A brand new restaurant and event space called Cady Club is preparing to debut in the San Marco area, located at 1015 Kings Ave.
Owner George Saoud recently received a recommendation for a $96,427 Retail Enhancement Grant after the Downtown Investment Authority board voted 7-0 on Nov. 15, according to Jacksonville Daily Record. Saoud, who also owns and operates The Lark event space and gallery, plans to open Cady Club, offering coffee and pastries during the day and craft cocktails at night. Once the City Council approves the funding, Saoud intends to start construction immediately.
The two floors will be transformed with a mix of table seating, couches, and chairs, and the first-floor interior will have a Florida chic decor. The second floor will have a “slightly moody ambiance with specialty wallpaper and chandeliers,” according to the grant application. Currently, the building features a Spanish-style exterior. Plans include replacing the exterior with a more contemporary look, giving it a new paint job, and adding a new mural. The total cost is estimated to be about $400,000.
Saoud, a former DIA board member, opened The Lark in 2019 through similar funding. Since then, the space has become a massive hit for residents, and the board said it was pleased with how the project had turned out. DIA board members have expressed optimism about the new concept, with Carol Worsham saying she looked forward to seeing “the building come alive with a new use.”
