By Dan Macdonald, Contributing Writer
Chef Celestia Mobley is launching a new venture — Jazzy’s Restaurant and Lounge — in Riverside.
Mobley has taken over the former Hamburger Mary’s Pub House at 901 King St. to open a soul food restaurant and lounge that will feature live jazz music throughout much of the week.
Mobley, an accomplished restaurateur, started her career as executive chef at The Potter’s House Soul Food Bistro and went on to open her own restaurant, Celestia’s Coastal Cuisine, which operates at 6765 Dunn Ave. in North Jacksonville.
Jazzy’s, her latest family-owned venture, plans a Tuesday soft opening, meaning she will offer a limited menu and no beer, wine or liquor.
A grand opening is expected in early March.
When licensing is approved, the restaurant will start with wine and beer and later add liquor, she said.
Mobley learned to cook as a child for her family and went on to earn a culinary degree from Florida State College at Jacksonville.
She built her reputation on comfort food. Jazzy’s menu will feature many of her most popular items, such as fried chicken, spicy chicken, fried shrimp and low country boil.
Her signature fried oxtail wontons will not be a menu regular at Jazzy’s but could appear as a special. However, expect to see her mac and cheese.
The price point for dinner and beverage will be under $20, she said.
Mobley opened Celestia’s Coastal Cuisine in 2017. When she saw the King Street property was vacant, she took the opportunity to fill a dining void and provide an alternative form of entertainment.
“I’ll have good food. There’s nothing around like it. It will be unique to the area,” she said. “You can listen to hip-hop and techno at other places. This is going to be real music.”
In addition to being a full-service lunch and dinner restaurant, Jazzy’s will have a separate entrance for takeout.
Mobley will split her time between Celestia’s Coastal Cuisine and Jazzy’s. Her husband of 27 years, Varon, will manage Celestia’s Coastal Cuisine while she establishes Jazzy’s.
Mobley said she isn’t concerned about spreading herself thin and said she is confident in her staff at Celestia’s.
“The one thing I learned at Potter’s is that I know people will work hard for you when they know you care for them,” she said.
She expects to employ 20 people at Jazzy’s.
After a banking career, Mobley pursued her passion for food and in 1998 opened Lojope’s Seafood Restaurant, a small shop that featured garlic crabs and other seafood.
It was short-lived. To gain knowledge to operate a business, she enrolled in the FSCJ culinary program while she also was working at Potter’s House.
Mobley worked with Potter’s House for nearly 20 years before venturing out on her own to open Celestia’s Coastal Cuisine.
There, she built a strong following where she has become known for her take on combining soul food with seafood. That restaurant also features live music.
She has space for 18 draft beers, many of which will be locally brewed. The restaurant features a long bar and high-backed banquette seating as well as several tables for two or four.
A large jazz-themed painting by David Nackashi is a focal point opposite exposed brick and tile over the bar.
Bands will perform beside the bar. She will feature smooth jazz and wants to provide students at the University of North Florida jazz program an opportunity to perform.
When licensing is granted, she wants to make Jazzy’s a happy hour destination.
Hours will be 3 p.m. to midnight Monday, 11 a.m. to midnight Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
At Jazzy’s, her motto is written across the wall: “Music is life. That’s why our hearts have beats.”