Tallahassee-based Canopy Road Cafe, which opened its first Northeast Florida restaurant in February, announced Dec. 9 it plans to open two area locations over the next two years.
The chain, which offers traditional breakfast and lunch fare, will open in the Shoppes of St. Johns Parkway in the spring. The shopping center at Johns Parkway and County Road 210 in St. Johns County is anchored by an Earth Fare grocery store.
The company said work on the 2,300-square-foot restaurant will begin in January.
Canopy Road Cafe also said it signed a lease at Saltwater Row, a mixed-use development in Neptune Beach. Saltwater Row is retail, entertainment and hotel development planned at the former Kmart site along Atlantic Boulevard.
The 2,300-square-foot restaurant will feature patio seating.
The release said construction for Saltwater Row is anticipated to start in fall 2020 and open in spring 2021.
Both restaurants will seat 70-80 customers and will create 50-60 jobs.
Brothers Nick and Zachary Presti are Canopy Road Cafe’s Northeast Florida operating partners. They opened the 56-seat restaurant in February at the Shoppes of Bayard at 12525 Philips Highway.
“Northeast Florida has welcomed the Canopy Road Cafe concept with open arms since we arrived, and we are eager to bring our unique spin on breakfast and lunch fare to the St. Johns and Neptune Beach communities,” Nick Presti said in a news release. “We immediately fell in love with the local Jacksonville community, and we are very thankful for their support to allow us the opportunity to grow.”
Dishes at Canopy Road Cafe include the churro waffle with dulce de leche sauce and blueberry cobbler pancakes. Other items include country fried steak and biscuits with gravy, waffles, French toast, egg skillets and build-your-own omelets. Lunch offerings include sandwiches, salads, wraps and half-pound steakburgers. Most entrees are between $8 and $11.
The Jacksonville Canopy Road Cafe is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. and new locations will follow the same operating schedule.
Brad Buckenheimer and David Raney opened the first Canopy Road Cafe in Tallahassee in 2007 shortly after graduating from Florida State University. The chain now has four locations in Tallahassee, one in Jacksonville and one in Tampa.
“Over our first six months in Jacksonville, we received such positive feedback that we knew we wanted to pursue multiple stores in the market,” Buckenheimer said in the news release. “The vibe from the customers is incredible and the demographics really fit the brand well.”
