Pusser’s Bar & Grille, the lakefront fixture at 816 A1A North in Ponte Vedra Beach, is undergoing renovations that will see it renamed Craig’s Beach House. The restaurant plans to remain open throughout the changeover, and the overhaul goes well beyond a new sign out front.
Craig Miller is leading the transformation in partnership with current owner Gary Rogalski, according to Jax Daily Record. The outlet reports the project is a transformation that extends well beyond a name change, with plans for a fresh coastal atmosphere, an expanded food and beverage menu, new cocktails, seasonal specials and audiovisual upgrades aimed at improving the sports-viewing experience. Miller is a former chairman of the National Restaurant Association who has also held leadership roles at Ruth’s Chris Steak House and other restaurant businesses, per the same outlet.
As WhatNow reports, the rebrand aims to refresh the restaurant’s identity while keeping its waterfront setting intact. That setting has long been part of the appeal: Pusser’s offers indoor dining and a lakefront patio, along with a bar area and private event spaces, and it’s known for happy hour, daily specials and weekend live music.
What’s Changing Behind the Scenes
WhatNow describes planned audiovisual upgrades and a sports-viewing setup as part of the broader push toward an enhanced sports bar experience described by Jax Daily Record. Per Jax Today, the plan is to keep Pusser’s open throughout the transition, which is expected to take a few months, though no firm completion date has been announced by the restaurant’s ownership.
WhatNow reports that further renovation and menu details are expected in the coming months, and that Craig’s Beach House is expected to offer a broader dining and beverage selection along with sports bar upgrades for watching games.
A Menu Rooted in Florida and Caribbean Flavors
Pusser’s current menu leans into Florida seafood and island-inspired dishes, including crab dip, jumbo lump crab cakes, grilled mahi and coconut shrimp, according to WhatNow. The bar is also known for its Painkiller, a cocktail made with Pusser’s rum, pineapple, orange and cream of coconut.
The restaurant’s own site describes the current concept in similar terms, noting that fresh seafood, coastal comfort and Caribbean-inspired flavor come together on its lakeside menu, as stated on Pusser’s official website. The same site sums up the vibe simply: great food, waterfront calm, stay awhile. For now, that waterfront calm remains available to diners even as the kitchen and bar behind it prepare for their next chapter as Craig’s Beach House.
