7 Northeast Florida Restaurant Changes in October: Hooters Closes, Oak Steakhouse Seeks $400,000 and Pusser's Plans Rebrand

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Seven restaurant developments reported across Northeast Florida in October 2026 include the permanent closing of Jacksonville's last Hooters, a proposed $400,000 incentive for Oak Steakhouse downtown and plans to rename Pusser's Bar & Grille in Ponte Vedra Beach as Craig's Beach House. Other developments involve a restaurant proposed for Matanzas Inlet, a second dining establishment in Springfield, a new seafood restaurant in downtown St. Augustine and a steakhouse planned for Atlantic Beach. The projects and closings were reported by Jacksonville Today and the Jacksonville Daily Record in stories published between Oct. 1 and Oct. 28.

October restaurant changes at a glance

The seven developments include one confirmed permanent closing, a restaurant rebranding, several proposed restaurant projects and a steakhouse development with an expected opening in 2027. Some involve existing restaurant properties being converted or rebuilt, while others concern new dining establishments. The reports also document a proposed financial incentive that was under consideration for a downtown Jacksonville restaurant.

The reports cover restaurant properties in Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine and Atlantic Beach. Jacksonville Today documented the closing, rebranding and several proposed developments during October. The Jacksonville Daily Record also reported on the Matanzas Inlet restaurant proposal.

1. Jacksonville's last Hooters closes permanently

The last Hooters restaurant in Jacksonville closed permanently at San Jose Boulevard and Baymeadows Road, according to an Oct. 4 report by Jacksonville Today. A sign at the location stated, "Unfortunately we have closed permanently." The report also identified an orange Public Health and Safety notice dated Sept. 29 at the property.

The restaurant's last Instagram post was dated Sept. 24, according to Jacksonville Today. The reason for the closing was unclear in the report. Hooters had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2025, although the report did not establish a specific cause for the Jacksonville location's shutdown.

The closing ended the chain's remaining restaurant presence in Jacksonville as documented by Jacksonville Today. The publication noted that earlier Hooters locations had operated at the Jacksonville Landing and Tinseltown. The San Jose Boulevard location was identified as the last remaining Jacksonville restaurant before its permanent closure.

2. Pusser's Bar & Grille plans transition to Craig's Beach House

Pusser's Bar & Grille in Ponte Vedra Beach is being transformed into Craig's Beach House, according to an Oct. 28 Jacksonville Today report by Dan Scanlan. The restaurant is located at 816 State Road A1A in the Shoppes of Veranda, next to Ruth's Chris. Pusser's opened almost 20 years ago and is scheduled to remain open during the transition.

The new name refers to restaurateur Craig Miller, whose background includes Ruth's Chris, Uno and Brio/Bravo, according to Jacksonville Today. Miller also previously chaired the National Restaurant Association. The report identified Gary Rogalski, CEO of Pusser's Rum Ltd., as working with Miller on the transition.

Plans for Craig's Beach House include expanded food and beverage offerings and what the report described as "an enhanced sports bar experience." Audiovisual upgrades are planned to support viewing of Jacksonville Jaguars6 and college football games. Jacksonville Today reported that the transition is expected to take a few months.

The project differs from a conventional restaurant closing because the business is expected to remain open while the changes take place. The reported plans involve a new name, expanded offerings and upgrades to the viewing experience. Jacksonville Today did not establish a firm completion date in the verified details of the transition.

3. Matanzas Inlet restaurant plans return after 2016 storm damage

A restaurant property overlooking Matanzas Inlet is the subject of a renewed rebuilding proposal, according to an Oct. 28 report carried by Jacksonville Today from the Jacksonville Daily Record. The property is located at 8805 State Road A1A S. in the St. Augustine area. Its previous restaurant building was damaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and demolished in 2017.

The owners returned to St. Johns County on Oct. 23, 2026, with a new preapplication and revised site plan. The proposal calls for a 2,310-square-foot restaurant distributed across two buildings and three floors. The planned restaurant would overlook Matanzas Inlet, according to the report.

IME & Civil Engineering LLC was identified as the civil engineering firm associated with the proposal. The October filing represents another step in efforts to bring a restaurant back to the property after the previous structure was removed. The report documented the proposed layout and application activity rather than a confirmed opening date.

The development is distinct from the restaurant projects involving existing buildings elsewhere in Northeast Florida. The Matanzas Inlet proposal concerns property where the previous restaurant was razed in 2017. Its October 2026 filing outlines a new restaurant configuration for the site.

4. Oak Steakhouse seeks a $400,000 downtown Jacksonville incentive

Oak Steakhouse is the subject of a proposed $400,000 incentive through Jacksonville's Downtown Investment Authority, according to an Oct. 19 Jacksonville Today report. The proposal involves the Food and Beverage Retail Enhancement Program and is identified as DIA Resolution 2026-10-01. The Downtown Investment Authority board was expected to consider the incentive for the restaurant project.

The proposed restaurant would occupy the ground floor of The Greenleaf building at 200 N. Laura St. in downtown Jacksonville. Jacksonville Today reported that the restaurant had been announced nearly two years earlier. The proposed incentive represents a financial component of the effort to establish the restaurant at that location.

Under the reported terms, the $400,000 incentive would take the form of a forgivable, no-interest loan. The loan would amortize at 20% annually over five years, according to Jacksonville Today. Those terms were part of the proposed incentive considered under the Food and Beverage Retail Enhancement Program.

The reported development concerns a request for financial assistance rather than confirmation that the funding was awarded. Jacksonville Today's Oct. 19 report identified the proposal and its terms. The verified information does not establish a final board decision on the request.

5. The District SPR founders plan a second Springfield restaurant

The founders of The District SPR are planning another restaurant in Jacksonville's Springfield neighborhood, according to an Oct. 15 Jacksonville Today report. The existing District SPR is located at 2026 Walnut St. The proposed second establishment would be at 2030 Walnut St., placing the planned restaurant on the same street.

A city mobility-fee application describes the project as a "913-square-foot fine dining restaurant with 24 outdoor seats," according to Jacksonville Today. The proposal involves converting a one-story house into a restaurant. The property is zoned light industrial.

The filing provides details about the proposed restaurant's size and outdoor seating arrangement. It also identifies the intended reuse of an existing house rather than describing an entirely new building. Jacksonville Today's report documented the application and the founders' plans for a second establishment.

The proposed restaurant adds another project to the October list of Northeast Florida dining developments. Its reported details concern a specific property, a proposed fine dining use and a seating configuration. The application identifies 24 outdoor seats as part of the planned operation.

6. The Wharf planned for former Santa Maria building in St. Augustine

River Restaurant Group is planning a seafood-focused restaurant called The Wharf in downtown St. Augustine, according to an Oct. 6 Jacksonville Today report. The proposed location is the former Santa Maria building at 135 Avenida Menendez. The group is co-owned by Jeff McCusker and Bob Fleckenstein.

McCusker told Jacksonville Today that he hoped to open the restaurant in 2026. The report did not establish a firm opening date. The project would add another restaurant to the group's existing operations in Jacksonville and St. Augustine.

River Restaurant Group also operates River & Post11 in Jacksonville and River & Fort14 and SAINT in St. Augustine, according to Jacksonville Today. The Wharf would be a seafood-focused addition to that group of restaurants. The proposal involves the existing former Santa Maria building on Avenida Menendez.

The project was among the St. Augustine restaurant developments reported during October. Its announced concept emphasizes seafood, while its proposed location uses an established building. The verified reporting identifies the restaurant group, the property and McCusker's stated opening goal.

7. Grafton & Fleck's Steakhouse planned for Atlantic Beach

Grafton & Fleck's Steakhouse is planned for 299 Atlantic Blvd. in Atlantic Beach, according to an Oct. 1 Jacksonville Today report. The project includes a steakhouse with a rooftop lounge and represents a multimillion-dollar investment. River Restaurant Group is developing the restaurant, with an expected opening in summer 2027.

Groundbreaking took place in late September 2026, according to Jacksonville Today. The steakhouse is planned for the former location of Ragtime Tavern, which operated at the property for more than 40 years. Ragtime closed in January 2025, one month after SPB Hospitality sold the property to Kelly Cos.

The proposed steakhouse represents a new use for the former Ragtime site. Jacksonville Today's report identified both the planned rooftop lounge and the multimillion-dollar scale of the investment. The summer 2027 opening remains the reported target for the project.

The Atlantic Beach development is also connected to River Restaurant Group, which is separately planning The Wharf in St. Augustine. Both projects were reported during October, although they involve different restaurant concepts and properties. Grafton & Fleck's has a reported summer 2027 opening target, while The Wharf's October report identified an opening goal without a firm date.