Jacksonville's First Outdoor Food Hall Opens With On-Site Dog Park

The Community First Bark Park greeted its first four-legged visitors on March 19, 2026, a full day before Jacksonville's first outdoor food hall threw open its gates to the general public, giving dogs and their owners a head start on what became the Southside's most talked-about opening weekend.

The Block Jax, situated off Gate Parkway in the Deerwood neighborhood within the 110-acre Southside Quarter development built by Hines, held its grand-opening celebration beginning March 20 and running through Sunday. The 2.5-acre complex centers on a 10,000-square-foot covered pavilion designed for concerts, live entertainment, and daily community gatherings, surrounded by eight local restaurants, a rooftop bar, a kids play zone, and the Kanine Social-operated bark park.

For the hyperenergetic dog crowd, the bark park is the headliner. Dogs must stay leashed throughout the broader venue grounds but can run unleashed inside Kanine Social's private off-leash area, giving zoomie-prone pups a proper outlet while their humans work through the food hall lineup. The park's signature feature is an 80-foot mural painted by local artist Clay Misner, who won The Block's mural contest. Misner hand-painted "WELCOME TO DOOOOOGVAL" across the wall, weaving in the Florida coast, the Jacksonville skyline, and a sprawling pack of dogs at play.

Founder Daniel Moffatt credited Community First Credit Union, which financed the construction of The Block Jax and now holds naming rights to the bark park, as a foundational partner. "Community First has been a part of this project since day one, helping make our vision possible, and the new Community First Bark Park will be a gathering place that truly celebrates Jacksonville's sense of community," Moffatt said. The credit union plans a recurring presence at the venue to offer financial literacy resources to visiting families.

Co-owner Ryan Irish said the concept originated as an expansion of Kanine Social's Riverside location before evolving into something larger, with permanent food vendors and a community hangout anchoring the full experience.

On the food side, Chancho King owner Chason Spencer brought his Murray Hill staples, including the pork sandwich, Shorty Pan, chicken sandwich, rice bowls, and plantain bowls, and added items exclusive to The Block Jax location. "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," Spencer said.

Ordering across the venue is cashless and runs through QR codes, though walk-up window ordering is available. "You can come and order up the window, but we do encourage QR codes," said Cassie Romines, Director of Culinary Operations. "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."

The Block Jax operates Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Additional details are available at theblockjax.com.