The wave of closures washing over Duval County has claimed another beloved establishment. RagTime Tavern, a staple of the Atlantic Beach dining scene for over three decades, has permanently shuttered its doors. A sign on Monday broke the news to patrons, expressing gratitude with a simple, "Thanksgiving the community for more than 30 years serving them," as reported by First Coast News.
Having been a familiar site on Atlantic Boulevard, in the heart of Beaches Town Center, RagTime Tavern endured rumors of its demise even after temporarily closing in 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, but the announcement on its door, stating it is "permanently closed," has put such speculation to rest. Action News Jax detailed the farewell message to the community which read, "Unfortunately, we have permanently closed. Thank you for allowing us to serve the Atlantic Beach community for the last 30+ years."
Attempts to understand the reasons behind RagTime Tavern's closure have thus far been unfruitful as no explicit rationale has been provided. The restaurant's official Facebook page mirrors the message displayed on site, simply marking the business as “permanently closed,” with no further explanation. A sad pattern emerges in Duval County, with the tavern joining other recently shuttered businesses like the 19-year-old CamiCakes bakery in Jacksonville, a detail highlighted by News4Jax.
