown Jacksonville. The Mexican restaurant is in the space formerly used by Olio, a popular lunch spot that closed permanently on March 11, 2022 after 11 years.
The lunch portion of the chicken chimichanga at the recently opened Cinco de Mayo, 301 E. Bay St., in downtown Jacksonville. The Mexican restaurant is in the space formerly used by Olio, a popular lunch spot that closed permanently on March 11, 2022 after 11 years.

301 E. Bay St., Unit 1, Jacksonville

A fast-casual Mexican restaurant returned to downtown Jacksonville four years after leaving the former Jacksonville Landing. Cinco de Mayo opened in February at 301 E. Bay St. Unit 1 at Market Street. The restaurant replaces the former Olio — a popular downtown lunch spot that closed in March 2022 after 11 years. Cinco de Mayo offers freshly made, classic Mexican fare including a variety of tacos, burritos, carnitas, nachos, fajitas, enchiladas, quesadillas and specials featuring seafood, steak, chicken and pork. | Read more

Cup of Job

Cup of Job opened its second brick-and-mortar coffeehouse at 934 Edgewood Ave. S. in Murray Hill in July.
Cup of Job opened its second brick-and-mortar coffeehouse at 934 Edgewood Ave. S. in Murray Hill in July.

934 Edgewood Ave. S., Jacksonville

With its motto of "Seek. Serve. Sip," coffeehouse Cup of Job made its Murray Hill debut in July, offering freshly roasted coffee and espresso along with frappes, cold brews, teas and smoothies and a selection of muffins, cinnamon rolls, pastries, frittatas and bagels. The nonprofit coffeehouse, which took over the former Vagabond Coffee Co. cafe spot, has partnered with other local nonprofits to provide job skills and placement programs helping victims of sex trafficking and other sexual abuse. | Read more

Electric Dough Pizza Co.

Handmade pizza from acclaimed Jacksonville Chef Tom Gray will top the menu at his new restaurant concept, Electric Dough Pizza Co., at the former San Marco Theatre, 1996 San Marco Blvd., on historic San Marco square.
Handmade pizza from acclaimed Jacksonville Chef Tom Gray will top the menu at his new restaurant concept, Electric Dough Pizza Co., at the former San Marco Theatre, 1996 San Marco Blvd., on historic San Marco square.

1996 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville

Tom Gray, the Jacksonville chef behind the Town Center's Prati Italia and San Marco's Town Hall restaurants, is adding another restaurant to his portfolio: Electric Dough Pizza Co. The restaurant, named after the Italian-imported eclectic oven used to cook the pizzas, will feature Gray's signature fresh-from-scratch rectangular pizzas featuring a Roman-style dough with Detroit-style crispy, cheesy edges, perfected at Prati Italia. Oh, and the restaurant, which is slated to open late this year, will be in well-known venue: the historic San Marco Theatre building. | Read more

Insomnia Cookies

Insomnia Cookies, a late-night gourmet cookie bakery that delivers opened in April in Five Points.
Insomnia Cookies, a late-night gourmet cookie bakery that delivers opened in April in Five Points.

815 Lomax St., Jacksonville

A Philadelphia-based dessert shop that built its reputation for delivering warm, fresh-baked chocolate chunk and other cookies, opened its third Jacksonville store in April. Insomnia Cookies is satisfying late-night cravings for cookies and other sweet treats from its new 1,174-square-foot storefront in Five Points. Founded in 2003, the cookie shop also offers ice cream cookie sandwiches, brownies, cookie cakes, mini cookies and ice cream.

The Lomax Restaurant

803 Lomax St., Jacksonville

Construction is underway on The Lomax Restaurant, the new concept in Five Points from Roost Restaurants LLC — the team behind The Local restaurants in Jacksonville and Neptune Beach. The Lomax replaces the former Wells Fargo bank branch at Lomax and Oak streets. Led by restaurant developers Ted Stein and J.C. Demetree and CEO Eli Durant, the restaurant group is renovating the existing ground-level bank space as well as building a new two-story addition where the bank's drive-thru lanes canopy once stood.

Rodrigo's Craft Pizza

1029 Park St., Jacksonville

Offering artisan "Neo-Neapolitan style pizza" crafted from fermented dough as well as oven-baked panuozzos, calzones and more, Rodrigo's Craft Pizza opened in February in the heart of Jacksonville's Five Points. Serving lunch and dinner, the restaurant focuses on handcrafted fresh-from-scratch pizzas featuring mozzarella cheese made in-house and seasonal ingredients. Rodrigo's Craft Pizza replaces Crane Ramen, which closed abruptly in November 2022 after four years. | Read more

The Roost

2200 block of Oak Street, Jacksonville

The Roost is another new concept proposed by restaurant developers Ted Stein and J.C. Demetree of Roost Restaurants LLC. They want to open the new restaurant in the 2200 block of Oak Street at the former Deluxe Laundry and Dry Cleaners and Deluxe Launderette buildings. The restaurant group previously brought The Local to Neptune Beach and the Miramar neighborhood of Jacksonville. In addition to the Roost, the restauranteurs are bringing a new concept — The Lomax Restaurant — to Five Points, less than a half-mile from the Roost location.

Tulua Bistro

1703 N. Main St., Jacksonville

Tulua Bistro, the popular Jacksonville Beach restaurant known for its bodacious brunch featuring bountiful breakfast boards, mega-size Bloody Marys and daily bottomless Mimosas, opened its second location in historic Springfield in April. The new restaurant serves up its from-scratch fare amid vibrant murals of human rights champions, cultural icons and historic figures. It's also known for its upscale drag shows. | Read more

Voodoo Brewing Co.

Voodoo Brewing Co. opened in July in San Marco.
Voodoo Brewing Co. opened in July in San Marco.

1974 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville

Vacant in recent years, one of San Marco Square’s iconic buildings welcomed in July Pennsylvania-based craft brewer Voodoo Brewing Co., known for its Good Vibes (West Coast IPA), Oh Mama (lager), Voodoo Love Child (fruited Belgian tripel) and other brews as well as a menu of classic pub fare, including pizzas, burgers, salads, wraps, sandwiches as well as mac and cheese, mussels, wings and more. | Read more

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: New restaurants in Jacksonville in 2024 in downtown, San Marco

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