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It doesn’t take a tropical storm or hurricane to turn San Marco Boulevard into a no-wake zone. A simple hard rain floods the street.

Sandbags at front of doors help but when disrespectful drivers speed on the water-covered road the entrance of Pink Salt Restaurant and Wine Bar is awash with a wave that inevitably goes under the door, owner and chef Richard Robinson said.

There has been no water damage to the restaurant at 1430 San Marco Blvd., but it has hurt business, he said.

Some soggy nights customers cancel their reservations. On others, Robinson has to call customers and tell them he is closing because the water is so bad.

“People may be coming in from Mandarin where there is no rain but here in San Marco we are flooded,” Robinson said.

This annoyance is one reason he is planning to move to the former Gene’s Seafood space at 1571 University Blvd. W. in Lakewood.

He hopes to open there by July.

He is in the permitting and zoning stage for the new location.

Two restaurants, one kitchen

When Robinson reopens, he will operate two restaurants in one building.

Pink Salt, and Veveta Tapas will combine the fine dining Pink Salt is known for with a more casual, small plates experience.

The restaurant also will have an emphasis on rum not only at the bar but in some of the recipes.

For example, the chicken bites will be honey glazed with a rum-based sauce.

“Rum is not well represented in the restaurant industry. Rum can be used for cooking just like bourbon,” Robinson said.

The rum library will range from affordable to higher-priced, hard-to-find bottles. Rum flights will be offered for those wanting to learn about the tropical spirit’s variety of flavors.

Dishes at Pink Salt, and Veveta Tapas will be a fusion of Caribbean, Asian and French influences.

Robinson, 39, is from Jamaica and for a time his mother, Veveta who the tapas restaurant is named after, operated a rum bar that served small snacks when he was a boy.

The business plan is to have the two restaurants in the same 5,000-square-foot operate out of one kitchen. Occupancy will increase from 150 to 190.

Robinson said outgrowing the San Marco kitchen space is another reason for the move.

The food at both restaurants in the new location will be prepared to order, from scratch. It is the way the Johnson & Wales University of Charleston culinary school graduate insists that his restaurants operate.

Customers will be able to mix and match items from both menus. Robinson said they should be prepared for the casual tapas to come out first because they are simpler to make than items on the Pink Salt menu.

Multiple moves

Moving is not new to Robinson.

He opened the original Pink Salt at 6082 St. Augustine Road in 2018. It specialized in breakfast and brunch.

Later, he moved to 5111 Baymeadows Road in a former Italian restaurant.

When that spot posed problems, he moved in 2020 to San Marco in the former Vino’s Pizza & Grill space just before restaurants shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The pandemic was a learning experience. You never know what is going to happen and you have to prepare for those rainy days,” Robinson said.

“I will say that San Marco is a community that rallies behind their neighbors and their businesses.”

Pink Salt has 13 employees. When he opens the new location, Robinson expects he will need close to 40. The staff in San Marco will transfer to Lakewood.

Both restaurants also will be open for lunch.

While no exterior changes are expected, equipping the kitchen, installing a new HVAC system and furnishing the interior will cost about $180,000, he said.

Robinson’s mother still lives in Jamaica but visits regularly. She was in town when he told her about Veveta Tapas. He had to explain the tapas concept to her.

She immediately bought in and is eager to see her namesake restaurant.

“She calls me every day to ask what is the progress on the restaurant,” he said.

Besides providing Robinson with a business that is high and dry, the new location has more parking.

There is also a personal benefit.

“I literally can walk seven minutes to my home from where I am,” he said.

A new pump station is coming to LaSalle Street to address flood concerns

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The new LaSalle Street pump station is expected to ease San Marco’s longtime flooding issues

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Construction is finally underway for the long-awaited Lasalle Street pump station.

On Wednesday, the City of Jacksonville, the Public Works Department, Haskell, and A&E Engineering held a groundbreaking ceremony at its new construction site in San Marco.

Over the years, San Marco has gained a reputation for massive flooding.

According to the city leaders, San Marco’s geography is shaped like a bowl, which means that it is very difficult for rainwater that collects in the middle of the neighborhood to flow out to the river.

The Director of Project Development with the Haskell Company, the Jacksonville based construction company working on the project, says the new pump station will help pump the excess water back into the St. John’s River.

“It will not eliminate all the flooding; it will significantly improve the conditions here. If it’s a foot or two you’re probably bringing it down to six inches,” said Joe Kantor the Director of Project Development.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma hit Jacksonville and left San Marco streets covered in water with nowhere to go.

Nearly six years later…flooding is still a major concern even without a major storm pummeling through the region.

Sharon Maszy lived in San Marco for 27 years and says it’s awful just after heavy rain.

“Well, you can’t drive down the street after a big rain. I’m sure a lot of the neighbors that lived on these streets are trapped,” said Sharon Maszy.

Nancy Cunningham is fairly new to San Marco; she has only lived here for about three years.

In that short time, she says she saw multiple businesses leave the area because of the constant floods.

“A lot of the businesses have gone under because of the flooding… they cannot stay here because of it,’ said Nancy Cunningham.

While the new pump isn’t putting a complete end to flooding, both residents believe it’s a step in the right direction.

“This is very encouraging; this is a good thing,” said Sharon Maszy.

“Another pump station can only help the situation,” said Nancy Cunningham.

The Lasalle Street Pump is just one of a series of planned improvements in the San Marco area.

The project is expected to be completed by November 2024.

Copyright 2023 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will play under the lights at least three times during the 2023 regular season.

Last week, the team got official word from the NFL that they’ll play three prime-time games and five total standalone games during the year with the NFL’s schedule release coinciding with the Jaguars’ performance from a season ago, winning the AFC South.

Jacksonville’s expectations have risen since the arrival of head coach Doug Pederson in 2022 after years of disappointing seasons.

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By virtue of schedule rotation, the Jaguars will play the NFC South this year along with the AFC North. The team will also play the first-place teams within the AFC, including the Buffalo Bills (AFC East) and the Kansas City Chiefs (AFC West) along with the San Francisco 49ers, who won the NFC West last year.

Jacksonville will also play the AFC South, as usual, giving the team a total strength of schedule of .479, ranked 23rd in the league.

Compared to last year’s records, Jacksonville's relatively soft schedule should bode well for the team. Still, let’s take a look by going game-by-game in an effort to predict what is likely to come for the Jaguars this season.

Week 1: Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

Prediction: Jaguars, 31, Colts 14

Thoughts: The Jaguars start their season off strong. They’ll face either a rookie quarterback (Anthony Richardson) or Gardner Minshew. That’s a win.

Record: 1-0

Week 2: Jaguars vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Prediction: Chiefs 28, Jaguars 21

Thoughts: While this game could go either way and is at home for Jacksonville, the Chiefs are simply too good of a team to overcome early. Plus, have you seen Patrick Mahomes’ September record? It's 13-3. The Jaguars will have to wait until the playoffs to exact their revenge on Kansas City.

Record: 1-1

Week 3: Jaguars vs. Houston Texans

Prediction: Jaguars 24, Texans 7

Thoughts: The Jaguars get this done effortlessly. The Texans have a long way to go and will be starting a rookie QB in CJ Stroud.

Record: 2-1

Week 4: Jaguars vs. Atlanta Falcons (London)

Prediction: Jaguars 28, Falcons 14

Thoughts: The team’s first game in London shouldn’t be difficult. The Falcons’ QB situation makes them a tough team to pick even with Bijan Robinson in the fold.

Record: 3-1

Week 5: Jaguars at Buffalo Bills (London)

Prediction: Bills 28, Jaguars 21

Thoughts: After an easy win the previous week, Jacksonville stays in London and travel fatigue sets in. Bills take this one, but it will be a tough battle.

Record: 3-2

Week 6: Jaguars vs. Indianapolis Colts

Prediction: Colts 24, Jaguars 17

Thoughts: After two-straight London games, the Jaguars come back home and fall to the Colts, who have an improved Richardson at the helm. This is a typical trap game before a matchup against the Saints.

Record: 3-3

Week 7: Jaguars at New Orleans Saints (TNF)

Prediction: Jaguars 21, Saints 14

Thoughts: Feeling disgusted by their previous loss, the Jaguars get this one done under the bright lights in the Bayou.

Record: 4-3

Week 8: Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers

Prediction: Jaguars 28, Steelers 17

Thoughts: The Jaguars have owned the Steelers, historically. This is a renewed rivalry, but the team gets it done on the road to cap their only back-to-back road games of the season.

Record: 5-3

Week 10: Jaguars vs. San Francisco 49ers

Prediction: 49ers 31, Jaguars 14

Thoughts: Coming off a bye week, this one doesn’t have to be a blowout, but it could, especially considering 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s scheme and the 49ers’ fantastic defense. This could be the only clunker by Jacksonville in the season.

Record: 5-4

Week 11: Jaguars vs. Tennessee Titans

Prediction: Jaguars 21, Titans 10

Thoughts: The Jaguars’ first matchup against the fighting Arden Keys went well and they took the second-place Titans down with ease.

Record: 6-4

Week 12: Jaguars at Houston Texans

Prediction: Jaguars 28, Texans 17

Thoughts: Again, the Texans have a long way to go. This one should come easy as they sweep Houston for the first time since 2017.

Record: 7-4

Week 13: Jaguars vs. Cincinnati Bengals (MNF)

Prediction: Jaguars, 24, Bengals 21

Thoughts: This one will be tough, but the Jaguars are fortunate to play this one at home. The crowd will be going crazy ala last year’s season-ender and playoff game. Lawrence will finally beat Burrow.

Record: 8-4

Week 14: Jaguars at Cleveland Browns

Prediction: Jaguars 21, Browns 20

Thoughts: This game will be a sneaky tough matchup for Jacksonville. The Browns aren’t a powerhouse, but it would make sense if Deshaun Watson returned to form by this point. Still, the Jaguars' defense holds steady, and they sneak out of Cleveland with a win.

Record: 9-4

Week 15: Jaguars vs. Baltimore Ravens (SNF)

Prediction: Jaguars 35, Ravens 31

Thoughts: Another game that could go either way depending on who is healthy. The Jaguars barely beat the Ravens last year without Odell Becham Jr. And rookie Zay Flowers in the fold. Still, Jacksonville’s offense is too good to overcome for Baltimore.

Record: 10-4

Week 16: Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Prediction: Jaguars 28, Buccaneers 14

Thoughts: The Buccaneers are about to experience a serious rebuild during their life after Tom Brady. This should come easy for Jacksonville late in the year.

Record: 11-4

Week 17: Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers

Prediction: Panthers 28, Jaguars 21

Thoughts: There is always one head-scratcher loss for teams and that’s this one for the Jaguars. Panthers rookie QB Bryce Young should be very improved by this point and Jacksonville gets caught napping.

Record: 11-5

Week 18: Jaguars at Tennessee Titans

Prediction: Jaguars, 21, Titans 14

Thoughts: The Jaguars sweep the Titans for a second-straight year. They’ll be playing this game for seeding purposes within the AFC, attempting to capture the second seed.

Final Record: 12-5

Demetrius Harvey is the Jacksonville Jaguars reporter for the Florida Times-Union. You can follow him on Twitter at @Demetrius82.

Four boxing legends will come together this weekend for a seminar at Combat Club Martial Arts and Fitness in Jacksonville.

The seminar is being held on May 20 and will welcome WBO world champion boxer and Olympic gold medalist “Merciless” Ray Mercer, 7x WKA world champion heavyweight kickboxer Dennis “Hurricane” Lane, PKA world champion boxer Demetrius “Oaktree” Edwards, who is also known for fighting Mike Tyson, and professional Muay Thai fighter Kaleb Hunter.

Mercer is an Army veteran and told The Daily News he had already been in the military for a few years before ever putting on a pair of boxing gloves. But once he put those gloves on, that was it.

“I just wanted to be a boxer and I had the military behind me,” Mercer said. “Then, five years after putting on the pair of gloves, I won a gold medal in the 1988 Olympics by knocking four of my opponents out, which I think that’s the first time that had ever happened. I am also the last heavyweight to win a gold medal from the United States. In ‘91, I won the WBO (World Boxing Organization) world title.”

Mercer also competed in a couple of MMA fights later on, but he laughed that those didn’t turn out so well. But despite being out of his element, he said he’s an athlete, so it didn’t stop him.

Mercer stopped boxing in 2009 at the age of 49 and had visited the eastern North Carolina area when Lane invited him for a soccer game. He was then invited to be a part of the upcoming seminar and said he can’t wait to be there.

He added he will be signing pictures and sharing his experience with Jacksonville’s youth.

“I love interacting with kids and everything and teaching them about bullying, I’m in a bullying program and all that, so I’ll talk about a couple of things while I’m there,” Mercer said.

Lane, a seven-time World Kickboxing Association world champion is originally from New Bern, and a five-year Marine Corps veteran.

Lane told The Daily News he began his career in Germany and then moved to Mississippi where he had a great football career before joining the Marine Corps.

He said he was the last heavyweight to ever have a world title in every rule of fighting in kickboxing. He retired in 2001 and Combat Club Martial Arts and Fitness in Jacksonville is actually his base gym.

“They’ve always made me home, got a lot of history on those walls,” Lane said. “We’ve got hundreds of years of knowledge coming into that room. We’ve got Demetrius coming, he’s the first black world champion in kickboxing in this country. We hope we get a good turnout, and we drop some knowledge to the youth that’s coming up.”

Lane added he also hopes to educate the youth on life decisions.

Professional Muay Thai fighter Kaleb Hunter agrees, as he was bullied a lot as a kid and told The Daily News that’s why he got into Muay Thai.

Hunter has competed up and down the east coast, as well as in Nevada and Thailand. He said he’s competed in 41 fights as an amateur, winning the WBC (World Boxing Council) belt, the local International Kickboxing Federation belt twice and the World Kickboxing Association belt.

As a professional, he won the IGF championship and competed on Glory, Lion Fight and Freedom Fight Promotions. He also fought in the Olympic trials. Hunter said he started training at the age of 14.

“I got involved with the seminar because the gym I’m currently coaching at introduced me to this, they’re a sister gym to them,” Hunter said. “My goal is to educate people on an area that most westerners are lacking in.”

Demetrius “Oaktree” Edwards was not available for an interview but will also be in attendance at the seminar.

For more information on the upcoming seminar, contact the club at 910-378-2003. Early registration closes on May 19 and tickets cost $65, with registration at the door costing $75.

There will also be a meet and greet dinner at 6:30 p.m. on the day of the event at the Sleep Inn, located at 129 Circuit Lane in Jacksonville.

The numbers on the scoreboard couldn't discourage Brett Dennis as he entered his penultimate inning at his home ballpark.

"I was just so confident that they could go get the runs that they needed to get," the Providence senior pitcher said, "and I was going to go slam the door as soon as they did."

Check… and check.

Providence rallied from a sixth-inning hole, defeating Ocala Trinity Catholic 4-3 in Tuesday night's Florida High School Athletic Association Region 1-3A baseball final and punching the Stallions' ticket for this week's final four in Fort Myers.

The Stallions (25-4) travel to Hammond Stadium for a 10 a.m. Friday meeting with Clearwater Calvary Christian, the team's first state semifinal since 2016, buoyed by 3 2/3 innings of shutout pitching from Dennis in relief of starter Donovan Rabiei.

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Down 3-2 in the sixth, Providence moved into the lead off Celtics reliever Preston Wright, who entered with an 0.67 ERA but got hit by a pitch in the top of the frame and encountered trouble thereafter.

Mason Wortmann, Ben Barrow and finally Jimmie Broughton singled to produce the Stallions' tying run. Then, after Brooks Hicken drew a walk, Nove Masci hit a grounder to short. When Trinity Catholic failed to turn two, Barrow crossed the plate with the eventual game-winner.

Dennis, who had performed similar duty in Friday's second round against Wolfson, limited Trinity Catholic to two hits after entering in the fourth.

"Just like the other night," Providence coach Tommy Boss said, "I wanted the ball in Brett's hands when the game was on the line. Man, I couldn't be more proud of him."

Providence scored one each in the first and third before the Celtics (21-9) jumped in front with three runs in the fourth, off a combination of walks, errors and an Anthony Vizzini RBI single.

REGION 1-5A

Grand slams are becoming a habit in Lake City.

Ayden Phillips capped the Tigers' regionals with a seventh-inning grand slam as the brightest highlight as Columbia beat Clay 7-1 in Green Cove Springs. The Tigers play 10 a.m. Monday against Plantation American Heritage in the state final four in Fort Myers, their second state semifinal in as many seasons.

Last Friday, Josh Fernald delivered a walk-off grand slam in the seventh to beat Tallahassee Lincoln. This time, Fernald hit a two-run triple and dominated on the mound with a four-hitter, striking out 11.

Columbia (24-5) struck with a run in the first, added two in the third and piled on with Phillips' grand slam in the final frame. Clay (23-7) tallied its lone run in the fifth, when Aidan Hampton tripled and scored on an error.

REGION 1-4A

Neither rain nor lightning nor dark of night could keep Bishop Kenny from the final four.

After waiting out two delays, Trey Seeker knocked in the game-winning RBI in the seventh inning to lead the Crusaders past host Baker County 3-2 and into their first final four in the FHSAA history books since 2008.

Ben Monger went the distance in a four-hitter for Bishop Kenny (18-10), which heads to Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers for a 4 p.m. state semifinal on Friday against Tampa Jefferson. Thunderstorms delayed Tuesday's start by an hour and a half, and play stopped again due to temporary light failure in the seventh with two Crusaders aboard.

Colson Altman struck out 13 batters for the Wildcats (22-7), who seized a 2-0 lead in the third on Titus Richardson's two-RBI single.

But Kenny tied the score in the sixth on Franco Chaluja's single followed by an error, and edged in front in the seventh. After singles by Andrew McWilliams and Joshmar Carbonell, Seeker knocked in the go-ahead RBI. Baker County brought the tying run into scoring position in the final frame but Monger nailed down the final two outs to clinch for the Crusaders.