Less than a year after opening, the World of Beer Bar & Kitchen at Jacksonville Southpoint has closed.
The Jacksonville World of Beer franchise at 5105 Butler Blvd. announced the closing May 8 on Instagram.
The post read: “We have made the difficult decision to close WOB Jacksonville Southpoint. We have so much love for the Jacksonville community - we want to thank our regulars, loyalty members, and our team members who made this location so special. To find our other locations, visit worldofbeer.com/locations.”
This was World of Beer’s second try at making its concept work in the Jacksonville market.
Sean Githens, president of Hospitality Leaders Jax 1 Inc. and Hospitality Leaders Jax 2 Inc., the World of Beer Jacksonville franchisee, did not respond to email, text or phone messages asking for comment about the closing.
World of Beer is a franchise that was founded in Tampa in 2007. According to its website, it has 46 locations in the United States.
Jacksonville Beach is listed on the company website as a location that will open in 2023.
Other cities where franchises are planned to open include Daytona Beach; Dallas; Nashville, Tennessee; and Odesa and Hinesville, Georgia.
At the time of the reopening of the Southpoint location last year, the worldofbeer.com site stated that a WOB would be coming to Jacksonville Beach in summer 2022. Plans included a rooftop bar. That site has not opened.
The first Jacksonville location was opened by a different franchisee in the Tinseltown area in 2013, followed by Jacksonville Beach in 2015. The Jacksonville Beach location was short-lived, lasting less than a year. The Tinseltown location closed in 2016.
WOB Jacksonville Southpoint opened May 25, 2022. The 5,625-square-foot restaurant offered more than 300 beers and 40 rotating taps along with wines and spirits. It featured two Topgolf Swing Suites and a large outdoor patio.
The World of Beer menu comprised sports bar fare. The patio allowed dogs and hosted special “wining and dining for pets” events to benefit local animal organizations.
Jason Frimmel, based in Tallahassee, was the president and operating principal of Hospitality Leaders Jax 1 Inc. and Hospitality Leaders Jax 2 Inc. when World of Beer opened last May.
Jason Frimmel, Sean Githens, his wife, Ashley, and Robert Frimmel were the original Hospitality Leaders.
Sunbiz.org lists Sean Githens as president and Robert Frimmel as vice president of Hospitality Leaders Jax 1 Inc. and Hospitality Leaders Jax 2 Inc.
Jason Frimmel left the company during the fourth quarter of last year, he said in a phone conversation May 9.
“I’ve got a brand new baby that’s seven months old. I mean, I was working 110 hours a week, probably on average. I want to be a fantastic dad,” he said.
Frimmel said that he was satisfied with the progress of the business before leaving. He was named World of Beer Developmental Partner of 2021, he said.
“I didn’t have any concerns. I mean, we actually had the busiest grand opening of all the World of Beer, which is a record that still stands to this day,” Frimmel said.
The franchise group opened the World of Beer in Tallahassee in 2020. He is no longer affiliated with that restaurant.
Jason Frimmel now sells commercial real estate in Florida.