Castaways
By: Jessica Lee

Built on a classic bromance story, a local antique store expanded half of its space into a record shop that shares classic vinyl records with the Jacksonville community  

Castaways Vintage to Modern, once known primarily for its eclectic mix of antiques and vintage goods, has expanded its inventory to include a thriving record shop that occupies nearly half of the store. The business offers a wide range of items: vinyl records, art, furniture, crafts, gifts and a vintage boutique, while also providing booth rentals for local vendors to showcase rare and unique finds. 

The owner, Jason Roth, took on the business by happenstance one day in 2025. He was driving by Castaways when he noticed a storewide clearance sign out front and stopped in because he was worried one of his favorite places might be closing. Inside, he learned that the previous owner planned to retire and shut down the business.  

Since he took on the business, he revitalized the space by introducing new concepts while preserving its original charm. A key addition has been the record section, curated by David Luckin, a longtime music enthusiast with decades of experience in the vinyl industry. 

Luckin manages the record section with his expertise dating back 50 years to his first job buying and selling records for a local record shop in downtown Rochester. 

“50 years later, here I am doing the exact same thing…even selling some of the exact same records”—Luckin said.

David splits his time at Castaways with his job at WJCT News, where he hosts a weekly radio show that airs Saturdays at 9 p.m. On the show, he introduces a mix of downtempo, jazz, lo-fi, and much more.  

Together, David and Jason have worked to expand the record section to transform it for both collectors and casual listeners. With plans to expand into a café, Jason sees a bright future that welcomes community, storytelling, and good vibes. 

How To Go Green in Jacksonville
By: Alyssa Bice

Jacksonville is a community centered around the coastline. Beaches Go Green is a non-profit working to connect the community through raising environmental awareness and preservation by protecting our shores. When the organization first began, it primarily focused on plastic pollution, but the message wasn’t getting enough reach.   

“We decided to share why it’s so important,” said Morgan Eaton, Programs Director of Beaches Go Green.

“Personal health and planetary health are so connected. All these environmental toxins that we come in contact with every day are making such a huge impact on our bodies as well as the planet,”—Eaton said.   

The nonprofit organization often hosts panel discussions in partnership with other environmental organizations to raise awareness of ongoing environmental challenges and volunteer opportunities.   

“Our number one goal is to share awareness,” said Eaton. “Sharing our social media posts, by visiting our website, using the handouts or guides we offer, and coming to any of our free local events, is a great way to participate.” 

Beaches Go Green’s main focus is hosting community events to spread awareness and support the cleanup and preservation of wildlife and local biomes.  

“We are already seeing the long-term effects, with all of the plastic in the oceans and the microplastics that are taking over our lives and that are in everything,” said Shelby Berendt, Director of Community Outreach of Beaches Go Green. “If people aren’t aware of these things, they don’t know to reduce their use, [and] things will continue to get worse. Education is the most important thing in awareness, so people can make changes and protect themselves.” 

Grace Salon
By: Lorelys Rea

Grace Salon by Anais, is a salon in the Southside area of Jacksonville that offers more than your typical hair salon. They have an in-house café where clients can enjoy a cup of coffee while getting ready. This salon is designed to make self-care more comfortable and convenient.  

The salon has a variety of services, including hair coloring, hair extensions, braiding, nails, skincare, makeup, and head spa services. The salon was created to bring clients a different experience where they can relax and enjoy themselves.  

The Puerto Rican owner, Anais Serrano, said that building Grace Salon required a lot of determination to turn her dream into a reality. Anais has trained with several international professionals such as Mounir in Dubai, Gabriel Samra, Lisa Hernandez and Everton Miller, to learn more about her craft. She specializes in hair coloring and balayage. 

“The idea came to life, definitely working hard, being consistent with what I wanted, working hard every single day, focusing on what I wanted,” she said. “I’ve been working without stopping, and I think that’s how it came to life.”  

Coffee and Grace is their in-house café that offers specialty drinks such as matcha lattes, cortados, cappuccinos, chai beverages, and iced coffee. It also serves small bites, like croissants, allowing clients to stay and enjoy a drink and snacks during their visit without having to leave the salon.  

Eunice Serrano, a hairstylist, says that the environment at Grace Salon creates a positive experience for clients and for the staff working there.  

“Definitely a place where you can come, make other people feel happy, like transform their hair, and we are also a full salon, where clients not only come to get hair done, they can do nails and get some coffee,”—Serrano said.

Coffee and Grace provides a space where people can meet with their friends, work remotely, or simply relax during or after beauty services. By having multiple experiences in one location, Grace Salon makes self-care feel more enjoyable for the Jacksonville community. Anais wants to continue creating a space where clients can feel welcome and confident during their visit.  

Grace Salon by Anais is located at 3546 Saint John’s Bluff Rd. South unit 104. For more information, you can visit their Instagram page @gracesalonbyanaisoffical.