Illyria Properties 8, LLC, the team behind the revitalization of multiple East Bay Street properties, has added the historic Hutchinson-Suddath Building to its growing portfolio. Owned by business partners Eric Fuller, Aleksander “Alex” Lukaj, and Evanc “Evan” Rajta, Illryia Properties 8 is part of the larger team, Illyria Properties, responsible for the wave of new concepts bringing arts and culture to Bay Street, including Decca Live, SIP Cocktail Bar, and Keane’s Tavern. Owned by the Suddath family for the past 95 years, Fuller, Lukaj, and Rajta closed on the 20,000-square-foot historic property at 315 East Bay Street on Friday, January 9, 2026, purchasing it for $2.5 million.
“The Suddath Building is a true piece of Jacksonville history, and that’s something we don’t take lightly,” says Evan Rajta, Illyria Properties co-owner in a statement. “Our plan is to integrate the building’s historic elements with modern upgrades, retaining the integrity and cultural value of the property.”
The first floor of the Hutchinson-Suddath Building is already home to the group’s newest venture, Keane’s Tavern, an Irish pub restaurant concept. The second floor will house a relaxed vinyl listening bar, while the top two floors will become long-term apartment rentals. The Hutchinson-Suddath Building is a historically and architecturally significant property that was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places (NRIS #07001029) on October 3, 2007. It was constructed in 1910 as part of the Great Jacksonville Renaissance, a period of rapid development following the devastating Great Fire of 1901, still considered one of the worst disasters in Florida history and the third-largest urban fire in the United States. The building is one of the earliest examples of reinforced concrete construction in Jacksonville, the state of Florida, and the nation.
Illyria Properties’ mission to revitalize the historic Bay Street district into an entertainment epicenter beganwhen Fuller and Rajta met as students at the University of North Florida. They immersed themselves in the local music scene and eventually met Lukaj, who owned one of their favorite event venues. After years of working in venue and performer management, the friends joined forces and took a bold step forward. They were part of the investment group that purchased the historic 323 East Bay Street building and, after half a decade of work, opened Decca Live, their tribute to the Jacksonville music venues of their college years. Since then, Illyria Properties has continued to invest in East Bay Street, revitalizing the once-bustling commercial district into a neighborhood-focused entertainment and hospitality hub, where music, art, cuisine, and culture thrive.
