Firebirds Wood Fired Grill will open Nov. 1 in The Strand at Town Center, the chain announced Monday.
It will employ 100 people and Firebirds is hiring for all positions. Job seekers can apply at http://firebirdsrestaurants.com/careers/.
The restaurant, at 4826 Town Center Parkway, is the company’s first to feature Firebirds’ new restaurant design and décor, such as warm, lighter woods, charred black brick and floor-to-ceiling windows.
It will retain views of the exhibition kitchen, wood-fired grill, FireBar and lounge with a brick fireplace. Also, there will be an enclosable “multiseasonal” patio with a fireplace and retractable doors.
Firebirds worked with Charlotte-based architectural and design firm starrdesign to develop the exterior and interior look of the new restaurant.
Firebirds will open at 11 a.m. daily and close at 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Happy hour is 4-6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
The 6,355-square-foot restaurant will seat 242 customers, comprising 148 in the dining room, 18 in the bar, 46 in the lounge and 30 on the patio.
John McAnallen is general manager and Andy Seiple is executive chef.
The restaurant specializes in hand-cut aged steaks, fresh seafood, chicken and ribs prepared on the grill.
Firebirds will introduce new items such as Wood Grilled Jumbo Mayport Shrimp.
The bar includes private label Firebirds wines and specialty cocktails.
Stephen Loftis, vice president of marketing, said the company started 17 years ago in Charlotte, North Carolina and has 43 locations in 18 states.
Jacksonville will be its 44th site and the first to be introduced to the new prototype, he said.
Loftis said Firebirds will have three Florida locations by year-end – Orlando, Jacksonville and Pembroke Pines. The Orlando restaurant opened in 2014.
He said food is cooked over an open flame, which imparts the flavor of the wood. The scent experience begins in the parking lot, he said.
The scratch kitchen means all the food is made in-house.
