City Hall Pub: 'We've elevated our game'

News

Staff Writer

“In the first year, we had to figure out how to survive and create our niche.”

Those are the words of Ron Sholes, who opened City Hall Pub on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard between The Baseball Grounds and the Arena a year ago Aug. 17.

“We found our niche. It’s giving fans what they want,” he added.

Sholes, who is also a practicing attorney, said the pub’s first 12 months haven’t been without a few “trials and tribulations.” Take the Florida-Georgia weekend for example.

“We tried to serve our full menu. We’ve learned a lot since then,” he said.

During the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, the pub served a buffet instead, which allowed fans to grab a quick bite to eat between games.

The two patios have also been an asset for sports events and concerts, increasing the food service capabilities of the pub and the entertainment options.

The venue has become a popular destination for fans before and after events at the Sports Complex who are looking for food and drink options beyond what’s available inside the City’s facilities.

Chef Stuart Gordon has develop-ed a menu that includes all the usual items expected at a sports bar, including burgers and chicken wings, and has added selections that aren’t the norm at similar establishments.

“We have to be versatile and do things that aren’t expected,” he said.

Gordon said one of his goals for the next year is to bring more people to the pub for lunch. He’s added menu items such as pulled pork, fish tacos, a Mediterranean salad, artichoke and spinach dip with toasted pita bread and a Cuban Sandwich.

“We bake our own Cuban bread here at the pub,” he said.

Gordon also said he’s serving the vegetarian market with a grilled vegetable salad and a veggie wrap. The menu also offers fresh fruit instead of french fries with the burgers and sandwiches.

“We’ve elevated our game in the kitchen,” said Sholes.

When the venue opened, the theme was: “Where Jacksonville’s sports, entertainment and history meet.” In addition to big-screen TVs, the decor was based on sports murals, memorabilia and historic photographs of Downtown, many depicting the neighborhood early in the 20th century.

Sholes said over the past year, patrons have been bringing him more historic artifacts, particularly related to local sports teams of the past.

“We’ve got baseball history all the way back to the Jacksonville Braves when Hank Aaron played here and pictures from Florida-Georgia games over the years. Our memorabilia collection will double in the next year,” he said.

Another focus will be helping to bring more events to the Sports Complex. Sholes said one of his goals is to host fundraisers for local charitable organizations.

“Now that people know who we are and where we are, we’d like to do 50 events in the next 12 months. We also want to be proactive and bring more things to the Sports Complex,” he said.

“City Hall Pub will continue to provide a good product and give people a reason to come Downtown.”

For a complete schedule of events, visit www.cityhallpub.com.