Springfield, a historic Jacksonville neighborhood, is poised for a major facelift: the new ‘Queen Palm’ beer garden. Called Queen Palm, the project draws heavy inspiration from lush landscaping. A $3.5 million permit is currently under review.
Highlights
- An upcoming beer garden named Queen Palm is in the plans for Springfield.
- The project will be developed by Avant Construction Group and Legacy Engineering Inc.
- Queen Palm will include a play area for kids and dining and entertainment areas.
Queen Palm Plan for Springfield
A heavily planted beer garden is in the works in Springfield. The historic neighborhood of Jacksonville will welcome a refreshing concept that is heavily influenced by landscaping.
As the name suggests, Queen Palm is not just a tribute to a common choice in flora; it places a strong emphasis on lush greenery and garden ambiance.
According to the Jacksonville Business Journal, chef and partner John Benhase’s goal for the beer garden is to make it heavily landscaped, which evokes “an oasis in the middle of Jacksonville.”
Located at 1819 Main St. N., the project is being constructed by the Avant Construction Group, while Legacy Engineering Inc. is responsible for the engineering. The estimate for the development is roughly $3.5 million, a permit for which is presently under review.
Queen Palm will feature a total of 150 seats and a food court. Plans also include a play area for children and dining and entertainment spaces.
Landscape Design Concept
According to Jacksonville-based landscape architect Ross Garden Design, the development will offer themed spaces under the lush greenery to allow guests to choose from different themed spaces. Benhase, who wants to let the plants do the talking, also mentioned a tiki-styled room as part of the plan.
Queen Palm, earlier placed under the working title of Spring Yard, will also include a 2,866-square-foot food court with five slots for vendors.
Based on the site plans approved on June 3, in addition to an open green space and beer garden, a 2,733-square-foot covered dining and entertainment area, a 166-square-foot bar, and a 533-square-foot shop and wine bar will all be a part of this ambitious project. Benhase said, “We’re going to throw a disco ball in the middle of a jungle and have a lot of fun.”
Guests can expect a variety of three to four bar choices and a selection of four to five dining options. The food choices will be varied enough that someone could visit every day and enjoy a distinct experience each time.
Project Vision and Timeline
For strategic business planning, Benhase, along with the general manager of Starland Yard, Ava Pandiani, has partnered with Managing Partner, North Star Capital Partners, Niko Ormond. The partnership for development and construction counts Guy Davidson, vice president of DAI Commercial, Guy Davidson, and for hospitality management, Pila Sunderland.
Benhase was impressed by their chosen location and observed similarities between the Starland Yard’s neighborhood in Savannah and Springfield, particularly in terms of their community dynamics. Starland Yard, which started as a food truck, is an outdoor food park with a full bar, three brick-and-mortar restaurants, and rotating food trucks.
After Starland Yard, Behase and company have ventured into a larger format with Queen Palm. They hope to utilize the knowledge gained from Starland Yard to enhance their operations here. When permits are issued and construction begins, Benhase expects completion within a year.
The partners and developers at the helm of Queen Palm note ample opportunities in Jacksonville’s communal spaces where people come together and have a good time.
The beer garden promises an enjoyable experience for people with variety and novelty less common in the Jacksonville market.
