Our Story
Passed Down For Five Generations
Pete Jensen
Pete’s Bar was the first bar to open in Duval County after Prohibition was repealed in 1933 at the corner of First and Lemon.
However, the establishment actually precedes the founding of Neptune Beach as a city in 1931. In the 1920’s, what is now Pete’s Bar was known as Jensen’s Market.
Ever since Peter Jensen started the business it has been passed down from generation to generation.
Mr. Jensen ran the bar for several years with his son, William Jensen.
William Jensen
William married Clara Jensen and together they were responsible for much of the current design and atmosphere of the bar. Clara took over ownership of the bar after her William Jensen, died in 1979. She was a beloved face around the area, with many people calling her “Godmother.” Her employees all said that she treated everyone as if they were her own children. To her, the bar was more than just a business. It was a legacy and a family. She ran the bar until she retired at 79 years old. She died in 2001 at the age of 81, after a battle with cancer knowing that the bar was in good hands, those of their daughter – Nancy Jensen.
Nancy Jensen
Peter’s granddaughter, Nancy Jensen, owns the business now with her four children: Tom, Steve, John and Nancy Jo. Their secret to the continued success of the bar was to change nothing (though the bathrooms were recently renovated, and more vents put in to let out the cigarette smoke). Nancy Jensen once said, “I had one man walk in the door and say ‘thank God.’ And I said why are you saying that sir? He said I haven’t been at the beach for 40 years. Everything has changed but Pete’s hasn’t changed at all.”
The next generation of the family is now growing into their careers, but Nancy and her children all agree, the [grand]kids all need to go to college and have careers of their own. Once they get older, the bar will be waiting for them.
Here’s to many more happy years at Pete’s
