JACKSONVILLE - The year is 1985.

 The world has been introduced to its first mobile phone. Coca-Cola has just announced its new formula. "Back to the Future" is released in theaters and is set to become the year's highest-grossing film.

And, a little closer to home, Jacksonville Beach has become a new breeding ground for punk rockers and alternative music lovers alike. Einstein A Go-Go has opened its doors on North 1st Street and will change the lives of local youth all over the city.

The new dance club, open to all ages, was a place for a new wave of music. Emerging acts like Nirvana, The Cranberries, Living Colour and the Red Hot Chili Peppers took the stage to headline what was known as an "alternative music revolution."

It was a time that Dee Edenfield Marling, Jon Glass and Jennifer Curry Compton remember fondly. And, together, they’re reminiscing about it in their new book, "Occupancy 250: Fans, Bands and Fried Chicken- The Stories of Einstein A Go-Go."

“It was a home away from home where we could go, and it was safe,” Marling said. “We could just be ourselves and find a family.” 

The book includes exclusive interviews with musical artists and past Go-Go clubbers, along with mementos and memories, to examine the cherished venue and its impact on local rockers.

The book also features rarely seen "pre-digital era" photos of the club in action, taken by photographer Allison Durham.

As Orange Park High alumni Marling, Glass and Compton said, they graced the club almost every night in their concert tees, vintage button-ups, black eyeliner, hair dye and denim.

“There was nothing like it over in Orange Park at that time,” Glass said. “And, so, it felt worth the drive. We'd all get together and make that trip, a  45-minute trek.” 

It was owned by the Faircloth family and had a capacity of just 250 people. The club was filled with young people of all genders, races, and backgrounds who shared one thing in common–their love of music.

Marling said no alcohol was permitted, but you could smoke to your heart's desire, dress up and mingle with the musical artists. Band members could even eat some of the best-fried chicken cooked by Bill Faircloth himself.

When she first moved to Orange Park, Marling said it was a whole new world from life in California. In listening to many radio stations, such as Rock 105 and the Big Ape, she said there were very few, if any, that played alternative music.

But Einstein A Go-Go gave her so much more. 

“It was a place for me to go,” Marling said. “I was a little rebel. I ran away from home and often found myself at Einstein listening to bands.” 

They said the live bands changed the way they viewed music as a whole, as a different type of sound and experience that filled the airwaves.

“We had no idea at the time what these bands might go on to do,” Compton said. “It was so low-key where we saw them. We were enjoying ourselves, and we were kids.” 

Compton remembered a special moment with the North Carolina band, The Connells. She snapped pictures of the band with a disc camera, capturing moments she would never forget. 

“The singer saw me, and while he wasn’t singing, he took the camera from me, made us pose, me and my friends, at the front of the stage, and took our photo. We were so excited,” Compton said. “And it turned out great, and it’s in the book.” 

Glass said the club fueled his passion for live music. As a journalist, interacting with the bands gave him an outlet for his artistic side and inspiration for his next story.

“The chance to meet bands that I appreciated and loved listening to and getting their autograph and all that stuff. It was special for a young music fan like me,” Glass said.

The three clubbers said that although they all fell into their own circle of friends, hanging out with each other at the club is a memory they will never forget.

“You didn’t feel weird because weird was kind of the norm,” Compton said. “So, I got more confident and met many more people. I feel like it fostered an artistic sensibility for me.” 

What was once Einstein A Go-Go eventually became the local bar, The Shim Sham Room, which is now permanently closed. The group said they’ve heard ideas of a possible demolition. 

“We think the building will not be around for that much longer,” Glass said.

All the more reason to keep the club’s legacy alive. They hope the book continues to do that in every way possible.

“I think it’s a vital record of everything that happened,” Compton said. “We’re losing people every year. So, having these things in print, where future generations, the Einsteiners' kids, can see what it was. It’s a story that needed to be told.” 

To order a copy and learn more about the book, visit Occupancy250.com.