Ambar Ramirez
The wait is over, Jacksonville welcomes a new music venue
Words by Ambar Ramirez & photos by Jalen Hines ( @photosbyjwh on IG)
“All are welcome at FIVE.”
When word got out that Sun-Ray Cinema — beloved, historic and a true 5 Points gem — was screening its final film, the local reaction was exactly what you’d expect, part heartbreak, part neighborhood group chat meltdown. With the loss of yet another slice of Jacksonville’s cultural fabric, the big question quickly became: what now? Rumors swirled. First, a parking garage (yawn), then a virtual golf center (why?). Neither felt like a worthy replacement for a space that once brought together movie buffs, weirdos, artists and romantics. So when it was announced that a new music venue would be taking over 1028 Park Street, disappointment gave way to curiosity and even excitement. A venue for live music felt like the right kind of tribute. Still a place to go see a show, only this time, the screen was swapped for a stage.
“The building we occupy has such a rich, creative history and we’re honored to carry that legacy forward by continuing to make it a destination for the arts,” Jeremy Hicks, FIVE communications director, shared.
So far, FIVE has held up its end of the bargain by preserving the vintage charm of the original movie theater exterior. The old box office, mostly untouched during Sunray Cinema’s time, has been restored to its former glory and repurposed for its original use. The marquee still juts proudly from the building, lighting up Park Street with who’s performing that night and what’s on the calendar for the week. But step inside, and it’s a whole different story. The interior has undergone a full transformation, fitting, since this is no longer a place for sitting quietly with buttered popcorn. It’s a space built for movement and live music. But the work didn’t stop at choosing whether to keep the original tiles or rip up the old flooring. The real challenge was curating a lineup that would prove FIVE isn’t just another venue, but a serious contender in Jacksonville’s growing live music scene.
“Our aim is to create unique live experiences and be an asset to the community. We do this by booking the concerts that Jacksonville wants to see and by engaging with the community in a way that allows us to be a part of their everyday lives,” Hicks said. “It all comes down to the artists that we are booking. We love booking emerging artists that connect with younger audiences just as much as we love booking touring legends that draw an older crowd.”
Staying true to its mission, FIVE has booked a wide range of artists and musicians, with genres spanning house, folk, Latin and emo punk. The venue isn’t just bridging gaps within the music community, it’s building bridges across the neighborhood, too. In collaboration with local businesses like Tiger Records, they’ve even hidden show tickets among vinyl bins, turning a simple record store visit into a scavenger hunt for live music lovers.
“We have a deep appreciation for all genres of music and are passionate about celebrating that diversity on our stage,” Hicks noted. “We want to book shows that resonate with the community and give people the kinds of live experiences they’re excited to see.”
No matter what you tend to listen to or what’s on your curated playlists, you’ll want to catch a show at FIVE.
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