About a year ago, when DJ Keenan and his partners were considering moving their Midtown Deli & Café from the Southside to along Forsyth Street facing Bank of America Tower, one of their questions was whether Downtown could support another breakfast and lunch provider.
After eight months in the neighborhood, Keenan said that question has been put to rest.
“At first, we were concerned about how many restaurants there are Downtown, but there are so many people here, there is enough business to go around. We like being Downtown,” he said.
Midtown had its first redecoration last week with the addition of new high-top tables and chairs in the dining area and new café-style seating in the coffee bar. Keenan said the new furniture gives the restaurant a much more open feel, but didn’t change the number of seats.
He has purchased new coffee-brewing equipment and expects it to be installed this week, when the coffee bar will begin to serve a new brand of fair-trade coffee roasted in Oregon.
Midtown does brisk business during breakfast and lunch and afternoon traffic has increased since another company – and former Southside neighbor – completed its move to the urban core.
“Our afternoon business has grown since EverBank moved in. We never saw much business from them when we were in the suburbs,” Keenan said.
Keenan said the three eggs any style with bacon or sausage, grits or hash browns and toast for $3.99 has turned out to be popular with patrons. Midtown also sells quite a few orders of eggs benedict.
The grilled ginger teriyaki chicken sandwich is the best seller at lunch.
“Everybody loves teriyaki,” Keenan said.
To view the complete menu and for information about catering and delivery Downtown, visit midtowndelijacksonville.com.
@drmaxdowntown
356-2466