JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – What was once a staple in Jacksonville is getting revitalized as a new music venue in Five Points.
RELATED: Opening of FIVE in Jacksonville delayed due to construction
FIVE is the new music venue in the heart of Riverside, located in the once beloved Sun-Ray Cinema. With so many business closings in the Five Points area, the venue is hoping to give a spark back to the neighborhood.
The opening of FIVE was delayed for months. It was originally scheduled to open back in January. Because of those delays, at least 17 shows were postponed or moved to a different venue.
The venue posted a photo of its marquee on Facebook, stating, “Sorry we are late, but we are excited to see you.”
Jeremy Hicks, the communications director of Marathon Live, the management company of FIVE, told News4JAX that the delays were due to construction and permit issues.
According to News4JAX news partners, the Jacksonville Daily Record, the venue was issued a permit for the $1.4 million renovation of the building on Feb. 28.
This venue is the former location of the beloved Sun-Ray Cinema. The theater opened 98 years ago and was the first theater in Jacksonville to show films with sound.
Over the years, there has been a lot of turnover for the theater. It was an acting theater at one point, then it became a live music venue. After that, it became a movie theater and opened as Sun-Ray Cinema.
The public tried to save Sun-Ray from closing; however, it was eventually sold for $7 million, and $2 million worth of renovations were put into it.
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