Jacksonville

Live Music Lounge Reopening in Downtown Jacksonville

Breezy Jazz House & Restaurant is relocating downtown with expanded live music and dining.

Image from Breezy Jazz House & Restaurant website

JACKSONVILLE, FL - Breezy Jazz House & Restaurant is relocating to 337 E Bay St, Jacksonville, FL 32202, with plans to reopen just before the Jacksonville Jazz Festival in late May, owner Theawona Jeffers told Business Debut.

Jeffers and her husband, Lieutenant Commander Jeffers, first opened the concept on June 30, 2017, at 119 West Adams Street in Downtown Jacksonville. After nearly four years, the business outgrew the space. A move to San Marco followed during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Jeffers said the time is right to return downtown for stronger foot traffic in what is known as “the Elbow,” a central entertainment district near the stadium.

Business Debut learned of this story first from What Now.

What to Expect

Breezy Jazz House is a live music venue, restaurant and bar catering primarily to guests ages 40 to 80. “Very seldom you find a place that caters to older people. So I believe that is our niche,” Jeffers told Business Debut.

Image from Breezy Jazz House & Restaurant website

Currently open three nights a week, the new location will expand to six nights of live music along with six days of lunch service. Live performances will include jazz on select evenings and a mix of R&B, blues and pop on others. The new space is being designed to accommodate up to 150 seats with an elevated stage to improve visibility.

The refreshed menu will feature a stronger focus on New Orleans-style Cajun and Creole cuisine. “We’re going to put a heavy emphasis on New Orleans-style food,” Jeffers told Business Debut.

Images from Breezy Jazz House & Restaurant website

Lunch service will include tapas-style offerings designed for guests who need a quick in-and-out option. Menu items will be named after famous jazz artists, tying the culinary experience directly to the music concept.

Jeffers’ passion for jazz began at age 12 in Philadelphia, where she would ride the bus to hear live bands along the waterfront. After marrying her husband, Lieutenant Commander Jeffers, and traveling the world through his military service, she made a point to visit jazz clubs in every city. “I like how it made me feel,” she said. “At that point I said, you know what, I’m going to get one.”

Jeffers added that the City of Jacksonville awarded the business a grant to assist with the build-out of the new location. She said the support reflects the city’s recognition of the positive impact Breezy Jazz House has had on the community over the past several years.

“We’ve been in business a long time, and the city has seen the joy and connection we bring, especially to our older community,” Jeffers told Business Debut. “Their support means a lot to us as we take this next step.”