Hopjacks on Palafox to close down after New Year's Eve party

Jake Newby | Pensacola News Journal

Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen & Taproom is closing down on New Year's Eve after 12 years of business in downtown Pensacola.

Hopjacks owner Joe Abston confirmed the closure in a press release and in a Facebook Live posted to the restaurant and bar's official page Tuesday evening.

In the 15-minute Facebook video, Abston, who also owns the Tin Cow on Palafox, stands on a chair reminiscing with guests and former employees, asking them to share stories and experiences during their patronage at the bar on 10 Palafox Place since 2008.

"I want to hear those stories that you wouldn't tell your grandmother, but you're going to sit at the bar and tell Joe," Abston said in the Tuesday night video.

Abston said in the press release that this "reunion" will run from now until New Year's Eve, when the bar will host a party and operate for the final time.

Abston did not give a reason for the closure in his video or press release. He could not be reached by the News Journal for comment on Wednesday.

Property owner James Flournoy also declined to comment on the restaurant and bar's closure when reached for comment Wednesday.

Hopjacks predated many of the bars and restaurants that now populate Palafox in downtown Pensacola. In the video, Abston joked about how he and his employees could stand on Palafox years ago and talk for 20 minutes without a single car driving by.

"I want this end of Palafox to rock like it has never been rocked before," Abston said in the video, when discussing the New Year's Eve party. "I want to feel it, I want to hug all of my friends. And at the end of the night, we say goodnight to Hopjacks. Because that'll be our last night. As of Dec. 31, Hopjacks is going to bed. And we are going to say thank you."

Jake Newby can be reached at jnewby@pnj.com or 850-435-8538.