FEBRUARY 20 TO FEBRUARY 26, 2025 | JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
BUSINESS & LEGAL NEWS IN BAKER, CLAY, DUVAL, NASSAU AND ST. JOHNS COUNTIES
WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE CULHANE SISTERS
INSIDE
DEVELOPMENT
Nocatee Fleet Landing work climbs to $134 million PAGE 10
RESTAURANTS
Family says they won’t be pushed away by Starbucks PAGE 8
Photo by Dan Macdonald
Culhane’s Irish Pub owners Mary Jane Culhane Crowley, Áine Culhane McClung, Michelle Culhane-Kearney and Lynda Culhane-Merritt will mark 20 years in business at their Atlantic Beach restaurant.
As the four siblings and business partners celebrate 20 years of their restaurant, they are growing a brand that includes a second pub, a wine and a vodka.
BY DAN MACDONALD STAFF WRITER
N
early 20 years ago they built an Irish pub. Today they are building a brand. The Culhane sisters have two pubs, a wine and a vodka brand. There is more to come. The original pub opened in 2005 at 967 Atlantic Blvd. in Atlantic Beach. The second opened six years ago at 9720 Deer Lake Court in Tinseltown. Lynda Culhane-Merritt, Michelle Culhane-Kearney, Mary Jane Culhane Crowley
and Áine Culhane McClung are from Bale County in Keary, Ireland. They had a rural upbringing. There was no television. They worked the farm and entertained themselves. There are six Culhane siblings in all, including a brother, Patrick, and the youngest sister, Sarah. In 1993, Michelle immigrated to St. Paul, Minnesota, where she had lined up a job. Leaving was easy. At that time job prospects were bleak in Ireland. “I mean, there was really nothing hap-
AWARDS
Overall Small Business Leader of the Year Calonda Henry, owner of Broad Horizons Speech Therapy, is the JAX Chamber 2025 winner. PAGE 3
SEE SISTERS, PAGE 6
THE MATHIS REPORT
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Only 50/yr. $
Regularly $75
VISIT JAXDAILYRECORD.COM/SUBSCRIBE Questions: subscriptions@jaxdailyrecord.com
INTRODUCTORY OFFER
THE BASCH REPORT
FIS stock punished after fourth-quarter earnings miss The Jacksonville-based financial technology company said revenue grew 3% to $2.6 billion but that was 1.3% below the consensus forecast of analysts. PAGE 16
Building could pass 1.2M mark Developer Becknell Industrial is setting the stage to prepare property at Westlake Industrial Park for construction of 1.2 million square feet of industrial space. PAGE 4
VOLUME 112, NO. 15 | TWO SECTIONS | PUBLISHED SINCE 1912