Miller’s Ale House intends to take over the closed Buca di Beppo location at The Avenues mall in South Jacksonville.
The city is reviewing a permit application for “new construction” of a Miller’s Ale House at a project cost of $1.2 million.
The location is the former Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant that stands in front of The Avenues
A permit application shows that Orlando-based Miller’s Ale House Inc. wants to develop a 7,149-square-foot restaurant on 1.86 acres at 10334 Southside Blvd.
The 8,180-square-foot Buca di Beppo was built for $850,000 in 2003.
It appears to have operated for almost 15 years. Based on social media ratings, the Italian restaurant closed after Dec. 30.
Miller’s Ale House and Buca di Beppo representatives have not responded to several telephone calls or an email.
Plans indicate 241 seats, comprising 166 inside and 75 in the patio room. Interior seating includes 22 bar seats.
Cuhaci & Peterson Architects Engineers Planners of Orlando is the project architect. Plans show that Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. is the civil engineer.
It would be Miller’s Ale House’s fifth Jacksonville location. The company operates in Mandarin, Regency, the Tinseltown area of Southside and at Hodges and Beach boulevards.
Miller’s Ale House, a casual sports restaurant, operates 86 locations in 12 states, including 54 sites in Florida, according to its website.
Millersaleshouse.com reports Jack and Claire Miller opened the first Miller’s Ale House in 1988 in Jupiter, a local place with a “come as you are” environment.
Buca di Beppo operates internationally. In the United States, it has 78 restaurants in 24 states and the District of Columbia, its bucadibeppo.com website shows.
Its six Florida locations are in Maitland, Davie, Orlando, Kissimmee, Naples and Coral Springs.
It sells its meals family-style and features dining experiences such as a “Pope’s Table” that seats 12-18 people.
It says its authentic Italian cuisine is served in an “eclectic, vintage setting” with a “whimsical atmosphere.”
In 2011, Finance-Commerce.com reported the corporate office of Buca di Beppo was leaving downtown Minneapolis for the Orlando home of parent company Planet Hollywood International Inc.
Planet Hollywood bought Buca di Beppo in 2008.