'When the Jags do well, everyone does well': Jacksonville businesses ride wave of success

After years of COVID-19 impacting local businesses, restaurants and bars have seen a positive bump in sales and activity as a result of sold-out events and Jacksonville Jaguars wins.

Michael McAndrew, general manager at That Bar at the Arena, said he has seen their customer base growing stronger each game – and even in the lead-up beforehand.

“I think the numbers on the receipts reflect that as well,” he said. “Business has been stronger and stronger each week.”

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McAndrew said he’s had to work with vendors to make sure they are adequatelystocked and not running out of supplies on game day, plus he’s increased staff hours, which is “a plus for [everyone.]”

Even non-Jaguars events, like the UFC matches at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena or the Florida-Georgia college football game have provided “record-breaking numbers” for That Bar at the Arena.

“We just seem to be growing, [and] that’s obviously a positive,” McAndrea said.

And live music seems to be on the docket to come for the bar, which received final approval for a remodel and expansion project from the Downtown Development Review Board on Thursday.

The project consists of an exterior addition and balconies on an existing two-story, 5,376-square-foot space. The space would expand to approximately 9,219 square feet and include a rooftop deck.

Other local eateries have seen the positive effects of a winning team as well.

Ashley Rhodes, co-owner of Toon Town Pizzeria, said her restaurant isn't typically open on the weekends but is open for all Jaguars home games and for the Florida-Georgia rivalry game, which she said is “crazy every year.”

“Praise God we’re out of the COVID season,” she said. “We did it in ’21 and did great, but we did double this year.”

Rhodes said business has seen a big boost from 2020 to 2021 and again from 2021 to the 2022 football season.

“We have a lot happier Jags fans this season,” Rhodes said. “When the Jags do well, everyone does well.”

Even businesses farther from the action on the field have seen more foot traffic around game time.

The Flamingo Coffee Bar in Murray Hill, a specialty coffee shop and roaster that offers beer and wine, saw one of its largest crowds during the AFC South Championship Game on Jan. 7.

Donnie Webb, co-owner of Flamingo, said all the employees and owners have always been huge Jaguars fans.

“We opened in 2018, so it was the season right after we went to the AFC Championship while we were doing buildout and all of this,” Webb said. “We were watching games at Intuition and getting really excited about showing games at Flamingo, and 2018 comes and the losses come as well. It’s been really exciting getting to see people come out and support the Jags.”

Webb said this season has given Flamingo some of “the best nights we’ve had since we opened,” and employees who are there to watch the game and have ended up hopping behind the bar to help serve.

“I was shocked at how many people were here last week considering it was a home game,” he said. “We thought about closing to encourage people to go to the game, but since it was sold out, we decided to stay open.”

Webb said Flamingo is preparing for a repeat this weekend with some extra staffing — and of course the co-owners will be watching again and ready to help out if needed.

“It’s beautiful,” he said. “It’s just so awesome to see people come out like this.”

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville businesses see Jaguars wins boost sales, foot traffic