Downtown Jacksonville is about to smell like cigars and sizzling cheesesteaks. Dapper D's Cigars & Restaurant is slated to open May 15 at 11 Ocean St., delivering a two-story combo of fast-casual Philly-style eats on the ground floor and a luxury cigar lounge upstairs. Owner Darian "Jack" Jackson is extending the Dapper D's brand from his existing Jacksonville-area lounges into the city's historic core.
Opening Date, Menu And Layout
According to the Jacksonville Business Journal, the new spot is scheduled to open May 15 and will fill the two-story space at 11 Ocean St. The first floor is planned as a fast-casual dining room built around Philly-style cheesesteaks with a casual bar, while the second floor is set up as an upscale cigar bar with its own ventilated lounge and large humidor.
Permits, Funding And Build-Out
The concept has been moving forward since the city cleared necessary permits and the Downtown Investment Authority signed off on public support. The Jax Daily Record reports that the build-out is pegged at about $516,000, backed in part by a $187,620 DIA grant. The roughly 3,674-square-foot, two-story space previously housed Island Girl Cigar Bar, and the upstairs lounge is slated to feature a substantial ventilation system to keep indoor smoking air manageable.
Owner And Local Footprint
Darian "Jack" Jackson is listed as a co-owner of the downtown venue, per the Jacksonville Business Journal. Jackson already operates two Dapper D's locations outside the downtown core, at River City Marketplace and The Fountains at St. Johns. Those existing sites function as cigar lounges with humidors, membership offerings and retail shipping, and the new Ocean Street location appears to adapt that model for a busier urban setting.
Why Downtown Matters
City leaders have been pushing for more small food and beverage concepts to help rebuild everyday foot traffic downtown, and Dapper D's lands right in the middle of that effort. As noted by the Jax Daily Record, the address sits between Bay and Forsyth streets and shares the block with existing restaurant anchors. For boosters of the urban core, another after-work and late-night option on Ocean Street counts as one more signal that downtown is trying to keep people around after 5 p.m.
What To Know Before You Go
When doors open on May 15, the ground floor is expected to cater to quick-service diners and walk-ins who want a cheesesteak and a drink without much ceremony. Upstairs will lean more toward a reserved, membership-friendly cigar lounge, similar in feel to Jackson's other locations. For anyone who remembers Island Girl Cigar Bar in the same footprint, expect a refreshed interior along with a beefed-up cocktail and whiskey program upstairs, paired with the humidor and retail cigar offerings.
