by Monica Chamness
Staff Writer
Larry Hazouri has been an advocate of downtown since he opened his first restaurant in 1969.
“I got involved with downtown revitalization when things were real grim,” said Hazouri, restaurateur, past president of the Merchants Association and cousin of mayoral candidate Tommy Hazouri.
“Our organization was pivotal in getting City government into Hemming Plaza. I have real feelings for downtown because I’ve devoted so much time and attention to it,” he said.
Currently, Hazouri owns the High Tide Cafe in the Stein Mart building, the Enterprise Center Cafe on the 10th floor of the First Union building and both of the Desert Riders sandwich shops downtown.
Hazouri opened High Tide 12 years ago when Stand ‘N Snack went out of business. The cafe was named after the bronze sculpture of a young man feeding seagulls that’s located in front of the building.
Over the last three decades, Hazouri has owned several other restaurants, including a shop in the Duval Federated Savings & Loan operations center, Uncle Sam’s in the University Boulevard Social Security office, Bones Cafe in the Jacksonville Orthopedic building, Summers in the Southpoint Paragon building and three other Desert Riders.
“I’ve had a lot of places, but now I’m down to four and I’m not looking to expand anytime soon,” he said. “Downtown sales have been fairly constant. Ever since the demise of the large department stores downtown, the people who have done the best are those in food services. I’m a second generation Jacksonvillian, so I want to see Jacksonville flourish.”
Hazouri began his long career in food service while he was a cook in the military.
His support of downtown comes in the form of invested capital in small eateries and a belief in the viability of downtown business. Keeping his businesses close to each other helps him manage his duties as owner and his staff of 16.
“Back in the 1960s when there were a lot of merchants downtown, most of the restaurants were on the street level,” he recalled. “What happened when they left was the property began to redevelop and took up large city blocks. Nothing was open to the street; it was kind of a mini-city. It keeps people in the building. That’s bad for downtown merchants. When these large buildings were built, everything was turned inside and they did away with walk-up store fronts. I realized then it was critical for me to be in a building.”
On the Southbank, High Tide is frequented by those working within a two or three block radius.
“I get very little car traffic,” he said. “Most of my patrons are clerical workers. They don’t have time to go off somewhere to eat so they are relegated to some place within walking distance.”
Hazouri enjoys the captive audience. Keeping his regulars happy so they won’t visit another eatery is paramount.
“I like to think we go out of our way to give good customer service,” said Hazouri.
“Certain things we make here. Our cookies and salad dressings are homemade. We try to be a little different in that respect. That’s part of what helped us keep a share of the market. My business philosophy is that I go out of my way to make sure people are pleased. Unlike some place like McDonald’s that has a big influx of new people all the time, I can’t afford not to satisfy these folks.”
A graduate of Jacksonville University with a bachelor’s degree in business management, Hazouri has followed in his father’s restaurateur footsteps and says he’s not interested in a career in politics like his cousin. Still, Tommy Hazouri has recruited him to assist in the mayoral campaign.
“I think he did a real good job his first time in,” said Hazouri.
“He has a great desire to serve; most have ulterior motives. He had to deal with things that had been passed over such as toll bridges and equipping the sheriff’s office. We were known as the odor capital of the South because of the pulp mills and we were under sanctions because of the crowded jails. It’s a lot glitzier to open the Landing or build a new ball park. He did a lot of things that were good for the city. Whoever is mayor next will have to finish projects started by this administration but with no large sums of money.”