JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The owner of Breezy Jazz House said the lounge is returning to downtown Jacksonville.
Thea Jeffers explained why she and her husband are making the move.
“I love our current location, it has served us well, but I do believe and growing and I want to be apart of everything that’s going on downtown. I want to get close to the stadium,” Jeffers said.
Jeffers started in downtown Jacksonville on Adams Street and she even pushed through the COVID epidemic.
“It was rough, we were open, close, open, close, open, close. Prior to COVID, I know I was moving to San Marco, I was all excited. We had just stopped owing money. We were starting to make money and COVID hit,” Jeffers said.
She and her husband made a bold move in the Bold City and left downtown and moved to San Marco. They opened on New Year’s Eve of 2021.
The business has been thriving in San Marco, but she wants more foot traffic that East Bay Street will bring. Downtown Investment Authority offers a program for businesses that want to be in the Elbow District. It’s part of Bay Street and Ocean, a go-to for nightlife and entertainment.
“You have to find property in that location, and we did,” Jeffers said.
Now the business is moving to East Bay Street, where a law firm once stood at 337 East Bay Street.
“You won’t even know it’s a law office once I’m done,” Jeffers said, smiling optimistically.
Downtown Jacksonville is growing and changing with the addition for a new yacht tour, upgraded parks, new homes along the Southbank, Jaguar stadium renovations, and new businesses opening. Jeffers is just one of many businesses moving downtown.
Breezy Jazz House will stay open in San Marco until its new Bay Street location is renovated in the spring of 2026.