LaShaun Daniels’ life is back in order now; the Regency Olive Garden is open and Zuppa Toscana soup is still on the menu.
For about two decades before being destroyed by fire in January 2014, the Italian eatery at 9465 Atlantic Blvd. was a lunchtime staple for Daniels.
“They always have treated me excellent here and this soup, well, there’s nothing like it, anywhere,” Daniels said of the Olive Garden’s creamy broth with spicy Italian sausage, kale and russet potatoes.
“I tried to make it one time at my house, but it wasn’t the same,” she said.
Daniels, who lives about five minutes away, was among dozens of early birds on hand when the Regency restaurant’s doors opened following a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday.
The rebuilt eatery is among the first to feature the Orlando-based Darden Restaurants Inc. chain’s new prototype. Nationwide, the Fortune 500 firm is investing up to $180 million in its Olive Garden transformation.
“It’s a great feeling to be back and the place looks great,” server Erika Hernandez said after taking Daniels’ soup, salad and bread sticks order. She has worked at Olive Garden for 13 years.
The new 7,930-square-foot Regency restaurant, which is smaller than its predecessor, seats 240 people. It has about 150 employees, including nine who worked at the River City Marketplace location in north Jacksonville, and six who have worked at other Darden restaurants since the fire.
Lindsey Brock, the JAX Chamber‘s Arlington Council president, said Monday the rebuilt restaurant is a shot in the arm for the area.
“There were many voices that cried out after the tragic fire that wanted to see Olive Garden back. I’m so thankful that those voices were heard,” Brock said.
No one was injured in the overnight fire, which was ruled accidental.
Brock said rebuilding was a business decision — and a good one.
He noted two nearby automobile dealerships recently underwent significant facelifts and an overhaul is planned to make way for a new business at the Regency Mall’s former Piccadilly Cafeteria site.
“We know that someone back in an office somewhere did the numbers and they said, ‘It’s good business to be in Arlington,’” he said. “That’s what we want everyone to know: It’s good business to be in Arlington.”
The new Olive Garden design is open and casual, has a distinctive, vibrant décor featuring artwork in each dining area and has a modernized lobby and bar area with high-definition televisions.
“I don’t think there’s a better-looking restaurant out there than this,” said General Manager Terry Nolan, a Jacksonville native who started with Darden as a Red Lobster busboy in 1978 and most recently led the north Jacksonville location.
The restaurant has computer tablets enabling patrons to order food and beverages, play games, read the news and pay their bills from their table.
“It’s especially nice bringing the nine team members over to be part of all of these enhancements — part of something special,” Nolan said.
Among the employees who relocated to the Regency Olive Garden from north Jacksonville is bartender Maureen Moore, who worked at the Arlington restaurant for about 21 years before the fire.
“I am glad to be working close to home again and to be behind the bar here, where I feel at home,” she says.
Lydia Mattox, a 22-year Olive Garden veteran who works as a server and trainer, is back at the Arlington restaurant after working the past 15 months at the chain’s Avenues location.
She said she has remained with Darden largely because the company allowed her to schedule her work around raising her daughter.
“They understand families’ needs,” she said.
Mattox said when her crew members collected money to permit her to afford to be away from work following her mother’s death, Darden matched the contributions.
“When I came back to work, I had a $1,000 check waiting for me. That made a huge difference for me,” she said. “This is a very compassionate company to work for.”
Darden, which owns 837 Olive Gardens and about 700 other restaurants, sold the Red Lobster chain last year. Its other brands are LongHorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, Seasons 52, The Capital Grille, Eddie V’s and Yard House.
Darden generated about $6.3 billion in sales in 2014 and has about 150,000 employees.