Cool With Everyone – Neon Moon

February 2, 2022
1 min read

There’s a new face in the neighborhood. Since its first soft opening at the beginning of January, Neon Moon has already made quite a name for itself in 5 Points through mostly word of mouth, but it’s obvious they already have a bright future ahead of them.

This western-chique style bar is the perfect balance of chill and upbeat, bright and dim. The beautiful acoustic ceiling installation alludes to big future plan for live music, pop up shows and other forms of gatherings. Specializing in natural wines, cold draft brews and vegan eats, Neon Moon is curating a space that fits the demographic of Riverside, and brings originality back to 5 Points.

When Cafe Karibo, a sister restaurant of Timoti’s Seafood, in the heart of 5 points decided to officially close its doors last August, long term kitchen hand Zorry Humphries, 29, tossed out the idea of the current owners letting him run the space. Zorry had the idea to transform the space into a down home, neighborhood bar, and the owners gave him creative freedom, and partial ownership.

“I want more young people to be involved in the business world. In order for the city to grow and evolve you have to let young minds be involved. That’s what was dope, like I mean, I’m not super young, but I am young to be a business owner,” explained Zorry. “They took a chance on me but also what they were doing wasn’t working, they didn’t understand this area of neighborhoods like I know it from living here for so many years. I got real cool with everybody in the community and was like fuck it, i’ll try to do bar. Seems nightlife has taken over this district anyway.”

Zorry grew up in Callahan, and is an eclectic combination of every culture he’s a part of. He moved to Jacksonville to pursue skateboarding, and spent nearly a decade in the kitchen at Timoti’s/Karibo to pay his way to be able to do so. Skateboarding is a special knit community of individuals from varying backgrounds and is the spark for many of the connections Zorry has made in the community. He’s looking to make Neon Moon a similar type of eclectic inclusivity.

Zorry said it this way, “I’ve always hung around different groups of people. So for me, like you can be a cowboy. You can be a skateboarder. You can be hardcore, like, thats what skateboarding created for me. It was like a different style of friend group. But I grew up in a small town. We were taught to hang around certain groups. But I was always the one kind of like, I’m cool with the black people. I’m black. I’m cool with thugs. I’m cool with the Redneck dudes and I’m cool with the punk rock kids. So I’m like, Yo, everybody come hang out. I want to show that everybody is kind of similar if you bring them together.”

Vincent Dalessio is Folio Weekly’s Head Photographer and Writer. Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, he takes pride in resetting his roots in Duval County. Active in the skateboarding, surfing, rock climbing and outdoor recreation communities, he takes what he’s learned in his personal life and applies it to current issues facing these groups. His writing focuses on the environment, socio-demographic issues, biopics on community figureheads and stories on the communities he spends the most time in.

Current Issue

SUBMIT EVENTS

Submit Events

Advertisements

SingOutLoadFestival_TheAmp_2025
liz-buys-houses-digital
generac-home-standby-generator-banners

Date

Title

Current Month

Follow FOLIO!

Previous Story

Animal Sacrifices & Love Letters

Next Story

February Film Reviews

Latest from Food + Drink

Bite by Bite: Best Bites

Jacksonville: Arlington: Poke Go Jax pokegojax.com Mi Veracruz miveracruzfl.com Fujiyama Sushi and Hibachi fujiyamajapanesefl.com  Spices Caribbean Restaurant spicesjax.com Southern Coast Seafood southerncoastseafood.com Arlington Food Truck: Mi Sazon Mexican Food Truck yelp.com/biz/mi-sazon-latino-jacksonville  Beaches: Tulua Bistro  tuluabistro.com  Graffiti American Burger Bar

The Face of Farming is Female

Words and photos by Ambar Ramirez “Many people have said, ‘you need a man out here,’ or ‘let a man do that.’ People often think women aren’t physically capable of farm work, but that’s never been a problem here.” Ashantae Green walks her land with purpose and pride,

Folio’s Top Picks: Bite By Bite 

Jacksonville & St Augustine Neighborhoods  Jacksonville Arlington Rice and Noodles riceandnoodles.net Tabouleh Mediterranean Cafe taboulehjax.com The Juicy Crab thejuicycrabjax.com Sweet Mama’s Southern Homestyle Cookin sweetmamasjacksonville.com Lauren’s Seafood, Blues & Jazz laurensseafoodbluesjazz Beaches Brunch Haus  jaxbeachbrunchhaus.com Dockside Seafood Restaurant  docksideseafoodrestaurant.com Eleven South

NFAN/Dining Out For Life

Words by Kaili Cochran Before the mid-1990s, having HIV was considered a death sentence but with modern treatment, someone with HIV can have a similar lifespan as someone who is HIV-negative.  Northeast Florida Aids Network is the only organization in Northeast Florida that focuses on HIV. Since its

Folio’s Top Picks: Bite By Bite 

Jacksonville & St Augustine Neighborhoods  Jacksonville Arlington Fuji Sushi  fujisushi-fl.com The Good Place Nutrition   facebook.com/thegoodplacenutrition Grinders American Diner  grindersamdiner.com Seven Wonders Restaurant  7wondersbakery.com Tabouleh Cafe taboulehcafe.com Beaches Angie’s Subs facebook.com/angiessubs Flying Iguana Taqueria & Tequila Bar flyingiguana.com Hawkers eathawkers.com Southern
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp