Do you remember Downtown Jacksonville in 1969?

I know I don’t. I wasn’t even born yet. But I did meet someone who does know a lot about downtown Jacksonville. He told me he wanted to tell me all about it another day, but his shop was just closing, and he had to rush out to pick up a kid from school. So out the door, we went.

About 10 minutes earlier, I was sitting at the bar finishing a bowl of homemade soup and the most incredible potato salad I’ve ever had in my life. This potato salad instantly made me think of the most wholesome picnic ever imaginable. My vision was a company picnic hosted at Cypress Gardens back in the mid-’90s. You know the picnics where burnt hamburgers are served, and every employee is asked to bring their family to the company picnic? It was that type of setting. To me, that just screams Americana. I imagined swarms of people trying to sit down with their unruly family members while balancing solo cups full of Pepsi. That is where this potato salad brought me.

The potato salad texture is fluffy and creamy at the same time. The flavor is slightly on the sweet side, but the savory components hum in the background, which acts as an anchor and provides balance. But most interestingly, the biggest thing that separates this potato salad from all other potato salads; is its lack of sourness. Most processed potato salads have a robust, tangy flavor that manifests as a sour taste in your mouth. You will get none of that with this one.

As I scrapped my to-go cup for the last bite of potato salad, I saw an older gentleman walk out from the store’s back door. I thought there was a good chance he was the owner. This was my second time here, and I was here because I need a quick lunch, but I had a few questions about the cafe.

“Excuse me, sir, are you the owner?” I asked him. “Yes, I am,” he replied. I immediately tell him that his potato salad is the best I’ve ever had. I also say to him that I want to post about his restaurant on my Instagram page and website, but I just needed a few questions answered.

He is flattered and sits down so I can ask him the questions. Larry Hazouri, the owner, answers all my questions. Then he walks to the kitchen to grab a sample of homemade chicken salad to try (it was fresh and delicious, just as I expected) and then gifts me a giant chocolate chip cookie for me to take for the road. Then we keep talking about his shop.

Desert Rider was initially located on Laura Street when it first opened in 1969. Then in 1978, the location moved to where it is today, on Hogan Street. Since then, Desert Rider has been serving breakfast and lunch to the downtown community. Larry has been the sole owner, and the menu has only slightly changed, but they’ve always served homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches.

What makes Desert Rider impressive is that everything is made fresh and in-house. The soups are made fresh daily and made from scratch. Even the salad dressings are made in-house. Which makes a massive difference to me. Of course, we already know their potato salad is next level, which of course is made in-house, along with the chicken and egg salad. But they don’t stop there; they make several batches of fresh cookies too. All homemade, of course.

Day in and day out, these items are made fresh daily for the people of Jacksonville. Not only is the food good, but the atmosphere is fantastic as well. The first time I walked by the place, I was drawn to the decor. It was something you would see in a 70’s action film. The wood paneling and bright orange seating all have been preserved impeccably well, and it feels like you stepped back into a simpler era, one possibly without wifi and smartphones.

As I walked to the door with Larry, the cash register clerk turned off the lights; she was ready to leave as well. Standing in the threshold of the door, Larry gave me his phone number so we could talk more about downtown on another day. I have no doubt that Larry will have many fascinating things to say about this city’s downtown history and current direction.

Because if anyone knows a thing or two about Jacksonville in 1969, it would be Larry.

As always, thanks for taking a minute to read our content. – Esther Rimert

Comments are always welcome! 🙂