JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Whiskey Jax Baymeadows is closing after service July 19 and will be replaced by a new restaurant concept, its former owner told the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Tom Fisher, who is still affiliated with the business, announced the closure of the restaurant, bar and music venue at 10915 Baymeadows Road in a July 9 Facebook post.
Whiskey Jax Baymeadows is in the Point Meadows shopping center anchored by Winn-Dixie near Interstate 295.
Fisher said Whiskey Jax has been operating on a month-to-month lease since January while the landlord looked for a new tenant.
The Toasted Yolk Cafe, which is open for breakfast and lunch, will take the Whiskey Jax spot, Fisher said.
The Texas-based Toasted Yolk has 45 locations, including one in Northeast Florida in Fleming Island. The restaurant website shows one coming soon in Atlantic Beach. The Daily Record has reported others planned in Yulee and in St. Johns County.
Ownership split
Whiskey Jax Baymeadows opened in 2014.
It was originally owned by Fisher and Adam Fontaine, but the two split ownership in 2015 when Fisher opened the Whiskey Jax at 950 Marsh Landing Parkway in Jacksonville Beach.
Fontaine retained ownership of the Baymeadows location. He did not return a call for comment.
Fisher closed the Jacksonville Beach location in November 2021 and moved to 725 Atlantic Blvd., in Atlantic Beach, in February 2022. That operation, called Whiskey Jax Kitchen & Cocktails, shut down in March 2024.
It closed due to unforeseen staffing problems and other setbacks caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Fisher told the Daily Record at that time.
“I had plenty of hope, but hope isn’t much of a business plan,” he said in 2024.
Since that closing, Fisher has been working with Fontaine.
No agreement
There were negotiations to renew the expired Baymeadows lease, but agreeable terms could not be reached.
“We were working on some things, and it just didn’t work. Commercial real estate is a business and they’ve got to make money and we’ve got to make money. If both parties can’t make money, then we’ve just got to part ways. There’s absolutely no hard feelings,” Fisher said.
While Whiskey Jax remained busy with regulars and other customers, people aren’t spending as much as they were even in January, Fisher said.
“Most nights we’d get pretty full still, but people tend to spend 25% on average, less than they may have just six months ago. And it’s not just us, it’s a lot of restaurants,” he said.
“We track daily numbers. You can’t get blood out of a turnip.”
As an example of the downturn, instead of an entree and three drinks, customers are now having an appetizer and one drink or iced tea, Fisher said.
Lone glass
The Facebook announcement pictured a lone glass of whiskey on a table.
Fisher thought it best to announce the closing date ahead of time rather than bolting the doors without notice.
“We wanted our friends and family members and all those people and staff to know it is coming. It worked out for the best,” he said.
Although he couldn’t speak for Fontaine’s plans, Fisher said he personally is out of the restaurant business. He said he won’t miss the long hours.
“It’ll be a new and welcome change for me in my life. I’ll actually have a normal bedtime, you know, a consistent bedtime. I’ll be able to get up with my kids at 6:30 and not be exhausted.”
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