Restaurant owners and industry leaders from across the Jacksonville area connected on April 23 during What Now Media Group’s latest Accelerate Event. The networking event took place at Ajua Mexican Kitchen & Bar in Jacksonville Beach.
Located at 107 2nd Ave N, Ajua Mexican Kitchen & Bar offers a modern take on traditional Mexican cuisine, with dishes inspired by regions such as Oaxaca and Baja. The menu includes tortillas, slow-cooked meats, tacos, burritos, enchiladas, signature margaritas, and more.
Ajua positions itself as a neighborhood gathering spot, and that carried naturally into the event. The space offered a social setting where guests could move easily between conversations, meet new operators, and catch up with others already working across the Jacksonville food scene.
Restaurants
US17 New York Deli: 3555 US-17, Fleming Island, FL 32003
US17 New York Deli brings a traditional New York-style deli experience to the Jacksonville area, led by owner Melissa Alcantara. The concept focuses on classic sandwiches made with premium meats and cheeses sliced in-house, alongside bread and bagels sourced directly from New York City.
Davo’s Philly Cheesesteaks: Jacksonville, FL
Davo’s Philly Cheesesteaks is a food truck concept focused on delivering a traditional Philadelphia-style cheesesteak experience to the Jacksonville area.
Bella Vista A’Mare: 311 3rd St N #101, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
Bella Vista A’Mare brings Italian cuisine to Jacksonville Beach. Led by chef and co-owner Giovanni Prignano, the menu offers classic dishes prepared to order.
Hot Momma Hotdogs: Jacksonville, FL
Created by local entrepreneur Carmen Gonzalez, the brand focuses on hot dogs loaded with toppings like chili, cheese, onions, and peppers.
Jeff’s Bagel Run: 628 Atlantic Blvd #4, Neptune Beach, FL 32266
Jeff’s Bagel Run is a fast-growing bagel concept known for its New York-style and creative spread combinations. Founded in Central Florida, it features a wide range of bagel flavors.
La Vinotinto Express: 3813 University Blvd W, Jacksonville, FL 32217
La Vinotinto Express is a mobile concept centered on Venezuelan cuisine. Led by owner Yohara Castro, the brand brings traditional flavors to the Jacksonville area through a food truck format.
Baran Hookah Lounge: 3546 St. Johns Bluff Rd S Unit 102-1, Jacksonville, FL 32224
Baran Hookah Lounge blends a café and lounge concept with a focus on Middle Eastern-inspired flavors. The space is designed to offer a mix of food, cocktails, traditional teas, and customizable hookah experiences.
Potbelly: 9908 Baymeadows Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32256
Potbelly is a nationally recognized sandwich chain originally founded in Chicago. In the Jacksonville area, its expansion is being led by Gold & Green Management.
Le Petit Paris: 830 A1A N Ste 4, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
Le Petit Paris is a French-inspired concept focused on quality ingredients and a classic European feel. The menu features items like macarons, baguette sandwiches, quiche, croissants, coffee, and salads.
Partners
In addition to restaurant operators, the event featured a strong presence from What Now’s network of Preferred Partners, who provide services to support restaurant operations and growth.
Auris
Auris provides payroll and HR solutions designed for small and mid-sized businesses.
Broward Nelson
With decades of experience, Broward Nelson specializes in beverage gas solutions, supplying CO2, nitrogen, and beer gas systems to foodservice operators.
Global Payments
Global Payments offers point-of-sale and payment solutions through its Genius platform, designed to streamline operations and improve customer experiences.
SpotOn
SpotOn provides technology solutions for restaurants and hospitality businesses, including POS systems, marketing tools, and online ordering platforms.
Restaurant Technologies, Inc.
Restaurant Technologies delivers automated cooking oil management systems for commercial kitchens.
Easy Ice
Easy Ice offers ice machine rental and maintenance services for restaurants and hospitality businesses. Its managed program includes installation, cleaning, repairs, and ongoing support.
Liquid Environmental Solutions Corporation
Liquid Environmental Solutions provides wastewater and grease management services for commercial operations. The company handles the collection, transportation, and disposal of non-hazardous liquid waste.
Money Pages
Money Pages is a marketing and advertising company focused on helping local businesses reach customers through targeted campaigns. Its services include digital and print strategies.
Gordon Food Service
Gordon Food Service is a large-scale food distribution company serving restaurants, healthcare providers, and other foodservice operations.
About What Now Media Group
What Now Media Group shares restaurant opening news in 33 cities across North America, breaking news, and provides timely insight into yet-to-open brick-and-mortar businesses. The platform shares news of thousands of openings across all 33 cities annually.
The industry-leading experts in What Now Media Group’s network of Preferred Partners help new businesses open and existing businesses grow.
Stay tuned for future Accelerate events from What Now Media Group in 2026. For more details, see the Accelerate page here.
Click here for a complete list of our partners. To learn more about becoming a preferred partner, click here.
