Five Restaurants Coming Downtown

Norikawa

The One Riverside development features apartments, a parking garage and soon a new Whole Foods grocery store at 1 Riverside Avenue. However, an exciting new waterfront dining concept from Pearl Hospitality Group called Norikawa will open in early 2026 and overlook the Riverwalk at the entrance of the new Emerald Trail extension along McCoys Creek.

Norikawa will feature indoor and outdoor dining spaces overlooking the St Johns River.

The Pearl Hospitality Group is a division of the Bento Group, which operates nearly 50 restaurants throughout Florida. Norikawa will offer traditional and modern Japanese cuisine, including a high-end sushi program. The 4,149 square foot restaurant will also feature 2,500 square foot of waterfront patio space for a refined al fresco dining experience with views of the Downtown skyline.

*Dark hues offer diners a sophisticated experience at Pearl Hospality’s Norikase on Jacksonville’s Southside. Norikawa will offer a similar vibe, but with an elevated waterfront setting. *

Norikawa will feature a full bar program, focused on premium sake and Japanese whiskey. Currently, the Pearl Hospitality Group operates Beachside Seafood Restaurant & Market, Izakaya Ko and Norikase in Jacksonville.

Alder & Oak

Also in Brooklyn, a mixed-used office and restaurant complex is being built at 400 Riverside Avenue call The Hub Brooklyn. Southern Grounds Coffee-chain owner Mark Janasik plans to open a new concept here called, Alder & Oak. Alder & Oak will be a full-service dining venue that will offer local and coastal inspired wood-fired cuisine and Prohibition-style cocktails. The Hub Brooklyn is a $2.46 million project under development at the intersection of Riverside Avenue and Forest Street. Alder & Oak will occupy approximately 2,600-square-feet of interior dining space and 3,220-square-feet of covered open-air dining.

Now under construction, The Hub Brooklyn will feature a Southern Grounds coffee shop, office space and Alder & Oak.

Oak Steakhouse

Currently under construction in the historic Greenleaf & Crosby Building at 204 N Laura Street, Charleston, S.C.-based Indigo Road Hospitality Group will open the eight location of their Oak Steakhouse concept by the end of 2025.

The corner of Laura and Adams Streets is in the process of transforming into the Oak Steakhouse.

Longtime Jaxsons may recognize this space of the former Jacobs Jewelry storefront featured prominently at the corner of Adams and Laura Streets. Oak Steakhouse will feature a menu that includes Prime Certified Angus Beef, a seasonally driven menu featuring local and regional ingredients, and a world-class wine list. Indigo Road Hospitality Group currently operates O-Ku Sushi at the foot of the Jacksonville Beach pier.

Oak Steakhouse locations in Charlotte and Nashville preview a glimpse of the space that is under construction in Downtown Jacksonville.

The Greenleaf & Crosby Building was designed by architects Marsh & Saxelbye and built in 1926 for the Greenleaf & Crosby Company. Founded by Damon Greenleaf and J.H. Crosby in 1880, the Greenleaf & Crosby Company owned one of the city’s earliest jewelry stores. The jewelry business was renamed to Jacobs Jewelry after it was acquired by V.E. Jacobs in 1930. Considered one of Jacksonville’s oldest continuously operated businesses, the store closed in 2023 with the retirement of its last owners, Roy and Delorise Thomas. Under construction during the bust of the Florida Land Boom, only one half of the ten story building was completed.

Ariete

Ariete Hospitality Group, a Miami-based and MICHELIN-starred restaurant group is opening a new concept in the Bank of America tower at 50 N. Laura Street. Work is about to begin to transform the ground-floor retail space at the corner of Laura and Bay Streets into a 2,225 square feet Starbucks Coffee storefront. When that is complete, work will then begin at the corner of Laura and Forsyth Streets to accompany a new diner and full-service bar from Ariete.

Long hidden from pedestrian view, the former lobby area at the Bank of America tower will soon feature two new retail spaces that will fully integrate with the sidewalks and add al fresco dining options along Laura Street.

The Bank of America branch located in the building closed in early 2024, after operating there since the building was originally constructed for the former Barnett Bank in 1990. Ariete Group will open a concept similar to Chug’s Diner, a morning-noon-or-night eatery located in Coconut Grove neighborhood south of Downtown Miami. The Jacksonville location will also transform the former bank counter to service a high-end bar program.

This would be the first restaurant in Jacksonville operated by a MICHELIN-starred restaurant group.

A look at Chug’s Diner in Miami offers a preview of what’s to come for Downtown Jacksonville.

Zunzibar

Zunzibar is currently renovating the former Burrito Gallery space in the Fresh Market-anchored Brooklyn Station development at 90 Riverside Ave. Based in Savannah with additional locations in Hilton Head and Tybee Island, Zunzibar is a South African-inspired beach bar.

Originally opened during the 2005 Super Bowl, Burrito Gallery served the Downtown market for 20 years. The Adams Street location was quickly backfilled by Dorothy’s Downtown, and now the Brooklyn location will be backfilled with a new restaurant group from Savannah.

The menu features seafood, wings and sandwiches served on French Bread. The sandwich offerings feature global flavors like Indian Curry Chili Chicken, Curry Chicken and Boerewors Sausage- a traditional South African sausage flavored with Coriander and Nutmeg.

Since the demolition of the Jacksonville Landing in 2019, ordering approachably-priced seafood has become difficult Downtown. That will change when Zunzibar opens later this year.

Article by Mike Field.