JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — One of Downtown Jacksonville’s most popular entertainment events could be no more.
This fall, Downtown Vision Inc. said it will be reevaluating whether to bring back Jax River Jams next spring.
The organization, which partners with the City of Jacksonville to host the free concert series, said costs were up and sponsorships were down.
Since starting in 2021, Jax River Jams has brought thousands of people downtown for concerts featuring local and global acts like Boyz II Men and Andy Grammer.
It's an opportunity for people on the first coast to enjoy free concerts and for local businesses to cash in on added traffic.
Erik Reeder is the manager at The Justice Pub, which is across from where River Jams takes place.
On Wednesday at 5 p.m. he was the only one in the bar.
"There's not a single person in here. Thursdays are usually like that sometimes," Reeder said.
River Jams takes place on Thursday's and was a welcome event for the pub.
“We had a lot of foot traffic before and after each event, we had a few extra hours of sales between four and seven and midnight and two,” Reeder said.
Down the street, Bold City Brewery felt the same impact.
“It's a good 30% increase, if not 40% increase, compared to our normal Thursday nights," manager, Will Frazier, said.
Downtown Vision Inc. said it will have a clearer answer on the future of River Jams once budgets are set in the fall.
If it is no more, Frazier and Reeder have ideas for what will bring people in for a drink or a game of pinball at 5 o'clock.
“Anything but condominiums," Reeder said.
“If its music related, and you can gather all these people with it, and it's a good time for everyone. I mean, what's better than that?” Frazier said.
Downtown Vision Inc. said another community event, Sip and Stroll will be taking a summer hiatus.
It says it will be taking time to reimagine and enhance the event saying it will start back up Thursday Sept. 19.