7 Jacksonville-area restaurants open, 5 permanently close in October

Hooters.

Teresa Stepzinski/Florida Times-

USA TODAY Network, Reuters

October saw the sudden closure after four decades of a Jacksonville restaurant known for its chicken wings and female servers in skimpy shorts and tight T-shirts.

After 37 years, a Jacksonville Beach seafood restaurant shut its doors “indefinitely” as its owners said they were evaluating the future of dining spot.

Opening was a unique canteen-style Chinese restaurant believed to be the first of its kind in Jacksonville.

And opening its sixth Jacksonville-area restaurant was a highly popular breakfast, brunch and lunch diner known for hearty scratch-made meals made fresh to order in Clay County.

Here’s a recap of notable Jacksonville-area restaurant news in September

Hooters

After 40 years, the first and only Hooters left in Jacksonville abruptly closed permanently after recent inspections cited dead roaches and rat droppings. Dating back to 1986, the sports bar at 8938 San Jose Blvd. overlooking Goodbys Creek in Mandarin was the oldest and last of several Hooters locations in Northeast Florida over the years. The Mandarin Hooters closure came 27 months after the area’s restaurants began closing amid a company upheaval that saw dozens of Hooters nationwide shut their doors. In June 2024, Hooters at 1740 Wells Road in Orange Park closed after a 24-year run. A year later, also in June, Hooters closed at 4521 Southside Blvd. in Tinseltown after 18 years. | Read more

Gastrosubs

Gastrosubs, an artisanal sandwich shop, opened its second restaurant at 9475 Philips Highway, Unit 1, on Jacksonville’s Southside. The new restaurant joins the original Gastrosubs at 1110 A1A N., No. 102, in Ponte Vedra Beach, which opened in January 2024. The restaurant’s name is based on the word gastronomy: “cooking, eating, preparing high-quality food or high-quality ingredients.” Gastrosubs showcases more than 50 different sandwiches and options. | Read more

Beachside Seafood Restaurant

A Jacksonville Beach landmark for 37 years, Beachside Seafood Market closed “indefinitely” at 120 Third St. S. – a decision its owners, Pearl Hospitality Group of Jacksonville, said resulted from multiple factors including rising operating costs, increased competition and slower-than-anticipated growth in new customer. Pearl said it planned to keep the restaurant’s seafood market open. Multiple social media posts reported both businesses were closed. A recorded message on the business’ shared telephone stated it couldn’t accept messages. Pearl Hospitality officials couldn’t be reached for comment. | Read more

Fat Tuesday Kitchen & Bar

After nearly 30 years since its closing at The Jacksonville Landing, Fat Tuesday returned to the city, opening Fat Tuesday Kitchen & Bar in Five Points at 1043 Park St. in the former Timoti’s Seafood Shak and Karibo Five Points spot. There, its signature frozen cocktails are served alongside a full bar and menu of crispy wings, smash burgers, seafood baskets, tacos and more. Next door, at 1045 Park St., Fat Tuesday Social Lounge is open in the former Rain Dogs spot with a more curated cocktail menu, limited-time frozen drink flavors, and smaller bite options built for a late-night crowd. The lounge features DJs, live music and themed events. | Read more

Grumpy’s Restaurant

Known for its hearty, made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch fare, Grumpy’s Restaurant opened its sixth Jacksonville-area restaurant at 1803 East-West Parkway on Fleming Island. Grumpy’s is a classic American diner that has earned national recognition as well as numerous local and regional awards for its breakfast, brunch and lunch menus and genuine hospitality. The new diner joins Grumpy’s flagship Orange Park restaurant and established franchise locations in Middleburg, Neptune Beach, Saint Johns and Wildlight in Nassau County. | Read more

K-Bop Korean Kitchen

After two years, K-Bop Korean Kitchen permanently shut its doors at 11700 San Jose Blvd. in the Mandarin South shopping center. The fast-casual restaurant was known for its fried chicken, corn dogs, rice bowls and other fare. The Mandarin location opened in August 2024 – 28 months after the original Deerwood Lake Parkway restaurant, according to social media and state food service license records. K-Bop is a locally owned and family-operated Jacksonville restaurant offering authentic Korean fare that began as a food truck and then added the brick-and-mortar restaurant on Deerwood Lake Parkway. | Read more

Chick-fil-A

Four months after a devastating fire, Chick-fil-A reopened at 7147 Philips Highway in Butler Pointe Plaza on the Southside. No injuries were reported in the June 9 predawn fire believed to have been sparked by an electrical issue. The blaze caused extensive damage to the kitchen, drive-thru and adjacent interior dining area. Repairs and alterations to the 4,969-square-foot restaurant were estimated at $1.5 million, according to a July 9 city building permit. | Read more

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe opened its fifth Jacksonville restaurant at 840 Nautica Drive, Suite 115, at River City Marketplace. The diner is known for its large breakfast menu of freshly made waffles, pancakes, French toasts and more as well as a lunch menu of paninis, sandwiches, burgers, wraps and salads. At River City Marketplace, Keke’s spans 3,500 square feet. It took over, joined and renovated two adjacent spaces vacated by Mr. Potato Spread, which closed in October 2024 after 1 1/2-years, and Mattress One, which shut its doors in late 2019. | Read more

Wokhey Wok Fired Mini Bowls

Mini bowls pack big flavors at Wokhey, a unique new fast-casual Chinese restaurant at 8221 Southside Blvd., No. 11, in the Deerwood Station shopping center at Baymeadows Road. The restaurant is a canteen-style Chinese concept that is believed to be the first of its kind in Northeast Florida. Guests design their own meals from Wokhey’s rotating menu of traditional Chinese-American, new regional dishes and dim sum. The offerings are available in 12-ounce bowls to encourage exploring new tastes, as well as larger portions intended for sharing. | Read more

Panda Express

Known for its Orange Chicken and more, Panda Express opened its newest Northeast Florida restaurant at 3337 International Golf Parkway at World Commerce Center. The free-standing restaurant featuring double drive-thru lanes is the third in St. Johns County. The Rosemead, Calif-based restaurant chain offers customer favorites including the original Orange Chicken as well as a spicy version, Broccoli Beef and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp. Other popular dishes include bowls featuring Cantonese BBQ Brisket, Mushroom Chicken, Beijing Beef, Super Greens and Grilled Teriyaki Chicken. | Read more

Wendy’s

Several Wendy’s locations across the Jacksonville area have closed this year, including some of the nation’s No. 3 burger chain’s longest-running restaurants. Among the latest is Wendy’s at 1175 Dunn Ave., a fixture on the city’s Northside since 1979. In January, the Dublin, Ohio-based chain closed its first Jacksonville restaurant at 3910 University Blvd. W., after 52 years in business. And in April, Wendy’s closed its restaurant at 1616 University Blvd. S., another longtime restaurant that opened in 1975 in the former Ranchette Restaurant spot. | Read more

Dainty Cheesecake Company

After 2 1/2 years, Dainty Cheesecake Company closed its doors at 3061 Philips Highway, No. 102, as its lease expired. Known for its small and bite-sized artisan cheesecakes, the bakery launched in June 2020 as a delivery-only catering bakery before opening the Southside bakeshop. | Read more

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: 7 Jacksonville-area restaurants open, 5 permanently close in October

Reporting by Teresa Stepzinski and Gary T. Mills, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union

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Beachside Seafood Restaurant Jay Magee/For the Times-Union USA TODAY Network, Reuters Fat Tuesday Provided by Fat Tuesday USA TODAY Network, Reuters Grumpy’s Restaurant. Bob Self/Florida Times-Union USA TODAY Network, Reuters K-Bop Korean Kitchen Teresa Stepzinski/Florida Times- USA TODAY Network, Reuters Panda Express Provided by Panda Express USA TODAY Network, Reuters