The Garden Club of Jacksonville, Inc. is located at 1005 Riverside Avenue-at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Post Street-overlooking the St. Johns River. It is a lovely central location that is easy to locate and affords private as well as street parking for guests. The two adjoining buildings offer a choice of space with similar advantages. As the rooms are not rented simultaneously there is privacy.
The Club Room, which is the smaller area, can accommodate 80 people seated at tables. The style is classical large living room with beautiful old hardware floors, fireplace surround and traditional impressive brass chandelier. The dignified intimacy of the space is perfect for family weddings or dinners, off-site business meetings, or bereavement receptions. This building includes a foyer, small caterer’s kitchen with a standard stove and refrigerator, and a 5’ closeable pass through for easy serving and two lavatories. It is handicapped accessible and opens to the courtyard and garden. The rental includes up to 10 8’ tables and up to 80 beige metal folding chairs. There is absolutely NO DANCING in the Club Room!
The larger building houses the Ballroom which can accommodate 350 guests seated at tables or up to 500 auditorium style. It is an airy formal space with large windows, raised alcove, mirrors, and beautiful crystal chandeliers. This spacious and elegant hall with adjacent courtyard and garden is in great demand for weddings, parties, and meetings. Reservations are accepted up to 18 months in advance (to check the calendar to see if our facilities might be available for your event, please review our event calendar.
Rental of the Ballroom includes the foyer, caterers kitchen with standard stove and refrigerator, and ample plating area for buffet service of 200. For larger groups or seated meals it is advantageous to rent the large adjacent kitchen also. The small President’s Room with private lavatory is a quiet work area or a dressing room for brides. There are two other lavatories off the foyer. The building is handicap accessible. Up to 15 rectangular tables and 150 beige metal folding chairs are included in the rental fee (chairs may be upgraded). Other tables and chairs are optional.
The standard rental period is a six-hour time frame. On Saturdays you have a choice of 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM or 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM. This does include your decorating time. You have 45 minutes after your rental period to clean, remove decorations, band or DJ to breakdown and to leave the premises. Extra hours may be added to any rental for a per hour fee.
A $500.00 security deposit and signed contract is required to hold a reservation. The security deposit is not applied toward the rental fee but is refunded after the event as long as there are no contract violations.
Rental fees are due and payable 90 days prior to the scheduled event.