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Escambia County’s plans for new welcome entrance to Pensacola Beach, and Jordan Valley Mediterranean restaurant is on the move
Downtown Pensacola staple Jordan Valley is slated to relocate from its 201 S. Jefferson St. location to 1400 Barrancas Ave. by January, owner Tamer Ghboun confirmed to the News Journal Tuesday.
Ghboun first established the popular Mediterranean restaurant in 2005 in Cordova Mall, then spent about three years on Palafox Street before moving into the Jefferson Street location that has served as the company’s home base for over a decade. He also has a food truck that serves at various events in the Pensacola area, such as Gallery Night.
Ghboun said that the move was spurred by a change of ownership of the building he leases. He said he came to an agreement with the new owner that he would be out of the restaurant, ideally, by the end of the year.
“We’re trying to do what we can do to keep the business.” he said. “Things happen for a reason.”
Ghboun plans to relocate to a building on Barrancas Avenue he purchased several years ago. The space was being leased most recently to Pineapple Express Hawaiian Grill, which relocated in July.
The building will look different though, as Ghboun is making serious renovations to prepare for the move, including adding an outdoor dining area. While some of the renovations may come in stages, he is hoping to have as much done as he can before the restaurant is slated to reopen in January.
“We have to do a lot of work,” Ghboun said. “Maybe we’ll add fans and heaters, slowly making things how they need to be.”
The core elements of the business will remain intact, including Mediterranean food, hookah and live shows.
You can still find all your favorites at the new location, including gyro platters, homemade hummus, pizzas, sandwiches, desserts and specialty drinks. Some of the menu encompasses traditional Mediterranean fare including kafta, made with grilled boneless beef and lamb, shawarmas, baba ghanoush, baklava and Turkish coffee.
While most of the menu will carry over, they may spice up the menu eventually by taking a few menu items off and adding a few ones to the mix, Ghboun said.
While the restaurant does not serve beer or wine, customers will still be able to bring their own to enjoy with their meal, according to Ghboun.
Customers can also look forward to a brand-new brunch that will be incorporated at the new location.
Ghboun said that while recent years in the restaurant industry have been challenging because of issues such as inflation, he hopes that the newly renovated location will take the restaurant into its next chapter.
For real-time updates and information, follow Jordan Valley Downtown on social media.
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