There’s a new B&B under construction Downtown along Forsyth Street.
It’s not a bed-and-breakfast, it’s a bakery and barbecue restaurant.
Work is underway at 331 W. Forsyth St., a two-story structure that opened in 1941 as the offices of the Tucker Bros. mortgage and real estate company.
The building later housed Café 331 and most recently, Sweet Lady Blue nightclub.
It was purchased in a foreclosure auction in July 2014 by Tom Thornton Jr., who is replacing virtually everything from the roof to the basement.
He plans to open a combination bakery and barbecue restaurant.
There’s a reason for the uncommon combination.
“Barbecue is one of my favorite foods and there’s no barbecue Downtown,” said Thornton. “And I like doughnuts.”
The $350,000 build-out of “The Bank BBQ and Bakery” will include new heating and air-conditioning, restrooms and a 50-seat dining room.
Work is scheduled to be complete for a grand opening in June.
The location — near Downtown office towers, the Duval County Courthouse and Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse — also should draw customers from Brooklyn, Riverside and San Marco, said Thornton.
The Bank will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and he plans to hire two local barbecue experts with more than 40 years’ experience combined.
That gives Thornton confidence he’ll have at least one satisfied customer.
“One of the pitmasters is coming out of my favorite barbecue joint, so at least I know I’ll like it,” he said.
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