Three years after opening in The Markets at Town Center, Sugar Factory American Brasserie has closed.
A sign on the door greets customers:
“We’re closing our doors,” it says. “But the good times will stick with us forever!!”
The sign thanks customers for the memories, smiles “and the sugar highs.”
It also thanks the Jacksonville team, St. Johns Town Center “and every guest who stopped by for a bite, a sip or a sweet memory.”
Sugar Factory opened March 28, 2023, in the former Brio Tuscan Grille at 4910 Big Island Drive. Brio’s closed in January 2020.
There were no signs of activity June 21. Furniture remained in the closed restaurant, and deflating party balloons descended onto the floor near the front of the dining room.
In April 2021, the Las Vegas-based company announced it expected to open the Jacksonville location in January 2022 at the 4910 Big Island Drive restaurant.
It renovated the space and opened in March 2023 after some delays.
It said it had the capacity for 312 seats, comprising 175 inside, 22 at the bar and 115 on the patio.
It offered an Instagram feature cafe in the front; indoor-outdoor dining and a bar with operable doors to a large outdoor patio with a trellis and lighting; and a large video wall. There will be a flower and candy wall.
The entrance opened to the dining area, with a retail store to the former private dining to the left and the Candy Heart Lounge to the right.
As with Brio, there were outdoor dining and lounge areas. The bar remained a central feature in the back part of the property.
Upon opening, Sugar Factory had a six-page menu that included burgers, fries, pasta, tacos and stir fry among its entree choices.
The menu still online as of June 21 shows appetizers from $13 to $29; flatbread, soups, salads, sandwiches, pastas, smashed burgers sides; and entrees from $29 to $81, in addition to the $450 Grand Maine Lobster Tail Platter of a dozen pan-roasted lobster tails and four sides.
The $175 24K Gold Burger was served “dripping in 24K gold leaf” and served with “gold dusted” sides.
Sugar Factory featured desserts, milkshakes, sundaes and waffles. The World Famous Sugar Factory King Kong Sundae was priced at $125 and served 12.
The two-page cocktail menu included specialty goblet drinks. As of June 20, that menu featured “Smokin’ Goblets” at $52 and $10 less for nonalcoholic versions.
One example was the Candy Shop Goblet, described as a blend of Branson cognac, Teremana tequila and Malibu rum topped with peaches, pineapple juice and orange juice and garnished with sour peach slices, peach rings and soda pop gummy mix.
There was also a candy room for purchases to go.
The sf3.sugarfactory.com/jacksonville-fl site, which was live as of June 21, said the “expansive retail confectionery features Sugar Factory’s signature floor-to-ceiling candy wall with more than 50 types of sweet treats, including a selection of novelty and bulk candy like the brand’s world-famous Couture Pops.”
The site says the restaurant “has a grab-and-go café featuring its own entrance and menu. We offer sandwiches, salads, crepes, coffees, boba, hot chocolate, frozen hot chocolate, homemade specialty rainbow doughnuts and pastries, as well as homemade gelato and ice cream.
The main Sugar Factory site at www.sugarfactory.com/locations-united-states included Jacksonville as of noon June 21.
The property, built in 2012, is owned by Kimco Realty Corp., which owns The Markets at Town Center.
Kimco lists the 8,000-square-foot space as available for lease.
Sugar Factory’s site shows 16 locations, including Jacksonville, in 11 states. The other Florida restaurants are in Miami Beach, Orlando and Tampa.