World of Beer Bar & Kitchen could reopen in the Southpoint area under the ownership of a new franchisee, Jay Patel, in the summer.
“We’ve always felt Jacksonville is a fantastic and vibrant city,” said a March 22 statement provided by World of Beer Bar & Kitchen.
The location at 5105 Butler Blvd. had operated as World of Beer from May 2022 to May 2023, which was the concept’s second run at success in Jacksonville.
Landlord Hakimian Holdings Inc. said March 14 the restaurant could reopen in two to three months in the World of Beer building on an outparcel at Hakimian’s Liberty Center headquarters at Butler Boulevard and Bonneval Road off Interstate 95.
Hakimian Holdings owns the World of Beer building, one of two 5,600-square-foot structures it built in 2020 on outparcels at its headquarters property at 7077 Bonneval Road.
The name remains on the World of Beer building and furniture is stacked inside.
“This new franchisee is solely controlled, well-capitalized, and they have the experience necessary to operate the concept,” said Blake Hakimian, senior vice president of leasing for Jacksonville-based Hakimian Holdings.
“This corridor is packed with daytime office workers and hotel guests looking for lunch, dinner, and entertainment options every day. With the right management now coming-in, our team anticipates this once thriving restaurant to re-open and perform better than ever,” Hakimian said.
Organizational problems within the franchise group caused the closing of the World of Beer Bar & Kitchen at the end of business May 7, 2023, after almost a year.
Sean Githens, the World of Beer Jacksonville franchisee president and head of Hospitality Leaders Jax 1 Inc. and Hospitality Leaders Jax 2 Inc., provided a corporate statement in May:
“While this franchise location has experienced great success since its opening, the franchise ownership has experienced organizational challenges that were insurmountable for continued operations.”
A sign on the door from World of Beer Bar & Kitchen says “We’re ceasing our business operations in Jacksonville starting May 7th. Thank you, Jacksonville, for allowing us to be a part of this community for the last year.”
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.
An expected Jacksonville Beach site with a rooftop bar did not open.
It was the second incarnation of the beer-focused establishment.
Another franchisee opened two restaurants beginning in 2013 and were closed 2016.
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.
Tampa-based World of Beer began in 2007, The WorldofBeer.com site lists 40 locations that include two coming soon in 2024 in Odessa, Florida, and Hinesville, Georgia. Jacksonville is not on the list.
World of Beer said Patel will open the Hinesville location in late 2024.
The 40 locations are in 16 states, including the largest number, 16, in Florida.
The closest to Jacksonville is in Newberry, near Gainesville.
The Newberry menu includes a German pretzel, wings, quesadilla, flatbreads, bowls, salads, burgers, tacos, sandwiches, sides and soups.
The lunch menu shows prices starting with burgers and a side at $12.25, sandwiches and a side start at $10.99, flatbreads at $11.50 and salads at $9.
There also is weekend brunch and sides.
Wine starts at $7 a glass.
The extensive beer menu ranges from $4 for 12-ounce cans of Brooklyn Vienna Lager, Brooklyn Pilsner and Brooklyn Summer Ale to $25 for a 16-ounce Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stout.
WOBFranchising.com says it has more than 50 locations across North America and Asia
The site says two friends created Tampa-based World of Beer in 2007.
It says its product manager rotate taps daily based on customer preference. “With 350+ Beers from 40 different countries, the quantity and diversity in our beer offering is unmatched,” it says.
