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Mayor Donna had reached the point in her remarks at Keane’s Tavern <\/a> for making a toast that celebrated the return of an Irish pub to downtown Jacksonville for the first time since 2019.<\/p>\n “Slainte,” she said and raised the glass of Guinness beer.<\/p>\n Deegan didn’t drink from it, but the taps at Keane’s Tavern will be flowing for patrons just in time for it to get a piece of the business that comes from the annual Florida-Georgia game<\/a>.<\/p>\n The grand opening on Oct. 31 marks another addition to the lineup of restaurants, bars and concert halls in The Elbow<\/a> entertainment district where start-up financial assistance by the city has helped bring new businesses into historic buildings along blocks near the Florida Theatre<\/a>.<\/p>\n That support by the city helped the ownership team behind Keane’s Tavern assemble the financing for the pub in the 300 block of Bay Street in sight of the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Hotel.<\/p>\n “It feels absolutely amazing to be standing here today after months of dust, deadlines, late nights and a few ‘Are we actually going to make it?’ scenarios,'” co-owner Evan Rajta said on Oct. 30.<\/p>\n Downtown had been without an Irish-themed bar since Fionn MacCool’s\u00a0Irish Pub and Restaurant<\/a> closed at the Jacksonville Landing in 2019 before the riverfront mall was demolished.<\/p>\n Keane’s Tavern, which takes its name from the maiden name of Rajta’s wife, has Irish and U.S. flags flying from its storefront facade. Inside, it’s filled with the ambience of a pub with lots of polished woodwork. The draft beer includes Guinness and the bar also serves up cocktails, shots and wine.<\/p>\n