A new state law will allow smaller restaurants along a stretch of Kings Avenue to serve liquor and cocktails as long as the establishment meets a series of conditions including a minimum of 50 seats.
The newly approved law also will enable restaurants in the downtown Northbank to obtain the special licenses if they can serve at least 50 people at a time, half of the former 100-diner threshold.
The measure — House Bill 1497 introduced by state Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville — took effect immediately after it was signed this week by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
The law creates and adds the Kings Avenue Commercial Corridor to existing areas in downtown Jacksonville and historic neighborhoods such as Riverside, Avondale, San Marco and others where the state previously opened the door to smaller restaurants being able to serve liquor and cocktails.