by Sean McManus
Staff Writer
Almost 20 years ago Joseph Poplardo staked out a spot on the Southbank Riverwalk. He’s been there ever since.
Poplardo, who runs Coney Island Joe’s, started as a cotton candy vendor under a pavilion about 20 yards west of the popular Southbank eatery.
“I was the second vendor in Jacksonville,” said Poplardo. “I paid the City of Jacksonville $25 a month to use the Riverwalk. That was 18 years ago.”
In those early days, Poplardo’s cart featured cotton candy, popcorn and candy apples. About 12 years ago, he had an opportunity to take over the space he currently occupies.
“Twelve years ago the woman who ran the ice cream shop where we are now couldn’t make it work. I took over the spot and expanded to the east and started selling sandwiches,” he said.
Today, the shop boasts a menu which includes Boar’s Head deli meats, Italian subs —he makes his own meatballs — chicken Parmesan, eggplant Parmesan, sausage and pepper subs.
He also sells ice cream, with a not-so-secret ingredient.
“Our sauces come from [New] Jersey, so they’re good,” he says.
And then there’s the hot dogs, which some claim are the best in the city.
“It’s not us,” said Poplardo. “Boar’s Head hot dogs were voted best in the nation. So, one day Jacksonville Magazine calls up and says, ‘You got the best hot dogs in Jacksonville.’ And I said, ‘We do?’”
Poplardo runs Coney Island Joe’s — the space is part of the Radisson and leased by Poplardo — with the help of his son Nick, and Helen, who’s from Iceland.
“She’s been here a long time but she’s got an accent from Iceland, like instead of jumbo, she says yumbo,” he said.
Poplardo, who hails from Brooklyn, where he worked for Western Union, recently opened a second location in the lobby of the DuPont Center.
“We’ve got three people over there,” said Poplardo. “And they have breakfast and lunch. We’re only lunch. It’s called C.I. Joe’s.”
Though he has a steady clientele which includes guests from the Radisson, people strolling the Riverwalk and office workers from places such as Stein Mart,
Poplardo saw a drop in business recently.
“Ever since Panera Bread opened on Hendricks, all the places around here got hit pretty hard,” he said. “But, we’re coming back.”
With construction of The Strand condominium project expected to start soon, Poplardo sees much better days ahead.
“The construction workers will probably give us lots of business” he said. “They like meat.”
Though he only returns to his native Brooklyn for “weddings and wakes,” Poplardo has found a new home on the Southbank Riverwalk.
“It’s nice. In the spring, I watch the joggers and in the winter I watch the waves,” said Poplardo. “We do a lot of watching. There’s a pigeon that followed me down from New York who hangs out with me.