Possibly the 10th Parker’s Kitchen gas station and convenience store is under consideration in Northeast Florida.
Parker’s Kitchen, based in Savannah, Georgia, is a gas station and convenience store chain that features Southern comfort food. It has at least 102 stores in Georgia and South Carolina and is expanding into Jacksonville and into new markets in South Carolina.
The closest location to Jacksonville that is open is 32 miles north in Kingsland, Georgia.
The St. Johns River Water Management District received a pre-application Sept. 2 for Parker’s Kitchen at the closed Baymeadows KFC.
Foresite Group LLC is the applicant.
The Baymeadows KFC property at 8761 Baymeadows Road is listed for sale at $1.7 million. The 3,016-square-foot building is on 0.56 acres. The restaurant is closed.
Petra Management Inc. is representing the property.
Atlantic Boulevard in review
At the same time, the city is reviewing civil engineering plans for Parker’s Kitchen on one of its previously identified sites at 9100 Atlantic Blvd. at southwest Atlantic and Southside boulevards at the former location of CVS pharmacy.
Jacksonville-based civil engineer England-Thims & Miller Inc. submitted the application. Parker’s Kitchen is considering a 6,344-square-foot convenience store and 10 fueling pumps with 20 fueling positions on 2.13 acres.
Plans are prepared for DPC-FL LLC of Savannah. That LLC is led by Drayton-Parker Companies LLC, which shares an address with The Parker Companies and Parker’s Kitchen.
Parker’s Kitchen said in December 2024 that it expected to open at least four gas station and convenience stores in Northeast Florida by the third quarter of 2026.
Parker’s Kitchen said then that it was actively working on several more locations but that it was too early to publicize them.
“Jacksonville’s fast-growing population, robust economy and growing retail market make it an attractive region for expansion,” said Amanda Thompson, Parker’s Kitchen senior director of real estate and development, by email.
“With its business-friendly environment and vibrant lifestyle appeal, the city offers tremendous opportunity. As a company, expanding into north Florida aligns seamlessly with our strategic growth objectives. We’re honored to support the Jacksonville community and to contribute to its ongoing success as the area continues to grow.”
10 appear in pipeline
The company said by email in December 2024 the first four are:
• 7481 Wilson Blvd. at Old Middleburg Road North in West Jacksonville in Duval County.
• 11205 Alta Drive north of Interstate 295 in North Jacksonville in Duval County.
• Blanding and Tanglewood boulevards in Orange Park in Clay County.
• 76010 William Burgess Blvd. in Wildlight in Yulee in Nassau County.
Records show that Parker’s Kitchen locations also are proposed or being explored in Clay County at U.S. 17 and Creighton Road and at 2121 Constitution Drive in Fleming Island and in St. Johns County along County Road 210, a mile west of the Beachwalk community.
In total, there appear to be five in consideration in Duval County; three in Clay; and one each in Nassau and St. Johns.
About Parker’s Kitchen
The ParkersKitchen.com menu includes biscuits baked daily on-site, catfish, grits, hash browns, sausage patties and gravy, chicken tenders, pork chops, pulled pork sandwiches, fried okra, breakfast burritos, lemonade and “Signature Chewy Ice.”
Parker’s Kitchen says it is “strategically redefining the nation’s convenience store industry, offering customers high-quality products, freshly prepared food and superior customer service at retail stores throughout Georgia and South Carolina.”
The company says it serves “world-famous hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders as well as made-from-scratch mac ‘n’ cheese, a breakfast bar and daily specials.”
It employs nearly 1,800 people throughout Georgia and South Carolina.
Founder and CEO Greg Parker opened the first store in Midway, Georgia, in 1976.
An April 25, 2025, news release from Parker’s Kitchen says the company “is currently in the middle of an ambitious expansion and plans to expand into new markets including Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Columbia, S.C.”
“The entire Parker’s Kitchen menu is handcrafted on-site from the freshest ingredients by local chefs who take pride in cooking for the communities where they live and work,” the release said as the company opened a store in Summerville, South Carolina.