After three-plus years of serving tacos, empanadas, tableside guacamole and other Latin foods and drinks, Iguana on Park has closed.
Owner Al Mansur confirmed that the restaurant at Park and Dancy streets in Avondale shut down as of May 12.
An announcement of the closure, shared by Mansur, cited “evolving economic challenges and rising operational costs.”
Mansur said in a text message that he was “hoping to bring a new concept to that location in the near future.”
“As this chapter ends, we remain committed to the values that define us: hospitality, community and quality,” the closure announcement read. “We wish to extend our sincere gratitude to our amazing staff, wonderful patrons and the community for your support over the years.”
The restaurant opened in August 2021 at 3638 Park St., a building previously occupied by South Kitchen & Spirits.
The transformation to Iguana on Park involved a build-out of 7,614 square feet, comprising 6,358 square feet of interior space and 1,256 square feet of covered patio space. The patio included a bar with a roll-up window allowing it to be used for indoor and outdoor service.
At the time it opened, Mansur said the menu was designed to provide a fusion of Latin American dishes and beverages. Items included empanadas, ceviche, chorizo dishes and seven types of tacos, along with brunch items, an array of tequilas and local craft brews.
Iguana on Park was a sister restaurant to Flying Iguana Taqueria & Tequila, which opened in 2013 in Neptune Beach and remains in operation.
Mansur also owns Al’s Pizza, which has five locations in Northeast Florida, Coop 3003 in Atlantic Beach and Mezza Luna Ristorante in Neptune Beach.
Through 3638 Park Street LLC, he acquired the Avondale building in November 2020 through a certificate of sale for a recorded price of $1.622 million, the Daily Record reported at the time.
In interviews with the Daily Record, Mansur said he was attracted to the location because of its next-door proximity to Restaurant Orsay and the availability of parking, including a lot adjacent to Iguana on Park to the east.
“This location has everything going for it with plenty of parking, which is hard to find around the Avondale area,” he said.
He said he also saw similarities between the site and the surroundings of his Beaches restaurants.
“We really enjoy being in a neighborhood scene where people can walk up to it, like the Atlantic-Neptune Beach Town Center,” he said. “I felt the same about Avondale, and that’s why we went into that location. There were a lot of Mexican concepts around the neighborhood, but there was nothing like us with a full-service restaurant, so I was very happy to have that space.”
The restaurant is about 2 miles from his Riverside Al’s Pizza.
Mansur also had eyed the former San Marco Theatre for a Flying Iguana concept, but those plans gave way to a pizza concept by restaurateur and chef Tom Gray.
Gray is planning a late spring opening of his Electric Dough Pizza Co., according to a March 2025 story in the Daily Record.
Mansur is an investor in the restaurant within the 5,000-square-foot theater space at 1996 San Marco Blvd.
Karen Brune Mathis and Dan Macdonald contributed to this report.