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Downtown Firestarter: Samuel Linn

flameThe following is part of the Downtown is on Fire “Firestarters” series, spotlighting people who light up Downtown. They are musicians, restaurant owners, entrepreneurs and Downtown enthusiasts just like you. Learn their stories and find out how you can blaze a trail by building your business in Jacksonville’s hottest neighborhood.

Samuel Linn of The Volstead
Samuel Linn

On any given night, Samuel Linn is tending the bar at The Volstead, a speakeasy-style joint that he opened with two friends. The bar exudes 1920s appeal, with period-specific materials, vintage films screened on a wall and a soundtrack of swing and jazz music filling the air. According to Samuel, every detail was designed to draw people Downtown; not just to support his business, but to benefit other businesses in the neighborhood, as well.

Word of the sultry new establishment and its menu of craft cocktails has spread like wildfire through Downtown, but Linn and his team won’t be satisfied until that fire ignites the whole city.

“Downtown should be the focal point of the city, breathing life at all times,” says Samuel. “Downtown is finally getting a push — it needs to shape the rest of the city, instead of vice versa.”

Shout-out to our friends and cohorts at Downtown is on Fire for allowing us to share this “Firestarters” series with our readers.