With Jacksonville’s constant growth and development, it’s no surprise that a new event space is in the works. If you’ve recently driven down Gate Parkway, north of IKEA, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve seen a large and colorful facility. The Block Jax, a family-oriented destination, full of fun, entertainment, and community, is set to open this month. This local hangout houses nine different restaurants, a kid’s park, a dog park, and much more. Whether you’re from Riverside, Jax Beach or even Julington Creek, this new hotspot is sure to wow you.
Founder of Kanine Social, and now The Block Jax, Daniel Moffatt, started working on the project with co-owner Ryan Irish almost four years ago. Back in 2018, Moffatt opened Kanine Social in hopes of creating an outdoor social space for pet parents. “I decided to do something I figured people would enjoy. At the time, breweries were becoming quite popular in Jacksonville, and as a dog owner, I thought of bringing the two together and creating a dog park and drinking space.” In 2021, 2022, and 2023, Kanine Social held the Woofstock Festival, which gained thousands of visitors over the course of the day. “It’s one of my favorite memories since starting the facility,” he said, “it’s pretty rare to get the chance to bring your pups to a music festival, so we decided to do it ourselves.”
The doggy daycare has tremendously paw-gressed over the past eight years, and with it, Moffatt’s expansion ideas. “Back then, it was my wife, our firstborn, our two dogs and myself. Now we have four kids and would love to provide a local, family-friendly space as well.” With Kanine Social being a perfect fit for a niche demographic of kid-free pet owners, this growth symbolizes change in lifestyle, where The Block Jax is open to all ages. “We want this to be an entertainment destination for Jax locals,” he said. The venue houses numerous amenities making it nearly impossible to be bored. “We have a stage for live music performances and a 30 ft. wide by 16 ft. tall screen for sports and movie nights,” he said…