In 2023, some longtime favorite Jacksonville restaurants have closed. Here's a list.
In 2022, it was Clark’s Fish Camp, Ocean 60, Simply Sara’s, Sorrento Italian and more.
This year, Jacksonville’s longest-running restaurant closed after 84 years, along with others who have been serving up great food — and memories — for decades.
For some, inflation and the unwillingness to pass that cost on to their customers led to closures. For others, the lingering effects of the pandemic and labor shortages were too much to overcome. And for a lucky few, the lure of retirement trumped the daily grind of the restaurant business.
For Jacksonville diners, though, it’s been tough to say goodbye to old favorites even as new ones open all across the city.
Here’s a look at some of the notable restaurant closings of 2023.
Remember these? The biggest restaurant closings in Jacksonville in 2022
Dinner with a view: Best waterfront restaurants in Jacksonville's Beaches
For your next brunch: Eggs Benedict, mimosas and more: Best restaurants for brunch in Jacksonville
3 Palms Grille
254 Alta Mar Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach
The upscale Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant known for its menu of rack of lamb, steak, seafood and more, closed April 30 after nearly seven years in business. Owners John Nagy and his wife, Karen Belloit Thomas, said they hope to relocate and reopen the restaurant elsewhere at Jacksonville’s Beaches, but for now, the couple is focused on their new City Grill & Raw Bar in the former Wine Cellar spot on Jacksonville’s Southbank. They also own and operate popular Eleven South in Jacksonville Beach.
Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners
4132 Atlantic Blvd.
A fixture in St. Nicholas since 1939, Beach Road Chicken Dinners — rebranded as Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners in 2019 — closed at the end of February after 84 years of serving generations (and generations) of families from all over Jacksonville. Known for its generous helpings of fried chicken and Southern sides, the restaurant traced its roots to 1939, when original owner Paul Synhoff started frying home-grown chickens at the small restaurant located on what was then Jacksonville’s only road to the beaches. In the late ‘90s, two franchised locations opened, but those subsequently closed. After buying the landmark restaurant in 2019, owners Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar later sold the land to developers who plan to build an apartment complex on the site and neighboring property.
Black Sheep Restaurant
1534 Oak St.
When it opened in October 2012, Black Sheep christened a new era of dining in Jacksonville, adding one of the city’s first rooftop dining options and launching a number of restaurants with animal names, including The Blind Rabbit, The Flying Iguana and others. For Jacksonville restaurateur/chef Jonathan Insetta — who previously opened Chew in downtown and Orsay in Avondale — Black Sheep offered the opportunity to build a restaurant literally from the ground up. The modern, three-story triangular building stands out in its historic Five Points neighborhood as did the restaurant’s menu, with its farm-to-table focus described by Insetta as "American Regional with a Southern influence," featuring dishes inspired by his childhood. The restaurant closed after service on May 27.
Bojangles
4463 Deerwood Lake Parkway, 13559 Beach Blvd., 492 Blanding Blvd.
Five years after opening its fourth Northeast Florida restaurant in St. Augustine and plans to open as many as five more in the area, Bojangles is largely pulling out of the market — at least for now. The Charlotte, N.C.-based fast-food chain known for its Cajun-seasoned fried chicken and buttermilk biscuits abruptly closed three of its corporate-owned standalone restaurants Sunday, June 25, including two in Jacksonville and one in Orange Park.
Brewer's Pizza & Pinglehead Brewing
14B Blanding Blvd., Orange Park
For more than 13 years, Brewer's Pizza was more than just a pizza joint: it was also home to Pinglehead Brewing Company, launched in 2012, a year after Brewer's started brewing its own beers, one of the first breweries in Clay County. No longer "financially sustainable," the brewpub closed in November after never recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, its general manager said. Brewer's was one of at least three area microbreweries to close in 2023.
Burger King
210 E. State St., 1981 Kings Road
Two of Jacksonville's oldest Burger King locations closed in early October, ending a nearly 40-run for each. The restaurants, one located on the northern edge of downtown and the other in underserved New Town, were operated by franchisee Lee Wesley Restaurants LLC of Orlando. It was unclear whether the closings were part of Burger King's plans to shutter some 300-400 underperforming restaurants this year.
Burrito Gallery
300 Beach Blvd., No. 1, Jacksonville Beach
After serving up its Jax Mex menu of quesadillas, enchiladas, burritos and nachos at the Beaches for more than a decade, Burrito Gallery closed its Jacksonville Beach restaurant, a fixture at Beach Boulevard and Third Street for seven years. The Jacksonville-based chain continues to operate three restaurants, including its original 21 E. Adams St. location founded in 2005 and others at 90 Riverside Ave. and 5016 Gate Parkway.
Cotten's Bar-B-Que
2048 Rogero Road
When it comes to barbecue, Jacksonville has a long tradition of family-owned restaurants, including Bono’s, Woody’s and Cotten's. The latter, open for 36 years in the heart of Arlington and known for its slogan “We sell no swine before it’s time,” closed its doors at the end of February, after owners Fred Jr. and Yvonne Cotten (ages 80 and 77, respectively) announced their plans to retire. "It's very hard to leave something that you've devoted your life to for so many years," Yvonne Cotten said. "I'm very happy to be retiring. I'm not a crybaby but I'm telling you it's ridiculous how emotional the [upcoming] separation is for me."
The Loop Pizza Grill
550 Wells Road, Orange Park
For 33 years, The Loop outlasted many restaurants that opened and closed along Wells Road, where many national chains entered the Jacksonville market during the mid-1990s before passing the area’s suburban dining mecca mantle to Tinseltown and later, the Town Center. That changed on Feb. 15, when The Loop closed, marking the third location of the Jacksonville-based fast-casual chain known for its signature burgers, pizzas and milkshakes, to close in as many years, including Neptune Beach (after 30 years) in July 2021 and Town Center (after 10 years) in November 2022. The restaurant, however, has plans to open a new location at World Golf Village and also is exploring potential sites in Sawgrass, Oakleaf and in North Jacksonville.
The Mini Bar
1300 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach
Three months after closing its Fleming Island location, the donut shop known for its made-to-order mini donuts closed its Jacksonville Beach location in late February where it debuted the concept five years ago. The Mini Bar helped launch the mini donut craze in Jacksonville, offering guests mini donuts in 18 varieties, ranging from Maple Bacon to Lemon Poppy to Fruity Pebbles, Cosmic Brownie, Espresso Buttercream and more. For now, owners Brooke and Chase Sams say they will focus on their more centrally located Gate Parkway-area store, at 10618 Deerwood Park Blvd.
Piccadilly Cafeteria
3612 University Blvd. S.
For more than a half-century, Piccadilly Cafeteria served up fried chicken, carrot souffle, mac & cheese and other Southern comfort food and classic desserts in Jacksonville. That run came to an end in September, when Piccadilly closed its last area restaurant on the city's Southside, marking the end of an era for the chain, following in the footsteps of Morrison's, S&S and other once-popular cafeteria chains. Previous Piccadillys closed at 5950 Ramona Blvd. (2013) and outside Regency Square Mall (2011).
It oulasted Morrison's Cafeterias, S&S Cafeterias and others.
The Pita Pit
500 Third St. N., Jacksonville Beach
Due to “circumstances beyond our control,” the restaurant, which also served as a popular late-night gathering place for the Beaches crowd, closed Jan. 15 after more than 11 years in business. Franchisee Christy Whitkop brought the Pita Pit concept to Northeast Florida in 2011, taking over the former Lubi’s sandwich shop, offering a more healthy alternative to typical late-night fast-food fare with Pita Pit’s signature breakfast, veggie and other pitas. “It breaks our hearts to have to close our doors,” the restaurant posted, in part, in a social media post.
Preserved
102 Bridge St., St. Augustine
After seven years, Preserved, a St. Augustine fine-dining restaurant that built a reputation for an inspired farm-to-table menu focusing on "authentic Southern cuisine with a French flair," closed permanently. The restaurant, at 102 Bridge St. in the two-story Jefferson House with its broad, wrap-around porch in the historic Lincolnville neighborhood of downtown St. Augustine, shuttered its doors June 17.
Sid and Linda's Seafood Market & Restaurant
12220 Atlantic Blvd., Unit 109
After operating Safe Harbor Seafood in Mayport, Sid and Linda Camacho set out to open their own restaurant in 2013 at the corner of Atlantic and Kernan boulevards. After a decade of serving classic fresh Southern-style seafood and fish as well as conch fritters, Mayport shrimp and more, the couple announced that they would close the restaurant at the end of May. "It's been a great journey for us, but I think it's time for us to retire. It's getting harder for us," Linda Camacho said, noting the couple are both in their 60s. During their run, they attracted a loyal following, many of whom were “our friends, part of our family over the years,” she said.
Vagabond Coffee Co.
934 Edgewood Ave. S.
A decade ago, a mobile coffee shop operating out of a1963 Scotty Highlander camper made a name for itself, not just for its coffee but its motto: "Community. People. Coffee." That led owners Will Morgan and his wife, Samantha, to open a brick-and-mortar cafe and separate roastery in the city's trending Murray Hill neighborhood in 2015. Nine years later, the Morgans closed the cafe, but have plans to continue the roastery and to expand their Vagabond Flea concept.
Wonderbird
528 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach
Restaurateurs Ted Stein and JC Demetree hatched the idea for Wonderbird following the success of the chicken sandwich featuring all-natural chicken breast at The Local, their popular restaurant concept with locations in Miramar and Neptune Beach. Wonderbird debuted in February 2021 with its menu of natural farm-raised, steroid-free, and hormone-free chicken options and signature Wonderbird chicken sandwich and its spicy sibling, the Firebird. Two years later, though, the pair closed the restaurant, but aren’t giving up on the Wonderbird concept. (Stay tuned.)
World of Beer
5106 J. Turner Butler Blvd.
Open about a year, World of Beer & Kitchen closed abruptly in May at 5106 J. Turner Butler Blvd. in the Southpoint area of Jacksonville. Franchisee Seth Githens said, "While this franchise location has experienced great success since its opening, the franchise ownership has experienced organizational challenges that were insurmountable for continued operations." A second location featuring a rooftop patio planned for 1198 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach never opened.
Teresa Stepzinski of the Times-Union contributed to this report.
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville restaurants: A list of closings in 2023
