New closing time for Jacksonville beach bars

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. — Starting Monday, all bars can open to 50% capacity.

Starting Monday, all Florida bars can open to 50% capacity. In Neptune, Atlantic and Jacksonville Beach, bars can stay open until 2 a.m., which replaces the 12 a.m. cutoff.

The owner of Ginger’s Place, in Jacksonville Beach, said most revenue came in between 12 a.m. and 2 a.m.

“That made a big difference in our revenue because a lot of our revenue is late,” owner Candy Breidert said. “We had to turn people away. When you’re barely making the bills and trying to keep people working, that’s heartbreaking — we’re talking hundreds of dollars.”

Bars across the bridge in Jacksonville never had to close at 12 a.m.. Breidert said that took away business from the beaches.

Jacksonville Beach police said they’re relying on business owners to follow capacity guidelines, mask mandates, and social distancing.

Breidert said the city occasionally checks to ensure businesses are following the protocols.

Cox Media Group