Feature photo: The Jinx in July 2020 shortly before it closed/Eric Curl
By Eric Curl
Sept. 7, 2026 – These three businesses have been providing joy for much of my time in Savannah, which I decided to call home in 2001. One celebrated a big birthday over the weekend, another said goodbye for good. The third’s fate has yet to be determined.
The Sentient Bean
Love was on display on Saturday, when the residents came out to help the Sentient Bean and owner Kristen Russell celebrate its 25th year of serving up coffee and community on the south side of Forsyth Park. To mark the occasion, Brittany Curry (AKA InkyBrittany) created a graphic recording documenting “the Bean’s” history in numbers. The stats include more than five million cups of joe, 325 employees (50 of whom were born after the Bean opened), at least 4 million customers served, $180,000 donated in cash to local organizations, 300 spoken word/open-mic nights and 1,000 concerts. Personally, I can count one long-time customer who has found 25 years of friendship, good food, and fun times — not to mention a great place to work on his website. Here’s to 25 more.
The Jinx
Unfortunately, another Savannah institution won’t be reopening as planned. Music lovers are again lamenting the loss of The Jinx after owner Susanne Guest Warnekros announced on Sunday that plans to reopen the longtime music venue have been abandoned. Warnekros’ post came more than three years after the city approved a key permit for its planned new location, a vote applauded by the dozens of attendees at the meeting as well as many other supporters mourning the venerated venue’s closure. Warnekros attributed the failed resurrection to prolonged permitting delays, rising construction costs, health struggles, break-ins and continued rent payments that ultimately exhausted the project’s funding. The original Jinx operated on West Congress Street for about 17 years before closing in 2020. Warnekros said a reunion and celebration is being planned for March at another venue, featuring bands, memorabilia and other reminders of the club’s history.
Club One
Meanwhile, longing is in the air for another shuttered downtown venue’s return, following a delayed summer reopening. However, after an ownership shakeup, the folks now behind Club One, who have long been running the show, are making assurances the disco ball will rise once again. Last month the club announced via a social media post that it had parted ways with Pride Holdings Group and would move forward under local ownership led by Travis Coles, Trey Coles and Rick Garman. The club is now expected to reopen this fall at the former Elan venue at 301 Williamson St. Club One left its longtime Jefferson Street home after nearly four decades, largely because of rising rent and redevelopment plans, according to Coles, as previously reported. The update said the new Club One will continue to provide space for the Legendary Club One Cabaret, Savannah Cabaret, Bay Street Theatre, Bay Street Bombshells, Tied & Tasseled, Savannah Comedy Revue and other local performers and creative groups. The post emphasized maintaining Club One’s role as a gathering place for Savannah’s LGBTQ+ and performing arts communities and honoring founders Mark Fountain and Cale Hall, who established the club in 1988. Last week, the club posted another update stating that the “transformation is happening, the disco ball is getting ready to shine, and when these doors open, we’re not exactly planning on being subtle.”
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