Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q rebrands
Winter Park-based Sonny's Real Pit Bar-B-Q announced Tuesday it was updating its image by tapping into its roots.
It announced the revamped Sonny's BBQ that includes the new name, logo, décor and prototype restaurant.
It said the changes are designed to change the 45-year-old restaurant's image "from that of an iconic southern mainstay to one of a dynamic showplace for barbecue culture and cuisine."
"Sonny's has always been at the forefront of defining great barbecue," said CEO Bob Yarmuth. "Because it is in our roots, our passion for barbecue must shine through."
Brandon Manly, Sonny's chief operating officer and executive pit master, said the changes are designed to capture the brand's slow-cooked fare while raising the profile of local Sonny's pit masters by bringing them out of the kitchen and into the spotlight.
The theme is incorporated in the new Sonny's logo, which includes "local pitmasters since '68." The company plans eventually to have a certified pit master at each location.
Blue Bell making ice-cream rounds
Blue Bell Creameries introduced a new flavor — Rockslide Brownie — to recognize "National Ice Cream Month."
The dark chocolate ice cream includes pieces of chocolate brownies, miniature marshmallows, chopped almonds, pecans and walnuts, surrounded by caramel.
President Ronald Reagan declared July as National Ice Cream Month in 1984. Every year, Blue Bell introduces a new ice cream flavor to celebrate.
Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries L.P. operates a distribution center in West Jacksonville.
Blue Bell is taking its Special Event Trailer around town this week. It will be at Gate stores today. (It stopped Tuesday at the Daily Record.)
Today's schedule is 10 a.m.-noon, 1605 Race Track Road; 12:30-2:30 p.m., 9540 San Jose Blvd.; and 3-5 p.m., 4259 Southside Blvd.
Dining signs
The City approved signs for:
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, 1902 N. Main St.
• Hooters, at the Jacksonville Landing, 2 Independent Drive W., No. 103.
• Mama Q's Pizza, 10440 Old St. Augustine Road, No. 6.
• Pho House Vietnamese Cuisine, 9700 Deer Lake Court, No. 5.
Licensed to serve
Tax Collector Michael Corrigan issued business licenses for:
• Dig Foods, 113 E. Bay St., to Dig Foods Group LLC.
• Wendy's, 400 S. Third St., Jacksonville Beach, to Wen South LLC.
• Paddy's Brick Oven Pizza, 9850 San Jose Blvd., No. 1, to Patrick R. Renehan.
• Roma's Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria 1 LLC, 1266 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach, to Gac Lukaj.
• JC's Seafood, 1440 Dunn Ave., No. 22, a retail store, to Hakim H. Alsultan.
Popeyes, Penzeys renovations
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is freshening its restaurants at 1833 Kings Road, 1902 N. Main St. and 5581 Soutel Drive. Diversified Commercial Builders is the contractor for installing new seating and painting. The permits total $75,000.
• Penzeys Spices appears to be closer to opening in St. Johns Town Center at 4413 Town Center Parkway, in No. 209. D.A. Davison Contracting Inc. is demolishing 4,200 square feet of interior space, at a cost of $20,050, for eventual tenant improvements for Penzeys Spices.
Penzeys Spices closed its Regency area store June 24, 2012. It reported that while its lease was up at 9332 Arlington Expressway, "we have some exciting ideas on where we'll open next in Jacksonville." It didn't list the location but said it would update its catalog and website when it has news to share.
The website, penzeys.com, lists the Jacksonville store closed as of June 24, 2012, and shows two other Florida stores in Winter Park and Sarasota.
Copper Tap House work continues
The City approved an awning for the new Copper Tap House and Craft Food restaurant at 13500 Beach Blvd., a former Times Grill/Bubba Burger location.
Gary Mills at The Florida Times-Union reported June 18 that restaurateur Ben Porter, who opened what is now The Pier Cantina in Jacksonville Beach, is bringing his new Copper Tap House concept to the Hodges Pointe Plaza location.
Copper Tap House brings together regional craft beer and cuisine from America's Northeast, South, Pacific Coast and Midwest, Mills said. Porter called Copper "our twist on regional beer and cuisine." An October opening is planned.
Mills reported the menu will pair six regional brews with cuisine from each of the four geographical regions, including Southern, where Porter expects to feature beers from Jacksonville with others from Atlanta and his native North Carolina.
The report said construction on the 4,300-square-foot, 160-seat restaurant is expected to start this month and that after renovations, a 60-foot bar will be the restaurant's focus. Outside, a 20-foot-tall copper tap handle will welcome guests to Copper, Porter told Mills.
Other plans include expanding outdoor seating to accommodate 30 under a new awning.