Riverside Brewing Company Opens with Jobs, Tastings in Jax Neighborhood

Riverside Brewing Company, located at 2915 Post St. near the intersection of Rosselle and King streets, celebrated its grand opening on May 9, 2026, according to a News4JAX report citing event organizers. Owner Andrew Suslak transformed the historic property, previously a gas station, into a craft brewery featuring small-batch beers inspired by Jacksonville's riverside heritage. The opening featured live music from local bands and complimentary tastings, drawing hundreds from the Riverside and Avondale neighborhoods. The brewery's launch creates 25 full-time positions, including brewers, servers and kitchen staff, aligning with Florida's April 2026 unemployment rate dropping to a record-low 2.8%, as reported by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. Suslak emphasized local hiring in a statement to attendees, noting the jobs support Duval County's economic recovery efforts post-storms. The site falls within the Riverside Brewing District, a hub revitalized from its industrial past in dairy and lumber, now home to Bold City Brewery and others, per MetroJacksonville.com historical records. This opening comes as Jacksonville residents brace for a tropical depression forming in the Gulf, threatening the West Florida coast with potential impacts to the First Coast, according to the National Weather Service's morning update. While evacuation orders target Panhandle low-lying areas, Duval County Emergency Management advises residents to prepare storm kits amid statewide activation of 500 National Guard members for spring storm response, per Gov. Ron DeSantis' office. The event underscores Riverside's evolution into an arts and brewing destination south of Interstate 10, echoing the 1993 Southbank debut of River City Brewing Company captured in WJXT-TV archives. Amid Florida's $120 billion state budget with $2 billion in property tax relief, such local businesses bolster household finances and community resilience against urban public safety concerns and weather threats.