Among the specials offered at the Bella Union are… the hours. The doors stay open throughout the afternoon, allowing delayed diners to grab a bite after the lunchtime rush. On Sunday mornings, an early opening translates to a hearty brunch following church services. In the evening, the Saloon area offers food after the dining rooms have darkened, drawing late-night locals and post-Britt patrons.

It’s been this way since 1988, when Jerry Hayes purchased a then-shuttered business. Hayes transformed the Bella into an indispensible part of Jacksonville life by introducing signature homemade delights, such as pasta, pizza, fresh seafood, Caesar salad, certified Angus beef, and mud pie. And don’t forget the lively music in the Saloon.

“All of the things that we’re known for, we’ve had since the get-go,” says Christian Hamilton, who began in 1988 as a fifteen-year-old bus boy—the same year that Tom Bates started as a line cook. Somehow, they never left.

“Thirty years,” Bates marvels. “The time went by really fast.” One behind-the-scene change did come in 2016: Bates and Hamilton purchased the business from Hayes. Today the two operate as partners, with Hamilton running the front, and Bates as head chef, in charge of the kitchen. They still haven’t made many changes, although Hamilton observes, “the patio area used to be smaller.”

Expanding the patio, which is covered by a sprawling, 100-year old Wisteria, became necessary because of “Oysters and Ale.” “When we started doing oysters in 1998, Tom would bring in his little grill from home. Once a week he’d barbeque a couple dozen oysters,” explains Hamilton. “Now, twenty years later, we do a hundred dozen every Thursday night during the winter. The patio is always packed, even if it’s thirty degrees and snowing.”

The menu, too, has remained consistent over the years, with pizza and pasta at the forefront—along with a ‘fresh specials’ sheet. “We still make everything from scratch,” Bates notes, “including our breads, sauces, daily soups, and desserts.”

Locals and visitors to town keep returning, so clearly the proprietors have been doing something right, including the tradition of hosting weekend entertainment. “We’ve had live music every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night without fail for thirty years,” Hamilton says. “I think that’s something to be proud of—providing a stage for local musicians for all that time.”

Scheduled special events, like “Jimmy Buffett Night,” held yearly the week before the Super Bowl, also attract crowds. “We do it in January when people are craving beach warmth,” Hamilton says with a smile. “There are a lot of Parrotheads out there.”

And Bella Union fans, too.

BELLA UNION
170 West California Street • 541-899-1770
Dining Monday-Saturday 11:30am-10:00pm
Sunday 10:00am-9:00pm
Bar open till midnight