'It's time': Popular Jacksonville mom-and-pop seafood restaurant plans to close

A decade of serving classic fresh Southern-style seafood and fish plus innovative specials to guests who've become friends, a family-owned Jacksonville restaurant is shutting its doors permanently at the end of the month.

Sid and Linda's Seafood Market & Restaurant at 12220 Atlantic Blvd., Unit 109, in Arlington will close on May 27.

Namesake owners Sid and Linda Camacho announced the closing on Facebook, thanking customers and staff for all their support since the neighborhood restaurant opened on April 18, 2013.

The husband and wife who've been local restaurateurs for at least 16 years are retiring, Linda Camacho told the Times-Union.

"It's been a great journey for us but I think it's time for us to retire. It's getting harder for us," said Camacho, noting she is 62 and her husband is 65. And the business has changed significantly, and gotten much tougher in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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"It's getting too overwhelming, especially for the restaurant business. Food prices are skyrocketing. Everything has gone sky-high," she said, adding that she, her husband and their children have put 100% of their hearts, time and effort into the seafood market and restaurant.

She said their decision to close was extremely difficult.

"What I'm going to miss the most is our customers, our loyal customers. It's become family to us, really personal. … It's bittersweet, you know. They became our friends, part of our family over the years," Camacho said. "It's sad but it's time to retire."

Sid and Linda's became known its fried, grilled or blackened seafood and fish as well as unique side dishes such as spinach cakes. Menu favorites over the years included conch fritters plus fresh Mayport shrimp, fried oysters, crab cakes, clam strips, scallops, softshell crab, triggerfish, snapper and grouper — all made to order. Hawaiian Glazed Mahi with sweet plantains and green bean medley as well as Shrimp and grits and grilled or blackened Ginger Garlic Shrimp have been among the restaurant's specialties.

The restaurant menu and seafood market offerings evolved from the couple's years of experience in the business.

Beginning in 2007 the couple operated Safe Harbor Seafood in Mayport. Six years later in 2013, they launched their namesake seafood market and at the corner of Atlantic and Kernan boulevards.

Over the years, Sid & Linda's Seafood Market & Restaurant attracted a solid core of loyal customers, many of whom they knew by name if not by dinner preferences.

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Guests shared their memories and wished the Comachos, their family and staff well on social media following the closure announcement.

"Sid and Linda, from your time at Safe Harbour to the days of Sid and Linda’s, your restaurants and seafood market has always been our favorite! Don’t know what we’re going to do without your expertly prepared seafood. We miss you already. May God Bless and guide you throughout these days," one woman posted.

Another regular echoed those sentiments, noting Sid and Linda's was popular with locals and visitors alike.

"I’m so sorry to hear this! Y’all have been a staple in our community and a favorite among locals like us and out-of-towners like my father-in-law. We wish you all the best in your next family adventures. God bless you all!" one woman posted.

The next few weeks likely will be filled with tears and hugs as the Camachos and their children say goodbye to their customers and the neighborhood they've grown to love over the years.

"It's [almost] 17 years in the restaurant business and it's time," she said of their retirement.

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at [email protected].

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville seafood restaurant Sid and Linda's plans to close