Customers line up for the opening of Block Jax. | News4Jax
Published on March 20, 2026 at 3:36 pm
Free local news and info, in your inbox at 6 a.m. M-F. Sign up for the Jacksonville Today newsletter.
Jacksonville’s newest entertainment venue is turning heads in the Deerwood neighborhood.
Whether you want to catch the big game or take the family out for a night, The Block Jax, Jacksonville’s first outdoor food hall, made its debut Friday with a grand-opening celebration continuing through Sunday.
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
The location just off Gate Parkway on Jacksonville’s Southside features a 10,000-square-foot covered pavilion space with food vendors and a stage for live entertainment.
The creators said the goal was to create a place where families can relax and stay awhile — without feeling rushed.
“With kids, young kids, if I go to a restaurant, it’s like, all right, we’ve got to get in. We’ve got to order right away. We’ve got to eat as fast as we can, because I know they’re not staying seated for more than like 15 or 20 minutes,” founder and co-owner Daniel Moffatt said. “And I don’t want to just stick an iPad in front of them, so that’s why we have this kids’ area. We can hang out here. Barstools on the outside, kids can be running around being kids, going crazy, doing what they do, and we can have a beer.”
Jacksonville Today thanks our sponsors. Become one.
Along with the kids play area, the venue features a dog park and a 30-foot-wide LED wall for sports, movie nights and special events. An upstairs area is reserved for adults 21 and older.
There’s also a stage for live music and eight food vendors on site.
“We are cashless, so everything is done through QR codes. You can come and order up the window, but we do encourage QR codes,” said Cassie Romines, director of Culinary Operations at The Block Jax. “It’s really super easy. It’s a fun process. That means you can go sit and order your food, and then, when it’s ready, come pick it up at the window.”
Ryan Irish, co-owner of The Block Jax, said the idea started as an expansion of the Riverside location of Kanine Social, but grew from there with ideas for permanent food options and a community hang out area.
Block Jax food vendors
One of the food vendors on site is Chancho King. Owner Chason Spencer broke down what’s available at the new location.
“We brought our staples. We brought our pork sandwich, shorty pan, chicken sandwich, rice bowls, plantain bowls, and then we added a couple things that we don’t see on the menu at the Murray Hill location,” Spencer said. “We got smothered French fries. We got smothered, sweet plantains with cheese and pork. It’s very delicious, and on the weekends, we’re gonna push more seafood stuff.”
Other food vendors include:
- The Bearded Piglet (second location for Bearded Pig)
- Darkside Tacos (first brick-and-mortar location)
- Hungry Owl
- Just Kitchen (Mediterranean concept)
- Stacks (smash burger concept)
- Slingin Weiners (a hot dog concept run by The Block Jax team)
- Dairy Joy ice cream
The Block Jax will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays.
All vendors will be open during those times. For the dog park, all dogs must be leashed in all areas but can play unleashed at Kanine Social’s private dog park.
More information is available at theblockjax.com.
This story was produced by News4Jax, a Jacksonville Today news partner.
