JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A historic Riverside theater that pioneered Jacksonville’s first “talking pictures” has been transformed into a modern entertainment venue, marking a new chapter for the iconic Five Points location.
FIVE, which opened its doors in May 2025, has taken over the space that housed Sun-Ray Cinema from 2011 to 2024. The building’s rich history dates back nearly a century, having first opened as the Riverside Theatre in 1927 when it made history as Jacksonville’s first theater to show films with sound.
And its new tenants said they want to respect that history.
“It’s huge. It’s really important for us to do that as well. We love to pay tribute to former tenants or the historical significance of a building. It’s always important to cherish that and try and bring that back as much as possible,” Jeremy Hicks, Communications Director for FIVE, said.
The venue’s renovation maintained several elements of the original layout while implementing significant technical upgrades. With a capacity of approximately 1,200 people across multiple levels, FIVE has been designed to host a diverse range of events.
“We host everything from hip-hop shows to rock shows to any kind of genre you can imagine, in addition to all kinds of private events - anything from a wedding to a gala to a fundraiser of any kind,” Hicks explained. “Pretty much if you can throw an event, we can host it. We are especially passionate about live music, so that’s a big part of what we do.”
Hicks said they want to become a vital part of the Riverside and broader northeast Florida community. He said FIVE’s mission extends beyond just hosting events - they aim to create transformative experiences for attendees.
“Anyone who loves live music or loves live events has had that moment, that one concert, that one show, that completely changed their life or what they thought about certain types of music, or even helped them through a rough part of their life,” Hicks said. “We just want to set the stage for those unique live experiences to happen in our space, and based on comments and reviews we’ve seen, we know it’s already beginning to happen.”
The venue has already begun hosting nationally touring acts since its opening, with plans to continue bringing diverse entertainment options to the historic 5 Points neighborhood.
You can find more on events at fivejax.com.