Kitchen on San Marco could open early 2014
Education Corporation of America, which owns Virginia College, is opening fully staffed teaching restaurants in the Southeast and plans its Jacksonville location in San Marco at a former pizza-burger location.
Ron Patak, Education Corporation of America vice president of student retail operations, said the Kitchen on San Marco could open in early January at 1402 San Marco Blvd., at the corner of Children's Way. A sign still hangs there for the former tenant, Papa Giorgio's.
Students at Culinard, The Culinary Institute of Virginia College, will train at the Kitchen on San Marco, which will feature local and regional foods and employ a professional staff of about 40 people.
The restaurant will serve as a teaching establishment where a staff of professional chefs provides a learning lab environment for culinary and pastry arts students from Culinard.
Virginia College operates at 5940 Beach Blvd., at the intersection with University Boulevard.
Patak, a Jacksonville resident, said students will train at the Kitchen on San Marco during their 36-week course.
Plans under City review show Education Corporation of America expects a $600,000 renovation of the 4,533-square-feet of space that will feature dining, private dining and booths as well as a bar.
Patak said the dining areas should seat 125-130 patrons and the bar will add another 15 seats.
He expects it will operate for lunch and dinner as well as Sunday brunch.
Patak said Culinard runs Kitchen on George in Mobile, Ala., and intends to open in Richmond by the end of September and in Chattanooga in October or November.
Kitchen on George opened in 2011 in the historic area of Mobile. Its menu can be found on kitchenongeorge.com and features regional foods such as Alabama jerk flounder, seared duck breast, roasted grilled shrimp and butter corn "city" grits, Alabama goat cheese salad and more.
The website talks about a "seasonally inspired menu in a casually sophisticated ambiance." It also offers a diverse wine list and a full bar.
Patak said the Jacksonville restaurant will include influences of coastal foods, especially Mayport seafood and area fisheries.
Patak said Birmingham, Ala.-based Education Corporation of America would lease the building and is working on the lease agreement.
Sid & Linda's expanding
Sid & Linda's Seafood Market & Restaurant is expanding after four months in business in Southside.
Sid & Linda's opened in April at the BJ's Wholesale Club shopping center at Kernan and Atlantic boulevards. It is adding about 600 square feet of dining space to the 1,800 square feet it has been leasing for its market and restaurant.
Diversified Design Construction Inc. is the contractor for the expansion into adjacent space at a project cost of $31,880. Sid & Linda's operates at 12220 Atlantic Blvd., No. 109.
Sid and Linda Camacho built up a following while previously leasing the restaurant within the waterfront Safe Harbor market in Mayport for seven years. They left about the end of the year.
The Safe Harbor market remained open and Safe Harbor Restaurant recently was re-opened by Christopher and Deanna Wooten.
Sid & Linda's new location initially was designed to seat about 40 people among 12 tables, taking up half the space, while the seafood market took up the remainder.