JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As 2024 comes to a close, a beloved staple in Jacksonville’s Five Points neighborhood is saying goodbye.
Rain Dogs, a popular bar known for its vibrant community and live music, was open for one last night. Owner Christina Wagner has decided it’s time to close this chapter and move on.
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Rain Dogs hosted a final New Year’s Eve party to bid farewell. Wagner’s friend, Kris Kiernan, who frequented the bar, reflected on its closure.
“This was like her mind creation,” Kiernan said. “She really thought long and hard about intentionality. She wanted to make sure we had a place to go, a place we were safe to go. And she maintained that safety pretty well. So I’m heartbroken.”
The closing of Rain Dogs was a significant loss for local musicians like Bryant Patterson, who managed jam sessions there for a year and a half.
“It’s a good place to play and to showcase your craft,” Patterson said. “But it’s also a good place where people can come together and learn from one another, you know, and also to network. I’ve seen a lot of bands form from people interacting inside of Rain Dogs.”
Despite concerns about the area losing its character, Jacksonville City Councilman Jimmy Peluso remains optimistic about Five Points’ future.
“This is going to remain a robust commercial corridor,” Peluso said. “We’re going to remain a place where small businesses want to operate. And if I’m able to get a Business Improvement District going in this area, it’s going to provide a framework for long-term success for the region.”
Patterson hoped to continue jam sessions at Shantytown Pub, but Kiernan is unsure if the magic of Rain Dogs can live on in a different space.
“I don’t know if we’d be able to recreate it,” Kiernan said. “I’m sure Bryant is going to do a great job leading that jam as always. And I think we’ll just do our best to try to maybe create a different chapter of that jam.”
While some community members questioned the future of Five Points, Patterson remained hopeful.
“I always try to be positive, to look at things glass half full,” Patterson said. “Change could be good, it could be bad, but I think it tends to be good, as long as people remember that change is constant. There could be other greater opportunities that come up from all the closing.”
Councilman Peluso aimed to establish a Business Improvement District by the end of 2025 to help local businesses thrive. Despite the loss of several staples like Rain Dogs, he believes Five Points retains its unique charm.
“We still have antique shops, Mom and Pop operators, and folks selling wares you can’t get anywhere else,” Peluso said. “People come here because they want that community feel. We still have a lot going for us, and I think we have a lot more coming our way.”
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