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Pearl Hospitality's Japanese listening bar Koto approved for build-out

September 25, 2025

The effort to bring a Japanese-style entertainment concept to the former site of 927 Events downtown is moving toward construction.

A $400,000 building permit was issued on Thursday to convert the first and second floors of 927 West Forsyth St. into a listening bar called Koto.

It is a concept that will allow patrons to listen to music from vinyl records in the second floor space, while the first floor space will be more of an izakaya, or a casual pub experience, with small bites and beverage options.

The concept is the brainchild of Jacksonville-based Pearl Hospitality Group.

The group, made up of local restauranteurs Raymond De Pauda, Jeremiah Carolino, Francis Varias, John Panghulan, Nathan Ferrer and Justin Raulerson, recently took over Izakaya Ko and the former Beachside Seafood, both in Jacksonville Beach, and are behind Norikawa, an upscale eatery at One Riverside. Pearl Hospitality Group also owns and operates Norikase and Soupa Noodle Bar.

In July, Paul Sifton, the owner of the building, confirmed to the Business Journal that negotiations were ongoing.

The permit, granted to JVI Construction Group LLC, covers the conversion of use for the approximately 10,460-square-foot space.

In August, the Downtown Investment Authority approved providing Pearl Hospitality Group with $156,000 in grant funding toward its total of approximately $692,114 in build-out costs.


By Leah Foreman, Reporter
Jax Business Journal
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