The Two Spot

The African American neighborhood centered on West 45^th St. and Moncrief Road in Jacksonville was an enclave of segregation on the outskirts of the city established in the late nineteenth century. The Two Spot, pictured here in the 1940s, hosted numerous jazz bands and social events. Home to a large dance floor, bar, soda fountain, racetrack, cabins, and other amenities, the Two Spot provided the residents of the 45^th & Moncrief neighborhood with a unique social space ideal for entertainment and community-building. A series of photographs in the Florida Archives offer a remarkable look inside this sprawling 1940s entertainment complex.

The Two Spot nightclub in Jacksonville’s 45^th & Moncrief neighborhood was home to a large dance hall, tables for small and large groups on two levels, and a luxurious soda fountain. Visitors to the club could also rent a cabin on the grounds or watch a race on the Two Spot’s speedway. A complete bar served customers on the other side of the spacious dance floor.

This well-appointed bar in the Two Spot nightclub served dancers, musicians, and partygoers at social events in Jacksonville’s 45^th & Moncrief neighborhood. The exceptionally large Two Spot Club was an ideal performance and gathering space for this neighborhood situated on the growing city’s Northside. Visitors could also enjoy a soda from a fountain on the other side of the dance floor or take a seat at a table in the club’s two-story main dance hall.

The Two Spot was one of the largest and most unique stops on the Circuit. This aerial view from the 1940s or 1950s depicts the entertainment complex’s spacious dance hall, annex, cabins, and racetrack. Spaces like this offered numerous opportunities for entertainment, social events, and private gatherings. The Two Spot was also a tourist destination. This postcard was mailed from Houston, Texas in 1958.