Another popular downtown business prepares to shut down, raising vacancy, development concerns

Two well-known restaurants in downtown Jacksonville are preparing to close, renewing concerns about vacancies and foot traffic in the city’s urban core as local leaders push for more downtown development. Bellwether announced in a Facebook post that it would close at the end of March after nearly nine years in business. The post did not cite a reason for the closure, though the owner previously cited rising food costs in 2025.