It was better than the past two years, but it could have been even better.
That’s the review of the 2016 Jacksonville Jazz Festival from some of the businesses Downtown.
The city moved the event from along East Bay Street and the Shipyards property back to the urban core along Adams, Laura and Main streets and the Jacksonville Landing.
For some businesses, moving the festival back to the center of Downtown was a hit.
For others, not so much.
“We had beautiful weather, a packed courtyard and the restaurants were very happy,” said Samantha Ashcraft, Jacksonville Landing marketing and events director.
“It was a lot better than last year,” she added.
For Burrito Gallery, moving the Swingin’ Stage back to the corner of Adams and Main streets helped bring people to the restaurant and bar, said Assistant Manager Daegal Ellis.
“It was fantastic — a very successful weekend,” he said.
Burrito Gallery’s next-door neighbor, Indochine Downtown Thai restaurant, didn’t experience additional business from the festival.
In fact, with parking unavailable near the restaurant, fewer people ate at Indochine, compared to other weekends, said co-owner Ladda Salter.
“It’s not a big deal for us,” she said. “A lot of people come Downtown for the festival, but they don’t come to dine.”
Indochine also operates Pho A Noodle Bar, about two blocks west along Adams Street. That’s where a large hospitality tent was set up for the festival.
Salter said having the view down the street blocked didn’t encourage customers to patronize Pho.
But, she said, “It was better than it was when it was on Bay Street. That was terrible.”
The tent also hurt business at Zodiac Bar & Grill, in the same block of Adams Street as Pho, beginning with dinner on Thursday, when set-up began for the festival.
“It was the worst ever,” said manager Rima Ewais.
In addition to the tent, the city set up portable restrooms near Zodiac.
“The city took over the street. There were 10 portable toilets in the road,” said Ewais.
She also commented on the lack of open container privileges at the festival. People who purchased alcoholic beverages from festival vendors could carry their drinks from place to place, but Zodiac’s customers had to remain on the premises, according to state beverage law.
“We’re here every day and we pay taxes. We were cut off from the festival. It was not fair to us,” Ewais said.
At Chamblin’s Uptown café and bookstore, business was up about 50 percent compared to last year when the festival was along East Bay Street, but was about the same as weekends when there’s an event at Hemming Park.
Manager Jennifer O’Donnell said traffic was steady and it was a well-behaved audience.
“It was a nice crowd. That’s what we like to see,” she said.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, only two people were arrested during the festival, both on Friday night.
One arrest was for criminal mischief and disorderly intoxication; the other was for disorderly intoxication.
“It was a great event. Terrific crowd and no serious issues,” said Director of Patrol and Enforcement Ray Walden.
The city won’t have a festival attendance estimate for about 30 days, said mayor’s office spokeswoman Marsha Oliver, but it “exceeded our expectations.”
O’Donnell said something that was missing compared to previous urban core festivals was activation along Laura Street.
She’d like to have more artists or entertainment throughout the event site, similar to Art Walk and One Spark.
“Laura Street was just the street between the stages this year,” she said.
Likely to change at Chamblin’s for the next jazz festival is the store’s hours.
O’Donnell said the café opened at about 6 a.m. and closed at 9 p.m. That’s too early to capture late business.
“We might do two shifts next year,” she said.
But overall, O’Donnell gave the city and the festival a passing grade.
“It was the new administration’s first jazz festival,” she said. “For the first year back (along Laura Street), it wasn’t bad. It will be better next year.”
@DRMaxDowntown
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