Epik Burger building out
The City approved a permit for Atlantic Coast Sales & Service LLC to build-out Epik Burger in Landmark Station at 12740 Atlantic Blvd., No. 105, at a project cost of $25,000.
Plans for the 1,260-square-foot project show 38 seats, including 12 seats at a large inside picnic table. Korey and Lovice Konopasek are the owners.
As reported earlier this month, Konopasek said he plans to open in mid-March near the Tokyo Japanese Restaurant at the retail center, which is at Atlantic Boulevard and Girvin Road. He said Epik Burger will be a fast-casual restaurant, meaning food is ordered at the counter and delivered to the table.
The epikburger.com website shows a menu that includes grass-fed beef burgers, chicken burgers, ahi tuna burgers and homemade veggie burgers on gluten-free, whole wheat and brioche buns, along with sides and desserts.
The beef burger menu includes at least 18 varieties, including Rueben, Tex-Mex, Greek, Korean, Vietnamese and Deep South burgers.
"We will provide high quality and innovative burgers utilizing the best ingredients available with a variety of healthy eating options," the site says.
According to the site, Korey Konopasek was raised in Jacksonville and attended New England Culinary Institute, where he earned a culinary arts degree as well as a food and beverage management degree. After completing culinary school he moved to Las Vegas for more experience in the food and beverage industry, meeting Lovice, who was working at the Las Vegas Hilton.
The site says Lovice Konopasek had lived half her life in Las Vegas after moving there from the Philippines. The couple married and relocated to Jacksonville.
Korey Konopasek remains director of operations for Dining Services at the University of North Florida and Lovice Konopasek will run the restaurant, he said. He will be there part time.
Another Jimmy John's, this one in Southside
The City is reviewing plans for what appears to be at least the 10th area Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches restaurant.
A Jimmy John's is planned at 5960 Beach Blvd., at Beach and University boulevards, at a project build-out cost of $150,000 for a 1,455-square-foot restaurant.
The franchise owner is Atlantic Subs III LLC of St. Simons Island, Ga. Jimmy John's is based in Champaign, Ill.
The jimmyjohns.com website shows at least nine area restaurants, including one in Atlantic Beach and one in Orange Park.
The Arlington Waffle House
Waffle House Inc. plans a 38-seat Waffle House at 7652 Merrill Road at a project cost of $210,000 for the 1,635-square-foot restaurant.
It appears to be at least the 10th area Waffle House. The wafflehouse.com website shows six Jacksonville restaurants along with those in Jacksonville Beach, St. Augustine and Orange Park.
Newk's OK'd for River City Marketplace
As the Daily Record reported Feb. 12, Newk's Eatery will open in the Parkway Shops at River City Marketplace. Construction was approved for the 207-seat restaurant, at 14964 Max Leggett Parkway, No. 404, at a project cost of $450,000. Dakenna Development Inc. is the contractor.
The new North Jacksonville Newk's Eatery will be the second in the area. The first Jacksonville Newk's restaurant opened in Southside at 9047-1 Southside Blvd.
Plans filed with the City show interior build-out for the Parkway Shops restaurant in 4,234 square feet of space near the Dick's Sporting Goods, Marshalls and Ulta Beauty stores. Plans show indoor seating for 151 patrons and outdoor seating for 56.
The Newks.com site describes the Jackson, Miss.-based restaurant chain as "an express casual dining experience in a refreshing and stylish atmosphere with an emphasis on freshness and flavor."
It says its menu includes fresh tossed salads, oven-baked sandwiches, California-style pizzas, made-from-scratch soups and homemade cakes from Newk's open kitchen.
The site lists more than 50 restaurants in 12 states.
Green Tea in Mandarin
Plans were filed for Green Tea restaurant at Crown Point Plaza at 10063 San Jose Blvd. Target Contractors Inc., doing business as TCI Construction Co., is listed as the contractor for the $20,000 tenant build-out of 1,237 square feet of space.