Brad Skwirsk purchased and remodeled the original Cheers on Wells Road in 2011, rebranding the Orange Park-based bar to Locals Pub. Now, he will seek to redesign another Clay County bar: Crackers Lounge & Package. The bar will keep the same name and atmosphere, continuing the tradition. But this time, it will offer a modern and more pleasing atmosphere.

The walling is being completed, and liquor is on display, which used to be hidden in cabinets underneath during the bar’s former ownership.

Soon, these tables and chairs will be replaced. Owner Brad Skwirsk is making an upgrade to new furniture. Just for that portion of the budget, the owner has spent $20,000.

ORANGE PARK—Crackers Lounge and Package developed a rustic charm after serving Orange Park residents cold beer, live music and rowdy fun for more than 20 years. Brad Skwirsk was handed the keys to the bar on Aug. 1, and the new owner began renovations the next day, determined to give Crackers the facelift it needs to continue being a welcoming locale in Clay County.

“It wasn’t bad, but it could be vastly improved, renovated and cleaned up,” he said. 
Initially opened for business where G’s Slow Cooked BBQ now stands, Crackers has found a home at its current location at 1241 Blanding Blvd. 
 By Aug. 3, improvements were already noticeable.

“We began by giving the place a thorough cleaning. The floors, the paint, the walls, everything,” he said. The brooding, dark paint was traded for a lighter, fresher color.  
This wasn’t Skwirsk’s first rodeo, either. His first “bar-flipping” enterprise was when he purchased Cheers in 2012. Skwirsk renovated, rebranded and turned the bar around, now known as Locals.  
Skwirsk intends to reinvigorate what makes Crackers beloved in the community.  
It will keep the same sign out front and the vintage cigarette machine by the front door. No smoking will be allowed inside, but will continue to be accommodated outside. Skwirsk wants to vitalize the so-called “hole in the wall” as an entertainment hub for the area. The goal is to keep the tradition alive with a modern touch.
As progress is being made, a large conglomerate of cars has started to fill the parking line outside the Town Center, and that number grows daily. Business throughout the shopping center is booming. Skwirsk believes that Harbor Freight, the retail hardware store next door, could bring even more customers through the doors. 
When Skwirsk makes a purchase, he does so by betting on trends in the area and with a blueprint already in his mind. For Crackers, he saw a major county roadway between two towns surrounded by neatly planned suburbs that never seemed to quit growing. Skwirsk understood the community lacked a centralized, high-quality, clean nightlife attraction.  
“We want to be the go-to spot for a relaxing evening out. After 6 p.m., there’s not much happening south of here towards Middleburg. We aim to fill that void by providing a welcoming space to enjoy cocktails, beer, watch their favorite live sports or entertainment and socialize with their friends. We’re here for someone that wants to forget their problems and come inside to relax,” he said.  
A lack of significant competition in a two-mile radius made his “gamble” a no-brainer. The ongoing renovations at Crackers encompass a complete overhaul of the interior. Workers assemble a dazzling feature wall to showcase an immense, neatly displayed, high-class liquor selection with cabinetry.  
Crackers is working tirelessly to be ready for football season. Six 75-inch flat-screen TVs will be installed by the end of this week, and 10 more will be added by next year. “ 
“I just ordered $20,000 worth of furniture,” Skwirsk said. That investment entails new booths, barstools and antique-style tables.  
A refurbished stage will rekindle a passion for live music and an age-old tradition at Crackers – open mic night. On stage,  
local bands can practice and perform unreleased music. Perhaps the next Clay County musical sensation, a modern-day Lynyrd Skynyrd, will emerge from the establishment. 
Progress is being made every day, and renovations are hoped to be wrapped up in the next six to eight months. Once customers walk inside, Skwirsk envisions an experience they’ve never seen before. “When they walk through that door, I want them to say, ‘This isn’t the same place I remember from five or 10 years ago.’ It was not bad before, but I believe there will be a ‘wow’ factor about this place. It’s going to be special,” he said.  
The previous owner wanted him to continue the tradition and Skwirsk intends to, but he also sees an opportunity for growth. “I want to continue where she left off, but I want to make it better. Locals is thriving. I (believe) I can do this one more time,” he said.