Two more Riverside restaurants, Clarke Bros. and Prospect Five Points, are closing their doors. Clarke Bros. will close on June 20, while Prospect Five Points announced its closure on June 9, citing a rough year for business and the slow season ahead.
The news was met with disappointment from customers, who praised the restaurants for their good food and community atmosphere. Don Kelly, a customer at Clarke Bros., said, “They serve very good food.” Jason Archer, another customer, said the place holds a special routine for him and his crew.
Community Impact
The closures come on the heels of Mossfire, which shut down last year. Cheryl Croft, owner of Edge City, said the closings reflect a broader challenge for small businesses right now. “I think it’s just been really hard to be able to maintain business. This is not a very supportive economic climate for small business at present,” Croft said.
Casey Roth, with the Five Points Merchant Association, urged perspective, saying the closures are a natural part of the business cycle. “Well, first of all, we hate hearing it because these are our neighbors,” Roth said. “It’s churn. It’s not like decline of the area. But still, there are like real people in the middle of that churn.”
Roth made the economic case for shopping local, citing a study that showed 70% of money spent at local businesses stays in the community, compared to 20-23% for chain stores. “So you’re not just performing an act of charity for a local business. You’re like paying people’s rent,” Roth said.
Amici Italian Restaurant in St. Augustine may also close, barring a purchase by new ownership. The restaurant posted on its Facebook page that it would close by the end of June unless a buyer steps forward.
Original reporting: Jacksonville Today — read the source article.
