Father and son David and Jordan Berman just want their customers to have a good time at the duo’s new concept, Alien Taco & Tequila Bar.
The restaurant is in development in the Shoppes at Village Walk along Gate Parkway in South Jacksonville.
“It’s all about fun,” said David Berman, 64, an executive chef and ice sculptor from South Florida who relocated to Jacksonville to join his son, 34, a Navy veteran.
“It will be one of the hottest places in Jacksonville.
David Berman declined to disclose their estimated investment in the restaurant, which will occupy the remodeled JJ’s Bistro de Paris at 7643 Gate Parkway, Unit 105.
He said the bistro closed at the new year and he bought the business.
JJ’s Bistro continues to operate in Ponte Vedra under the ownership of J.J. and Matthieu Vigoureux. They could not be reached for comment March 19.
The city is reviewing a building permit application for the 2,605-square-foot Alien Taco & Tequila Bar interior renovation, a half-mile north of Ikea.
G. O’Brien Construction of Deerfield Beach is the contractor. Doherty Sommers Architects Engineers Inc. of Jacksonville is the architect.
The alientaco.net website says the restaurant is coming in July 2024. David Berman said he would have a better estimate in May of the opening date.
He expects to hire 26 to 32 employees who will focus on service, including learning their customers’ names.
The restaurant will total about 3,600 square feet with the patio space, seating 168 total.
Berman said hours will be 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and until 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
He expects a strong lunch business and may offer valet parking since the shopping center, with eight total tenants, has strong daytime business traffic.
More parking is available nights and weekends. Berman envisions eventual Sunday festivals.
The restaurant also has upstairs space for storage, employee use and meetings.
A “giant 32-foot-long pounded copper bar” will be an anchor of the fully remodeled space, Berman said.
Design colors are copper and jade.
The décor centers on, as would be expected by the name, aliens.
Look for images of celebrity aliens, working aliens and aliens doing life in Jacksonville tailgating at Jaguars games, fishing near an area bridge and operating a drone, for example.
“We took all of this whimsical artwork and it is scattered throughout the restaurant,” Berman said.
The main feature will be an 8-by-8-foot Aztec hieroglyphic wall with alien spaceships carved into it.
Berman said the food is upscale Mexico City cuisine.
The website says:
“From the flavors of Mexico City to the hang out spot you’ve been waiting for, we have chosen to invade Jacksonville to spread the love!”
The food includes 12 variations of tacos based on different cuisines, including Area 51 tacos.
Entrees include chargrilled Mexican short ribs, he said.
“Our menu is a cosmic blend of flavors inspired by global cuisines, reimagined in the form of delectable tacos and burritos,” the site says.
It says its tapas are cold or hot “with enough options to satisfy any taste bud.”
Tequila sommeliers and bartenders will be versed in the culture of the liquor and develop a drink menu.
The website says the tequila bar is open late and “the party is always on at Alien Taco.”
“Enjoy the live music, extraterrestrial vibe and try one of our signature cosmic cocktails that can only be found in one place.”
The restaurant also will offer eight temporary tattoos for children and adults. There will be a retail counter for Alien Taco merchandise.
Berman wants people to laugh, including at its mascot, “the most interesting alien in the world.”
“He is a fun, lovable and handsome alien” available for photo opportunities.
Jordan Berman is in charge of the artwork. While David Berman wasn’t a fan of the concept at the start, he became a believer.
Berman said he was a high-end chef for restaurants and hotels. He said he “took that culinary foundation and put it all into this concept.”
He bought a Jacksonville “retirement” home in July 2023 near his son and moved from South Florida.
In the meantime, “I spent a lot of time in Mexico touring tequilerías” and restaurants, he said.
He “saw what was going on there and used a lot of the indigenous products and put it all here in a great place.”
Berman has been operating Michelin Star Catering and Sculptured Ice Occasions in Deerfield Beach.
His experience includes roles as executive chef for the Broward County Convention Center and with The Westin Copley Place in Boston and The Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C., and more, according to the Broward Palm Beach New Times.
Berman said the focus at Alien Taco & Tequila will be on the customer.
“We are all about the spirit of hospitality and guest services.”
He and his son operate other businesses, “but this is our love.”
“We are not putting out cookie-cutter food but cutting-edge food.”
Chet Skinner, vice president of landlord Skinner Bros. Realty of Jacksonville, said March 19 that Alien Taco & Tequila Bar will bring new energy to the center.
“That concept has been really successful throughout Jacksonville and I have no doubt that with all of the growth around the Shoppes at Village Walk this will be a great addition to the neighborhood center,” he said.
Skinner said Alien Taco & Tequila Bar assumed JJ’s lease Jan. 15 under a new entity.
He said Alien Taco & Tequila Bar has a five-year lease and an option for five more years.
"Their hope is they are going to be here for a while,” he said.
Skinner said that from what he has seen of the designs and plans, “I think this will be a great upgrade to the center.”
Alien Taco & Tequila Bar will anchor the center of Village Walk, with a coffee house; a hair and nail salon; a hair, makeup and beauty studio; a postal store; a Chinese restaurant; a juice, smoothie and bowl shop; and a dry cleaners.
“This is such a great shopping center and a good array of tenants that have been here a long while,” Skinner said.
“We are fired up.”