Norm Abraham closed the door on an era Wednesday.
The 74-year-old restaurateur served his last scrambled eggs, beef tips, baked chicken, vegetable plates, chef’s salad and tabouleh to loyal customers at his Brooklyn landmark, Two Doors Down.
“I don’t want to sound sad,” Abraham said Tuesday as some customers came in for their last meals or next-to-last, hoping to return at least once more.
“It’s been fun coming to work every day. I have the best customers in the world,” he said.
Wednesday was busy with well wishes, hugs, photos, gifts and goodbyes. By noon, the dining room was full and guests kept coming.
Those customers say they don’t know where they will find what they had at Abraham’s. They cite the fast and friendly service of the nine-member team; the food from Abraham’s business partner and cook, Enos “Whitey” White Jr.; and the convenience of the 436 Park St. location.
Perhaps most of all, they will miss each other. “It wasn’t just the food. It’s the friends,” said regular Richard Gropper, major gifts officer with the American Red Cross Northeast Florida Chapter. He returned for lunch Tuesday after morning coffee.
“A lot of what we’re going to miss is Norm,” said lawyer Doug Milne.
Another friend and customer weighed in Tuesday as the crowd began filing in for the second-to-last lunch. “This is a damn shame,” said former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold, who arrived with former aide and longtime friend Martha Barrett.
Two Doors Down attracted an influential clientele. Active and retired elected officials, business owners, union leaders, law enforcement, judges, lawyers and executives joined neighborhood residents, blue collar workers, retirees, families and friends to populate the busy dining room at breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday.
“It’s a sad day. We’ve done a lot of our best work here,” said Randy Wyse, president of the Jacksonville Association of Fire Fighters.
He said Tuesday he and associates ate at Two Doors Down two or three times a week. They returned Wednesday.
Larry Osborne, 12th District vice president of the International Association of Fire Fighters, pointed to Godbold as Abraham and others visited, shaking hands and sharing news. “It’s pure Jacksonville being spoken,” he said.
Sheriff Mike Williams said Wednesday morning the experience is hard to replicate. He said he’s eaten there at least once a week, not by design but because “everybody you want to catch up with” wants to do so at Two Doors Down.
Supervisor of Elections Mike Hogan called the restaurant an institution. “A lot of deals have been done in this place. Money’s been raised, careers birthed,” he said.
Hogan has a place in mind now that the restaurant has closed. “I’m going to go to Norm’s house,” he said.
The undisputed dean of customers, Beaver Street Fisheries Chairman Harry Frisch, has been eating lunch at Two Doors Down about four times a week for several years. The 92-year-old businessman, for whom Abraham designated a table, has been trying to find a new location for the restaurant.
“If the man found a place, he would fill the place,” Frisch said Tuesday.
Abraham said Frisch took a menu, circled items and said he would take it to The River Club to see if the private top-floor restaurant at the Downtown Wells Fargo Center would replicate some of it. Abraham also signed the menu at Frisch’s request.
Abraham said Two Doors Down opened Aug. 1, 2009, and was the latest in a series of restaurants he has operated. His lease ends Dec. 29 because the property is being sold for development of a Gate gas station.
He said several of his waitresses are heading to other restaurants, while some staff will retire. He credits his team for his success. “It’s a family,” he said.
Abraham said the furniture, equipment and food is being sold or donated. He will keep the artwork. One customer wanted to take home two plates as keepsakes, but they already were sold. Instead, he offered two old plates from his days running the former Tad’s Restaurant, which was two doors away.
Next up for Abraham is retirement, a knee replacement, travel and probably some consulting and volunteer work.
Abraham said he tried to relocate the business, but couldn’t find what he needed: A place not far from Two Doors Down with plenty of parking and in a timeframe that allowed minimal downtime.
There are rumblings among customers about another location, possibly in several months.
“I will never say never,” Abraham said Wednesday. “If something comes along, I will certainly look at it.”
A plastic jar on the front counter hints at it, too. “If we ever open again, we would like to be able to let you know,” says a sign on it, asking customers to leave their cards or a note about how to keep in touch. It was filling up.
Abraham and his wife, Carol, celebrated their 53rd anniversary Tuesday, although Abraham forgot that morning until his wife reminded him. He had not forgotten it before, but he had Nov. 25 — closing day — on his mind.
“It’s really time for her and me to do some things together,” Abraham said.
Carol Abraham, their son, Jay, and daughter, Joy, visited with customers at the restaurant Wednesday. Joy’s husband, Roger Gannam, and their children, Preston, 15, and Bella, 10, also greeted friends.
Thursday, Abraham and his family intend to return to Two Doors Down for a private Thanksgiving. He’ll cook the turkey and everyone will bring a dish for a potluck celebration.
“It’s a joyful time,” he said.
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