Codega Hospitality Group is opening Taqueria 5 (pronounced “Cinco”) at 809 Lomax Street, in a storefront that formerly housed a MetroPCS store. Codega Hospitality is a new entity featuring longtime pioneers within Jacksonville’s food scene.
The Jaxson reports Taqueria 5 is a concept from the creative minds of Eddy Escriba, Matt Kemper and Marco Monroy. Cousins Eddy and Marco were part of a group that co-founded Downtown’s Burrito Gallery, which opened on the heels of Super Bowl XXXIX in February 2005. Eddy, Marco and others would go on to open Uptown Market in the Springfield neighborhood in September 2009. Matt has been a long-time chef in the Beaches area, having helmed kitchens at KC Crave and Mezza Restaurant and Bar.
After leaving the Gallery Restaurant Group, Eddy helped usher in the opening of Crispy’s Springfield Gallery on Main Street. Marco teamed up with his cousin Derek Schroyer to open the Quick and Dirty Dogs / Dos Vatos Tacos food cart. All the while, the duo were scouting locations throughout the urban core to open a new restaurant.
The new space in Five Points will feature just under 1,000 square feet of interior space, plus a small outdoor patio directly behind the building. Pending zoning approvals, beer and wine will also be available on site.
As additional commercial development expands the reach of Five Points with the opening of Bread & Board on Oak Street and Spirit Animal on Margaret Street, Lomax Street could be the next street to see a revival. Work is expected to commence in early 2019 on the 5 Points Improvement Project, the first major infrastructure project in the Riverside/Avondale Historic District since the Shoppes of Avondale sidewalk and roadway improvement project was completed in 2010.
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The $4 million capital improvement program will modify existing roadways throughout Five Points to enhance pedestrian use and improve vehicular safety.
Lomax Street will be converted into a one-way eastbound street, with expanded sidewalk areas designed to create a plethora of outdoor seating space along this oft-forgotten portion of the commercial district. Once the improvements are complete over the next 18-24 months, Lomax may see a concentration of specialized eateries sprout up.
The Jaxson sat down with Marco Monroy to discuss the new taqueria. You can read that part of the story and see additional photos on The Jaxson website.
