The tuna poke bowl and other popular menu items stay, joined by the new bacon mac and cheese panini.
New Super Food & Brew owner Randal Gonzalez took over the 2-year-old Downtown restaurant June 1 and is keeping much of the menu while adding new items and services.
“We’re trying to make this something big,” said Gonzalez, 26, who has been working with the enterprise since he joined the Super Food Truck.
Super Food & Brew evolved from its genesis as a food truck, opening in May 2015 at 11 E. Forsyth St.
GMS Brands LLC, led by Ed Gonzalez, Randal’s father, applied to the city June 15 for a certificate of use showing an ownership change. GMS Brands is based in Fort Lauderdale.
Randal Gonzalez said he is the proprietor, and had been a cook since he joined Super Food. He has lived in Jacksonville about nine years, and emphasizes the Super Food & Brew team remains local.
A news release said the ownership bought the business from Dale Stoudt and that Stoudt will expand his real estate business.
Gonzalez worked on the Super Food Truck with Chef Richie Haugk and remained with the business as it opened Downtown.
He is a graduate of The Art Institute of Jacksonville’s culinary program.
The 76-seat, 2,600-square-foot restaurant will continue offering its seasonal and local menu and more than 50 craft beers.
It opens at 10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, closing at 2:30 p.m. Monday and at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Gonzalez is considering staying open later, perhaps 9 p.m.
It will remain open later for special Downtown events and shows — such as Thursday’s Ted Nugent concert at the nearby Florida Theatre — to serve dinner, dessert and brews.
Gonzalez also wants to increase its participation in special events, such as the monthly First Wednesday Art Walk, cutting beer prices from the usual $4 to $3.
Super Food & Brew will add catering and boxed meals for lunch, business meetings and after-hours events, such as birthday parties and overtime at work.
It specifically sees a market with law firms near the Duval County Courthouse.
Gonzalez said the eight-member staff, including Executive Chef James Stark, sous Chef Mark Benson, remains. Evelyn Gomez is the new front-of-house manager.
The bulk of the menu remains, as well.
“We want to feature an evolving menu of the Super Food classics we’re known for, with more specials, including things that are more seasonal and local,” he said in the news release.
Popular menu items include pulled pork panini, the Pretzelwich, the Super Food salad and fried mac and cheese balls.
While Super Food & Brew offers vegetarian specialties, it also sells a steak filet sandwich, a salmon bowl and chicken stir fry, for example.
“Right now, we have the capabilities to try new things,” Gonzalez said.
The space on the street-level corner at 11 E. Forsyth St., at Main Street, formerly was a Starbucks but had been vacant since 2008.
The 17-story building was developed in 1926 and redeveloped from offices into 126 loft apartments.
Gonzalez spent three years majoring in marketing at the University of North Florida, but said in the news release that he wanted to do something different.
As he attended the culinary program, his girlfriend, Kristen Tyrie, arranged a job for him working on the Super Food Truck. About eight months later, the release said, the restaurant opened and he remained with the business.
In February 2015, the Downtown Investment Authority approved a forgivable loan of $49,837 from its Retail Enhancement Program to property owner VCP-Lynch Building Ltd. to convert the space for Super Food & Brew.
However, the DIA said Wednesday the loan was not taken down.
Gonzalez said he’s considering expansion to Riverside and the Beaches — and he said the ownership thanks Stoudt for the opportunity “to let your dream live on.”