Smokey Bones buys Regency site but has no plans to reopen the concept
Barbeque Integrated Inc., which operates as Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, bought the closed Smokey Bones Barbeque & Grill restaurant at 414 Commerce Center Drive, but doesn't plan to re-open under that name.
"The property in question was a former Smokey Bones restaurant that closed many years ago, and that we have recently purchased. We have no plans to open a new Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill there," said Tiffany Walker with Smokey Bones Marketing in Orlando.
She did not elaborate on what might be developed at the site.
Darden Restaurants Inc. of Orlando opened the restaurant in 2004. Darden sold the Smokey Bones restaurants to Orlando-based Barbeque Integrated in 2007, including one in Orange Park. The restaurants in Jacksonville and Orange Park closed in 2008.
The properties were sold in 2008 to Spirit Run LLC, which sold the Regency area restaurant to Barbeque Integrated on April 15 for $2.3 million. The 7,600-square-foot restaurant sits on 2.1 acres and carries a 2012 taxable value of $1.5 million.
Barbeque Integrated is owned by Boca Raton-based Sun Capital Partners Inc., whose restaurant holdings include Sweet Tomatoes, Boston Market, Captain D's, Fazoli's, Friendly's and Bar Louie.
Sweet Tomatoes operates in Regency at 1115 Mary Susan Drive. The 7,500-square-foot restaurant was built in 1999 and occupies less than an acre. It sits south of Regency Square Mall, while the Smokey Bones was built north of the mall.
Walker said she had no information when asked if Barbeque Integrated might open another concept at the Smokey Bones site or what it might do with the property.
Dick's Wings & Grill opens in Nocatee
American Restaurant Concepts Inc. announced Tuesday it opened one of its largest Dick's Wings & Grill sports-inspired family restaurants in Nocatee.
"Having lived in the area for many years, we've consistently had an unmet need to bring the Dick's Wings & Grill concept to the greater Nocatee area, as many families have personally requested our brand," said franchisee owner and operator Marcia Danzeisen.
Dick's Wings & Grill COO Rick Akam said the Nocatee Town Center location "will quickly become a favorite within the booming Nocatee and Ponte Vedra communities, as it delivers on our promise to grow our Dick's Wings & Grill franchise locations in 2013."
American Restaurant Concepts said in a news release it will add the location to its portfolio of U.S. franchisee locations and serve as the franchisor and consulting partner to Danzeisen.