Jacksonville is about to get a serious new hangout spot. The Block Jax, billed as the city’s first purpose-built outdoor food hall, is set to open March 20 with a full opening weekend March 20–22. The concept mixes food stalls, live music, a fenced play area for kids, and an on-site dog park, and founder Daniel Moffatt says he designed it so families and pet owners can linger without feeling rushed out the door.
What to expect
According to The Block Jax, the roughly 2.5-acre site centers on a covered pavilion of about 10,000 square feet with a stage for live shows, a turf gathering area and a 30-foot-wide LED wall for sports and movie nights. The venue also highlights a fully fenced "Kids on the Block" play area and an on-site private dog park tied to the Kanine Social brand. The homepage invites visitors to a grand opening weekend celebration running March 20–22.
Vendors and partnerships
As reported by News4JAX, Moffatt says The Block will host eight food vendors and multiple bars, with Southern Swells operating a mini-brewery onsite. Confirmed concepts named to the station include The Bearded Piglet, Darkside Tacos, Chancho King, Just Kitchen, and Dairy Joy, while other kitchens will operate in shipping-container-style pods. Moffatt told the outlet he prioritized Jacksonville-based businesses rather than importing concepts from other cities.
Behind the build
Permitting and development for The Block trace back to 2023–24. Reporting by the Jax Daily Record shows the project was submitted for review as a 2.5-acre site at the Gate Parkway and Village Crossing Drive entrance and included plans for roughly 6,660 square feet of enclosed space and more than 10,700 square feet of unenclosed space. The Record also reported early financing details and an initial cost estimate of around $8.5 million tied to local lenders and an SBA loan. City filings and developers say contractors, architects and investors have been working on the site for years to bring the idea to market.
Local roots
Moffatt, the founder of the original Kanine Social dog park and bar, has repeatedly framed the project as an answer to the challenge of juggling kids and dogs. He told Action News Jax, "I have four kids, I have two dogs. We're always looking for a place that we can take everybody out." Local reporting has emphasized that operators and vendors are mostly Jacksonville-based, which Moffatt says is central to the venue's identity.
Opening weekend and practicals
The Block Jax plans to operate Wednesday through Sunday with flexibility for special events, and it will run soft openings ahead of the grand opening weekend, according to News4JAX. For the latest schedules, vendor menus and event listings, the venue points visitors to the Block Jax website, which also lists the site address and contact pages. Expect family-friendly programming during daytime hours and an upstairs 21+ mezzanine for evening events and date nights.
