Atlantic Beach residents are seeking relief from noise generated by a neighborhood night spot. Eric Shullman and his wife live in a townhome on Ahern Street directly across from The Grande, which opened last September at 42 East Coast Drive.
The couple told the City Commission that they were drawn to Atlantic Beach for the walkability of Beaches Town Center and the proximity to the oceanfront. They previously resided in downtown Washington, D.C., and later in midtown Manhattan before relocating to Florida in February 2025.
“We are no strangers to noise and activity, and we love all of it,” Shullman said. “There is a lot of concern amongst our neighbors. We were personally in support of having an upscale cocktail lounge near our home and we rallied a few additional neighbors to show up in support. I think it could be a great project.”
The project was approved for a use-by-exception allowing on-premises consumption of alcoholic beverages within 100 feet of residentially zoned property in the Central Business District (CBD). The board voted 4-1 in support of the request with Jennifer Lagner voting in opposition.
During its presentation before the Community Development Board last March, representatives from The Grande outlined plans to provide a relaxing atmosphere for customers to enjoy a quality cocktail and engage in conversation without the distraction of live music.
“In reality, especially on the weekends, the bar really operates as a nightclub. It's a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd all standing in the bar, multiple bouncers outside checking IDs, people lined up down the block and live DJs there which isn't allowed by the current zoning,” Shullman said.
The use-by-exception can be revoked if there is a valid code-related reason, according to city staff.
According to the city's staff report, Chapter 3 already regulates alcohol sales and consumption, including no alcohol sales between 2 and 7 a.m., adequate lighting during business hours, alcohol consumption limited to the building or outdoor seating area and noise regulations enforced after 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.
“We don't want to imply any misrepresentation or anything. Things evolve. The Grande has been very popular. I don't think anything was intentional, but when this went through the CBD for the variance, if people had known if it was presented that this was going to be a nightclub operating until 2 a.m. with live DJs and crowds around the block, it might not have been approved.”
Shullman was hopeful that the staff would be a good neighbor and operate within the framework of the variance. However, when he contacted the bar owners, they stated that the walls of the building were soundproofed to minimize the impact to the surrounding homes.
For nearby residents like the Shullmans, the music is audible every time the door opens and closes until 2 a.m. on the weekends when the bar closes. The couple have contacted the city's Code Enforcement Department to issue a notice for violating the noise ordinance.
Atlantic Beach police also have responded to noise complaints, which can usually quiet things down for the night. “The next night, it's back to where we started. We don't want to be unreasonable and shut the whole thing down,” Shullman said.
“Again, we love the activity and excitement of the neighborhood. We just want them to lower the volume. We hope you all can help either administratively, through legislative action or just through city staff to enforce this.”
