Parker’s Kitchen is moving toward developing a store on two combined parcels in Baymeadows where Tux Car Wash and KFC have closed.
It is one of at least 10 identified sites for the Savannah, Georgia-based gas station and convenience store chain that features a menu of Southern food such as biscuits and catfish.
The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing a request for an environmental resource permit to build a Parker’s Kitchen gas station with parking, utilities and underground stormwater system on the 2.07-acre site along Baymeadows Road west of Interstate 95.
The permit application comes after city utility JEA issued a service availability determination letter Sept. 23, 2025, for the project, which is identified for a 5,204-square-foot Parker’s Kitchen gas station and convenience store with five islands with 10 gas pumps and 20 fueling stations.
The water management application identifies Foresite Group LLC of Jacksonville as the applicant and civil engineer for land owner DPC-FL LLC, affiliated with Parker’s Kitchen, of Savannah. ECS Florida LLC of Jacksonville is the geotechnical engineer.
The existing site comprises two separate parcels with a closed KFC restaurant at 8761 Baymeadows Road and a Tux Car Wash at 8771 Baymeadows Road.
The 3,019-square-foot fast-food restaurant was built on 0.559 acre in 1976. Through DPC-FL LLC, Parker’s Kitchen paid $1.75 million for the property in November 2025.
The 4,360-square-foot car wash was built on 1.51 acres. Orlando-based ABC Liquors Inc. built the car wash in 2022 at the site of one of its liquor stores. The property is owned by Orlando-based JHB-1 Property Management LLLP of Orlando, affiliated with ABC Fine Wine & Spirits.
Founder and CEO Greg Parker opened the first Parker’s Kitchen in Midway, Georgia, in 1976.
In a news release in April announcing its designation as a USA Today Top Workplace for 2026, the company said it employs about 1,700 people throughout Georgia and South Carolina.
Parker’s Kitchen said in a March news release upon opening a store in Hardeeville, South Carolina, that it is expanding into new markets that include Jacksonville and Columbia, South Carolina, and plans to open 17 stores in 2026.
The closest location to Jacksonville that is open is 32 miles north in Kingsland, Georgia.
The C-Store Dive website, cstoredive.com, reported in October 2025 that Parker’s Kitchen had 104 locations.
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. It said 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.
The company said by email in December 2024 the first four are:
In total, there appear to be five in consideration in Duval County; three in Clay; and one each in Nassau and St. Johns.
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 serves “world-famous hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders as well as made-from-scratch mac ‘n’ cheese, a breakfast bar and daily specials.”