Island Wing Co. Grill & Bar intends to spread its wingspan into St. Johns County.
The county is reviewing plans for the restaurant and surrounding retail space in The Fountains at St. Johns near the master-planned Beachwalk community. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will feature a rooftop bar, according to owner Shane Powers.
It is the chain’s fourth Northeast Florida location and first in St. Johns.
Island Wing Co. first opened in Jacksonville at 4409 Southside Blvd. in the Tinseltown area of Deerwood North, followed by a second location at 360 Bartram Market Drive.
The 7,700-square-foot Tinseltown location, which opened in early 2020, was a converted TGI Friday’s. The 10,528-square-foot Bartram site opened in June 2022.
The city is reviewing plans for an Island Wing in Tamaya Market at 12689 Beach Blvd., at northeast Beach and Kernan boulevards.
Instead of deep frying, Island Wing bakes or grills its wings, fries, burgers, and other menu items, which include tacos, quesadillas, salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, macaroni and cheese and entrees. The restaurant offers more than 50 craft beers on tap.
The Destin-based company was founded in 2012. The chain franchises its locations, which include seven in Florida, two in Alabama, and one in Virginia.
“Our mission is to deliver exceptional hospitality in a vibrant island setting while serving delicious food with a healthier twist,” the company says on its website.
The Fountains at St. Johns is a mixed-use development featuring apartments, lodging, restaurants, retail and educational space. The development at northeast County Road 210 West and Interstate 95 is on nearly 100 acres and is being developed in three phases: Fountains South, Fountains North, and Fountains East. Cross Regions Group is the developer.
President and CEO David Ergisi noted that most of the space in phase one is “spoken for,” with tenants including Culver’s, Endeavor Health Center, and Lil Voyagers Academy.
“We have 100 acres of development with more than 100,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, supported by a hospital with 2,600 employees,” Ergisi said. “Think about the synergy there.”