Dee’s Music Bar and Grill closing, owners cite family health issues and inflation

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A locally owned restaurant that many in Orange Park call a staple in the community, is closing its doors this weekend.

Dee’s Music Bar and Grill have been open for six years, but the owner says the economy and family health issues are the main reasons for its closing.

Dee’s Music Bar and Grill have been a second home for many in Orange Park. The owner tells Action News Jax they love the community and all the memories it brought.

For regular Laurie Ipar, she’s going to miss the people.

“This has been the main place we all come to as a family,” Laurie Ipar said.

The restaurant will close on Saturday, July 16, and the news has left Ipar heartbroken.

“It blows that they’re shutting down because it’s a mark in the neighborhood and it’s never going to be the same,” she said.

Owner Delores Keeney says that between inflation with prices rising and family health concerns, it was time to go out on a high note.

“When we got hit with my husband’s health issues, he’s been placed on a liver transplant list with Mayo (Clinic) we just took it as a sign it was time for us to spend time together,” she said.

The restaurant has provided food, drinks, live music, and bike nights for the last six years, but even with a few good days weekly, post-pandemic, the owner said it wasn’t enough.

“Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday were great nights but you can’t make it on four nights a week when you’re paying $2,000 a month for electric an $4,000 a month for leasing, and $5,000 a week for payroll, you just can’t do it,” she said.

It’s the fifth most popular restaurant that will now have lost in the Jacksonville metro area within the last two weeks.

Action News Jax told you when St. Augustine restaurants Scarlett O’Hara’s and Dos Gatos announced their closures as well as Monroe’s Smokehouse Southside location and Simply Sara’s.

Dee’s Music Bar and Grill regulars said it’s going to be tough to find a new spot.

“That’s what we all talking about, where are we going to meet up now? We come here every day,” Cheryl Stokes said.

Workers tell Action News Jax they were notified well in advance. They are looking for new jobs and will miss working under the owners. On Saturday, the plan for the last day is to have a big send-off. The owner tells Action News Jax the hardest part is walking away from charity work they’ve done.

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