What’s new in Ponte Veda, Nocatee, more

In 2021, Jacksonville’s restaurant scene continues to grow, with new restaurants opening or planning to open in the coming months. Here’s a look at what’s opening or coming soon to busy St. Johns County.

Canopy Road Café

Canopy Road Café opened its new restaurant in January at 90 The Shops Blvd. at the Shoppes of St. Johns Parkway near the northwest corner of County Road 210 and St. Johns Parkway. (Pictured is the restaurant at 12525 Philips Highway in the Shoppes at Bayard, which opened in 2019.)

Ember & Iron

Jacksonville Chef Mike Cooney and his wife, Brittany, opened their much-anticipated restaurant Ember & Iron on Feb. 22 at the Shoppes of St. Johns Parkway at 60 Shops Blvd. in St. Johns. Cooney relies on the custom wood-fired grill to prepare ember-roasted entrees and side dishes. Ember & Iron is the first live fire, hearth restaurant in Northeast Florida. | Read more

More restaurant updates:What’s new or coming soon to Jacksonville’s Town Center, Southside

More restaurant updates:What’s new or coming soon to Jacksonville’s Beaches and Intracoastal neighborhoods

More restaurant updates:What’s new or coming soon to Jacksonville’s downtown, historic neighborhoods

Buc-ees

Texas-based Buc-ee’s, best known for its Beaver nuggets, expansive jerky selection and more than 100 fuel pumps opened its first Florida travel center in February at 200 World Commerce Parkway in St. Augustine. The store occupies 52,600 square feet, and offers thousands of snack, meal and drink options for travelers on the go. | Read more

Chick-fil-A 

Chick-fil-A opened a new restaurant in March at 2244 State Road 16 in St. Augustine. It’s the second St. Augustine-area Chick-fil-A.

I Noodle Restaurant

I Noodle Restaurant opened in July at 2245 County Road 210 West in St. Johns. The  restaurant is the second for the company in St. Johns County, following the opening of I Noodle in Ponte Vedra Beach in 2019.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill plans to open its first Jacksonville-area restaurant at The Shoppes of St. Johns Parkway, 60 Shops Blvd. in St. Johns. There, The Great Greek will join Al Dente’s Ristorante Italiano, Canopy Road Café, Ember & Iron, Xtreme Wings Sports Grille and 1928 Cuban Bistro. | Read more

Green Papaya

St. Johns County issued a building permit April 6 for the construction of a Green Papaya restaurant at 175 Fountains Way in St. Johns. The 4,000-square-foot restaurant project is estimated at $135,000. (Pictured is the Green Papaya at River City Marketplace.)

Island Wing Co. Grill & Bar

Island Wing Co. Grill & Bar is building a 7,315-square-foot restaurant at 360 Bartram Market Drive in St. Johns. The family-friendly sports-themed restaurant nationally known for its baked — never fried — wings, craft beers on tap, burgers and live music opened its first area restaurant in January 2020 at 4409 Southside Blvd. in Jacksonville’s Tinseltown area.

Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders

Franchise owners Josh and Sarah Miller of Jacksonville Beach announced plans to open the first Huey Magoo’s Chicken Tenders restaurant in Northeast Florida late this year. They ultimately plan to open three of the restaurants in St. Johns County. The couple said they are scouting locations in Nocatee, St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach.

Xtreme Wings Sports Grill

Xtreme Wings Sports Grille opened its third Jacksonville-area location in December at 160 Shops Blvd. at Shoppes of St. Johns Parkway at the intersection of St. Johns Parkway and County Road 210. (Pictured is the restaurant at 12220 Atlantic Blvd. in Jacksonville.)

Randeez Nutz Express

Randy Waters, also known as gourmet boiled peanut chef and entrepreneur opened Randeez Nutz Express in May at 14985 Old St. Augustine Road in the Shoppes at Durbin Crossing. In addition to a hub for specialty boiled peanuts, the store also is a full-service restaurant. |  Read more

Dreamette Ice Cream St. Johns

Brian and Kimberly Kraut, owners of Dreamette Ice Cream St. Johns, opened their soft-serve ice cream shop in June at the Shops of Bartram Walk, 119 Bartram Oaks Walk, in St Johns. The store will be the third in the Jacksonville area for Dreamette since its founding in 1948 in Murray Hill. |  Read more

Publix GreenWise Market

St. Johns County issued a building permit in May for Publix GreenWise Market at 170 Village Commons Drive in Parkway Village. The shopping center is at Florida 16 and International Golf Parkway in World Commerce Center north of St. Augustine. |  Read more

Cold Stone Creamery St. Johns

Known for its handcrafted ice cream and large selection of toppings (“mixins”), Cold Stone Creamery opened in August at 2570 Race Track Road in the Shoppes at Race Track Village in St. Johns. 

Grumpy’s Restaurant

Popular Orange Park breakfast, brunch and lunch diner, Grumpy’s Restaurant opened its third location in August at 155 Fountains Way, near Culver’s in St. Johns. The opening comes almost a year after owners Daniel and Morgan DeLeon opened their second restaurant in Clay County. | Read more

Publix

Publix opened its newest supermarket in August at the Shoppes at Beachwalk in St. Johns. The 48,387-square-foot store offers departments for grocery, dairy, frozen food, seafood, meat and fresh produce as well as a full-service bakery, deli and a pharmacy. 

Earth Fare

Earth Fare marked its grand reopening in August at 120 Shops Blvd. at Shoppes of St. Johns Parkway in St. Johns. The 24,144-square-foot supermarket anchors the shopping center off County Road 210 West in northern St. Johns County, which is classified as one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation. | Read more

Brass Tacks Coffee Co.

Brass Tacks Coffee Co. opened its third Jacksonville-area coffeehouse Oct. 11 at 119 Bartram Oaks Walk, in Fruit Cove. Its other Jacksonville store is at 4352-01 Southside Blvd. The freshly roasted coffee evolved from the company’s “flagship cafe, Spring Park Coffee” at  328 Ferris St., Green Cove Springs, according to the company website. | Read more 

Top Dawg Tavern

Top Dawg Tavern plans to open its first location in Florida in the Shoppes at Bartram Park, 13820 Old St Augustine Road in Jacksonville. Its application for a food service license is under review by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The restaurant is listed for unit 304, according to the shopping center online directory.  The menu includes chicken wings, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads, pasta and tacos. Top Dawg Tavern has two locations in Georgia and three in South Carolina, its website shows.