LGBT+ club to open in almost 100-year-old cigar company building in downtown Jacksonville

Inside Jacksonville's Hardwicks Bar downtown, you can look through its tall floor-to-ceiling windows across Ocean Street for a great view of the former Haydon Burns Library, the multi-finned, mid-century modern masterpiece of the late architect Taylor Hardwick.

The owners of the new LGBT+ bar, which opens in about a month, are preservationists — their club is in a renovated 97-year-old building of some distinction — and fans of Hardwick's work, which also includes the Southbank's Friendship Fountain.

So when it came time to pick a name, they tried a few until hitting on an homage to Hardwick. It instantly felt right, said Tim Hoal, operating manager and an owner of the new business, which is being built as a sophisticated cocktail bar with a definite downtown vibe.

Hoal was a longtime bartender and manager at Park Place Lounge, a gay bar in Riverside that's still a neighborhood fixture. But he was looking, he said, for a new challenge.

“Gay bars have been closing left and right," he said, "so after I was at Park Place for a very long time, I still had so many of my old customers contact me and say, 'When are you going to do something? You should do something'."

He had a project in the works, but after it fell through, Elias Hionides reached out: His family had spaces downtown. Maybe one of those will work.

They settled on a building at 100 E. Adams St., built in 1926 as the United Cigar Stores Co. The main part of the Mediterranean Revival building was most recently home to a pub, London Bridge, and then to Burro Bar, which closed in 2016.

Hardwicks will take up 3,500 square feet of the old cigar building, which is owned by Hionides' family, prominent developers and preservationists in Jacksonville.

Hoal will be an owner and operating partner of the business, along with owners Hionides and his husband, Tod Robert (T.R.) Knudson. Meaghan Leonard was brought on as a bar manager and head bartender.

The bar sits on a prominent downtown corner across from Hardwick's old library, which preservationists managed to save and renovate into the Jessie Ball duPont Center, a busy hub for nonprofits.

"We view downtown Jacksonville as the center, the heartbeat of the city," Hionides said, adding that he's aiming to make it an inclusive place that attracts both gay and straight crowds.

He wants to attract downtown office workers, people going to the Florida Theatre or the sports complex, and customers from neighborhoods scattered across the area. They could also attract people from even farther afield.

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“I think Savannah has one gay bar left. I don’t think Daytona has any," Hoal said. "Hopefully we can draw from a few hours away.”

Times have been tough for gay clubs. Dating apps have made it easier to meet people without having to go out, and the pandemic hit businesses hard. Then there's this factor, Hionides said: “As gay culture has assimilated more with hetero culture, gay people now feel comfortable going to any bar or restaurant."

Not a dive

Hardwicks' owners believe, though, that they can buck the trends that have hurt gay bars.

“We decided to open downtown, which is different," Hoal said. "A building with floor-to-ceiling windows, very different. We’re not opening in a warehouse in an up-and-coming part of town.

"It’s not a hole in the wall, or a dive," Knudson said. "There’s an approachable sophistication to Hardwicks that everyone will enjoy. Downtown employees and residents, and also the LGBT community.”

The bar has been in the works for about three years, slowed quite a bit by the pandemic. Construction has been going on for a year and includes removing a low drop ceiling to reveal the full span of high windows.

Concrete was used to make the floor in the main section level, though there's a step down to a dance area where a raised stage has been built for DJs and entertainers.

The interior walls have been painted dark green. “It’s a custom color, a little darker than British racing green, kind of moody, ‘70s London vibe," Hoal said.

And in a nod to the old library, there are bookshelves high on one wall, with the book spines arranged by color into a rainbow pattern.

Jacksonville woodworker Matt Lackey made two long bars, one in the main space and another in a back bar where the kitchen for Chomp Chomp restaurant used to be. The back bar will also be open for special events.

Hardwicks also plans to have seating for about 40 outside on the Adams Street sidewalk.

The bar won't be serving food, but eventually food trucks will likely be brought for patrons.

Lots of support so far

The owners say they've had nothing but support, from the city, the Downtown Investment Authority, business neighbors and nearby residents. Many curious people have been peering in through the windows or knocking on the door to see what's going in the old building.

Meanwhile, representatives of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the local FBI office have dropped by, unbidden, to offer help.

“They said just to let them know if there’s anything that ever happens, or is said, or threats made online or in person or anything, they want us to know they’re here to support us," Hoal said.

Hardwicks plans to host drag shows on Saturday nights — not despite recent political moves against such shows, but because of them.

“That wasn’t originally in our plans, but, through things happening politically right now, we decided that it’s the right thing to do," Hoal said. "We’re really excited about that.”

And if there's pushback from the anti-LGBT activists? “Stay positive," Leonard said. "There’s always going to be negativity.”

“We’re standing on the shoulders of the people who have done all this beforehand, from Stonewall to the present," Hoal said. "I think we can handle some negative feedback on Instagram or Facebook. That’s nothing compared to what our forefathers have gone through.”

Added Leonard: “We can just log off.”

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: New Jacksonville LGBT+ bar to open downtown in historic building