Capt. Sandy Yawn, a star of Bravo TV's Below Deck Mediterranean series, is moving forward with plans to open a new Downtown Jacksonville restaurant and rooftop bar by announcing a name, website and renovation timeline.
Below Deck Mediterranean follows the crew of a 184-foot mega charter yacht as they navigate "everything from heartbreaks and power struggles to challenges with maritime law... forcing Captain Sandy to make career-defining decisions that challenge the group in more ways than one," according to Bravo.
In an email to WJCT News on Friday, Yawn said the restaurant, which will go into the old fire station at 618 W. Adams St., will be named Maritime 618. The firehouse is catty corner from the Duval County Courthouse.
Yawn and her partners plan on opening Maritime 618 in November 2021. Brooke Robins is the architect for the project.
Partner Chad Quistbsaid in the same email, “We are currently in the process of obtaining bids from a number of local general contractors and hope to make our selection in the next four weeks."
Yawn said, “I hope to continue to invest in Jacksonville and brand it a future destination for super yachts and all recreational vessels. The pride and potential in this vibrant city is infectious."
Levels 1,2 and 3 Floorplans for Maritime 618
WJCT News partner News4Jax reported in June that Yawn has family ties to Jacksonville, including her sister. Yawn has more than 27 years of yachting experience, according to her Facebook page. She’s chartered yachts from the Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf.
Her restaurant will play on those strengths with a nautical theme and yacht-style cuisine that will feature intercontinental seafood and cultural fares.
Construction on the project is expected to begin in January. Former Fire Station #4 originally opened in 1914.
Additional information about the restaurant project is at maritime618.com.
Corrected: A previous version of this story said Captain Sandy was a former cast member of Below Deck. She is in fact a current cast member of Below Deck Mediterranean. We regret the error.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
