Ortega resident Tony Potochick is technically a Texas native. He spent a few short years in the Lone Star State as a young boy before moving to sunny Florida with his family, settling in the Orange Park area outside of Jacksonville. The Orange Park High graduate ultimately moved to Riverside, where he and his wife, Jenna, enjoyed the easygoing lifestyle that comes with living in a condo. Still, eventually, two became three, and when their son Henry was born, they opted for a house in Ortega with a yard and plenty of room for their growing boy.
Family time is a top priority for Tony, and he and his young son love being outdoors: The pair visit the Artist Walk Skate Park in Riverside so Henry can get his scooter time in while watching the skateboarders.
Aside from the skate park, Tony said they also visit the newer parks downtown, including the pirate-themed playground at the St. Johns River Park near the Friendship Fountain on the Southbank. And they enjoy having family time at the Riverfront Plaza, the new sprawling waterfront park that replaced the former Landing entertainment hub.
“We do a lot of parks,” Tony said.
The Potochicks do venture out to the beaches occasionally, and other times, Tony will take Henry out on a boat ride to teach him the art of fishing.
“We like being on the water,” he said.
Before becoming a father, Tony spent time playing bass in a cover band, drawing inspiration from 1980s and 1990s rock ‘n’ roll and listening to classic groups like Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Black Crowes, and Gov’t Mule.
He helped hold down the rhythm for his bandmates with his Sterling bass by Music Man, a renowned American manufacturer specializing in premium bass and electric guitars. And when it came to band practice, the 5 Points Eye Associates optometrist didn’t have far to go: He held it in the very same building where he sees patients today.
“We have a band room in the basement. So we’d actually just get together and practice once a week, and every once in a while we’d play out,” Tony said, recalling a time the group played a show at The Landing before it was overhauled.
He looks back on his gigging days fondly. But these days, his priorities are a bit different.
“A lot of my free time is spent with my son now,” he said.
Helping those in need is another priority for the Potochick family. Recently, Tony organized a shoe drive in partnership with the Rotary Club of San Marco, benefiting Soles4Souls, a nonprofit that distributes donated items to various programs worldwide. The donations from his shoe drive were sent to Africa, where the refurbished shoes are available for local merchants to sell and trade, helping small businesses and empowering communities.
“We collected over 1,000 pairs of shoes,” Tony said.
Still a dedicated music buff, the Ortega resident also supports the historic live music venue, The Florida Theatre. Over the years, he’s also supported the St. Johns Riverkeeper, sharing that the organization’s Oyster Roast, a longtime annual fundraising event, is one of the area’s special events of the year.
Tony said he enjoys the Five Points “neighborhood vibe,” and he likes visiting restaurants and eateries in the area and its surrounding communities. His favorite spot, Hovan Gourmet Mediterranean, is a longtime staple serving fresh, tasty meals. The deli-style establishment off Park Street serves falafel, kabobs, and sandwich wraps.
“Hovan is one of my go-to places all the time,” he said.
For the Potochick family, whether enjoying a day on the water or sampling a culinary favorite, the Five Points area and its close-by communities offer an ideal balance of ease and excitement.
