Claire Thompson
Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners, a restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida, is set to close. The restaurant, which has been open for over 80 years, will be closing its doors to make way for an apartment complex. Owners Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar cited difficulties navigating the pandemic and high utility bills as reasons for the closure, with Stuart stating that they can't continue to throw money away keeping the business going. While the original location will be closing, Stuart and Klar are considering moving to a smaller location in the area and plan to open several more restaurants.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners |
| Location | 4132 Atlantic Blvd., St. Nicholas neighborhood, Jacksonville |
| Owners | Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar |
| Year founded | 1939 |
| Reason for closure | Property sold, high utility bills, and financial challenges |
| Future plans | Considering relocation to a smaller location, identifying new sites |
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What You'll Learn
- Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners is closing due to financial challenges and high utility costs
- Owners Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar plan to relocate to a smaller, more profitable site
- Stuart and Klar own six restaurants with similar names, and plan to open more
- The original site will be demolished to make way for an apartment complex
- The restaurant has been open for 83-84 years, and was a fixture in Jacksonville since 1939
Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners is closing due to financial challenges and high utility costs
Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners, a beloved Jacksonville restaurant, is closing its doors due to financial challenges and high utility costs. The announcement of the impending closure has left many loyal customers saddened, as the restaurant has been a fixture in the community for over 80 years.
In a social media post, owner Nathan Stuart attributed the decision to the sale of the property and the inability to lease the building post-sale. Stuart also mentioned the challenges of navigating the pandemic and the burden of high utility bills, which have contributed to the financial strain on the business.
The restaurant, located at 4132 Atlantic Blvd., has been serving classic chicken dinners since 1939. For decades, it has been a go-to destination for diners seeking comfort food and a familiar setting. The closure will mark the end of an era for the community, with many customers expressing their sadness and nostalgia on social media.
Stuart and his spouse, Margo Klar, took over the restaurant in 2019, leasing the property from the previous owners. Despite their best efforts, the financial challenges and rising costs proved too much to overcome. The couple owns several other restaurants with similar names, including New Berlin Fish House & Oyster Bar and OP Fish House & Oyster Bar.
While the original Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners will be closing, Stuart and Klar are considering relocating to a smaller location in the area. They are committed to keeping the Beach Road Chicken legacy alive and are actively identifying alternative sites. As they navigate this transition, the couple plans to downsize and operate with a smaller staff to improve profitability.
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Owners Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar plan to relocate to a smaller, more profitable site
Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners, a Jacksonville diner, is set to close after 83 years. The restaurant, located at 4132 Atlantic Blvd, will be closing to make way for an apartment complex. Owners Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar plan to relocate to a smaller, more profitable site.
Stuart and Klar took over the 80-year-old Beach Road Chicken Dinners in 2019, leasing the property from owners Ken and Tena Ferger. They changed its name to Beach Road Fish House & Oyster Bar and then revised it to Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners. Stuart and Klar own six restaurants with the Fish House or related names, including New Berlin Fish House & Oyster Bar in North Jacksonville and OP Fish House & Oyster Bar in Orange Park. They also have plans for three more restaurants, including the Outback Crab Shack in St. Johns County.
In a social media post, Stuart announced the pending closure of the Beach Road location, citing the sale of the property and the inability to lease the building. He also mentioned the challenge of high utility costs, stating that they were paying more than $6,000 a month for power at the 4,400-square-foot restaurant. Stuart and Klar plan to relocate to a smaller location in the area, aiming to downsize and operate with fewer employees while maintaining the beloved chicken dinners that have made the restaurant a Jacksonville staple.
The couple bought 1.43 acres of the almost 4-acre parcel from the Fergers in October 2021, with Fish House Holdings LLC purchasing the restaurant site. Stuart acknowledged the sentimentality surrounding Beach Road, but as the owner of the property, he intends to repurpose the land to ensure profitability. The new buyers plan to start construction on the apartment complex in spring 2023, and Stuart and Klar hope to keep the Beach Road Chicken legacy alive at a new, smaller location.
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Stuart and Klar own six restaurants with similar names, and plan to open more
Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners, a restaurant in Jacksonville, Florida, is set to close. The restaurant, located at 4132 Atlantic Blvd., has been serving classic chicken dinners for more than 80 years. The property was sold, and the new owners plan to build an apartment complex, leading to the restaurant's closure.
The owners of Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners, spouses Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar, have six restaurants with similar names and plan to open more. Stuart and Klar initially leased the property before buying it in 2021. They took over the 80-year-old Beach Road Chicken Dinners in 2019, changing its name to Beach Road Fish House & Oyster Bar and later revising it to Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners.
The couple's other restaurants include New Berlin Fish House & Oyster Bar in North Jacksonville, OP Fish House & Oyster Bar in Orange Park, Creekside Dinery in St. Augustine, partial ownership with Stuart's father in Seafood Kitchen at the Beaches, and a licensed location in Tallahassee. Stuart and Klar plan to open three more restaurants: Outback Crab Shack in St. Johns County, a second unbranded one in St. Augustine, and the takeover and conversion of Blackstone Grille St. Johns County into the Julington Creek Fish House & Oyster Co.
Stuart and Klar are experienced restaurateurs with a successful track record. They plan to relocate Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners to a smaller location in the area to keep it alive. Stuart acknowledged the sentimental value of the restaurant for its patrons and expressed his commitment to finding a new site.
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The original site will be demolished to make way for an apartment complex
The Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners, a fixture at 4132 Atlantic Blvd. since 1939, will be demolished to make way for an apartment complex. The restaurant, which has been serving classic chicken dinners to Jacksonville diners for over 80 years, announced its pending closure on social media.
In a Facebook post, the owners, spouses Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar, shared that they would be unable to lease the building after the sale of the property. Stuart acknowledged that people are sentimental about Beach Road and may try to block the rezoning. However, he asserted his ownership of the property and his intention to repurpose the land to make it profitable. The high utility costs and challenges of navigating the pandemic also contributed to the decision.
Stuart and Klar took over the 80-year-old Beach Road Chicken Dinners in 2019, initially leasing the property before buying it. They changed the name to Beach Road Fish House & Oyster Bar and then to Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners to reflect the menu offerings. The original building, constructed in 1924, was not initially a restaurant, and the restaurant space was added later.
The owners expressed their commitment to their employees, assuring that the 30 employees at Beach Road would be committed to their other restaurant locations. They also shared their plans to relocate to a smaller location in the area to keep Beach Road Chicken alive. Stuart and Klar own six restaurants with the Fish House name or related names and have plans for three more restaurants in the future.
The original site of Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners will be missed by many, but the owners' practical considerations and future plans demonstrate their ongoing dedication to the hospitality industry and their commitment to providing diners with new and beloved dining experiences.
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The restaurant has been open for 83-84 years, and was a fixture in Jacksonville since 1939
The Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners, a fixture in Jacksonville since 1939, has been open for 83-84 years. The restaurant, located at 4132 Atlantic Blvd., was first known as Beach Road Chicken Dinners and later became Beach Road Fish & Chicken Dinners. The property was initially purchased by Vincent DeSalvo in 1980 from the original owner, Earl Majors, and then acquired by Tena Ferger's brother in 1998. In 2019, spouses Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar took over the restaurant, leasing it from the Fergers before eventually buying a portion of the land.
Stuart and Klar own a total of six restaurants with similar names, including New Berlin Fish House & Oyster Bar in North Jacksonville and OP Fish House & Oyster Bar in Orange Park. They also have plans to open three more restaurants, including the Outback Crab Shack in St. Johns County.
Despite the long history and popularity of Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners, the owners announced its pending closure in February 2023. The decision was attributed to the sale of the property and the challenges of navigating the pandemic, along with high utility costs. Stuart expressed his intention to relocate to a smaller location, focusing solely on chicken, and continue the legacy of the beloved restaurant.
The announcement of the closure evoked emotions among loyal customers, with many sharing their memories and sadness on social media. The restaurant's last day of operation at its original location was February 28, 2023, marking the end of an era for this longstanding Jacksonville fixture.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners, located in the St. Nicholas neighborhood, is closing down.
The owners, Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar, are facing financial challenges due to high utility bills and the difficulty of navigating the pandemic. They plan to relocate to a smaller, more profitable location.
The diner announced its pending closure on February 13, 2023, with the last day of service being February 28, 2023. The owners plan to identify a new location for relocation.
