1928 Cuban Bistro quietly flipped the sign to “open” on Monday in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Downtown Jacksonville, sliding into a Riverside Avenue storefront and bringing its Cuban sandwiches, pastries and strong cafecito to the riverfront. The family-owned chain’s latest shop is its eighth in Northeast Florida and gives downtown workers and nearby residents another option for breakfast and lunch.
The new restaurant is up and running at 501 Riverside Ave., Unit 107, according to the Jacksonville Business Journal. The outlet reported the Monday opening and noted that the bistro joins a growing cluster of recent food and retail additions in the Brooklyn and Riverside stretch.
City building records show the space received approval in October for a conversion from Tossgreen to 1928 Cuban Bistro, with AEC Integrated LLC listed as the contractor, per the Jax Daily Record. That earlier reporting put the unit at about 1,460 square feet and noted that Tossgreen shifted some operations to VyStar Tower as the Riverside storefront opened up.
Brooklyn’s Food Scene Is Filling In
Developers and city officials have been steering a wave of mixed-use projects into Brooklyn in recent years, with new apartments stacked over ground-floor retail intended to keep the riverfront active, according to the DIA. Coverage from the Downtown Investment Authority and other local reporting indicate those larger projects are starting to draw more foot traffic, along with steady demand for restaurants.
What To Expect At The New Spot
1928 Cuban Bistro has built its name on pressed cubanos, pan con lechón, croquetas and Cuban-style coffee, with breakfast items available all day and a pastry case at most locations. The chain’s locations page currently lists the Riverside site as “coming soon,” while the brand’s online ordering portal already includes a Riverside unit and local phone number for pickup and posted hours. The 1928 Cuban Bistro ordering page carries the most up-to-date hours and contact details…