Sheree Kentwell and Jon Choomchaiyo were working restaurant jobs in Denver when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
As restaurants closed and it became clear their jobs might not be safe, the two decided it was time to start their own venture.
“It got to the point where we kind of just looked at each other and we said, we kind of have to do our own thing,” Kentwell said. “You know, we have to give this as best a shot as we can.”
The two were working in a wine bar and looking for a new city to start a restaurant.
Their friends Vincent and Kathy Mazzone, who own Serafina’s Pizzeria in St. Johns County, suggested Jacksonville.
“I was like, is it near a beach?” Kentwell said. In addition to that, they thought the restaurant scene hasn’t reached its peak, leaving room for new concepts.
“This location is interesting to us because there’s so much development that has gone on in the last couple of years,” Choomchaiyo said. “We think we can definitely bring something that the Five Points area or even Jacksonville itself doesn’t have yet.”
They searched for a location, settling on the former Safe Harbor Seafood and Marah Brewing space to open a wine bar called Prospect Five Points.
“This is kind of a unique little building,” Kentwell said of the structure at 1521 Margaret St. in Five Points constructed in 1921. “A cute little wine bar would go good here, and I have experience in it.”
Prospect Five Points will serve wine and small plates. It will offer wine flights of three 3-ounce pours for customers to taste new wines or decide what they want to order. Kentwell said they decided on small plates so people can order variety rather than each having one dish.
The wine list has not been finalized but will include regional and international selections.
Kentwell said pending permits, she hopes to open by Oct. 15.
The wine bar will have indoor and outdoor seating. The first floor has tables, benches and chairs and the second floor will have more of a lounge feel, she said.
Marah Brewing and Safe Harbor Seafood closed in April.
Kentwell and Choomchaiyo have spent time renovating the space themselves. They painted the walls and floors; they hired an artist to create a mural out front; and they built the benches for the tables. The outdoor bar has a new countertop.
“We kind of did a little bit of renovation rescue in here,” Kentwell said. “It needed a little bit of an overhaul.”
They could not say what their initial investment is.
The city is reviewing a certificate of use application for Prospect Five Points. Through Nalla LLC, Kentwell, Choomchaiyo and Mark Gerbush, a silent partner, filed a notice with the state June 30 that they intend to operate as Prospect Five Points at 1521 Margaret St.
The address for the three is listed as Delray Beach.
The bar’s name, Prospect, comes from Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Kentwell and Choonchaiyo met in the borough four years ago and have been together for three years.
Kentwell said she and Choomchaiyo are nervous about opening during a pandemic, but with neighborhood feedback so far, they hope their concept will be successful.
“I think we’re kind of crazy too, but we’re going to give it our best shot,” she said.
“He’s been in the restaurant industry for his whole life, myself for 15 years,” Kentwell said. “I’ve always wanted to have my own place. I never thought it was achievable. I’ve seen many people fail and I’ve also helped many people succeed, but I’ve just never thought it was something I could do myself.”
