A bar, bistro and club looking to open in downtown Jacksonville has received preliminary approval for a forgivable loan from the city.
The venue would be known as Element Bistro, and on Monday, it went before the Downtown Investment Authority’s retail enhancement committee. That committee approved a request for a $90,000 loan that will not have to be paid back if certain conditions are met.
The money is part of the authority’s push to attract retailers to the urban core. It would be used to help pay for more than $215,000 in renovations, owner Jon Mroz says.
Element is scheduled to move into the 4,500-square-foot space that used to house Club TSI. It would be a bistro serving lunch and dinner, plus an upscale cocktail bar and a nightclub.
The funding request will go before the full DIA at the authority’s next meeting. Element is planned to open in December.
Photo credit: "Martini" by Tom Hilton used under Creative Commons license
