The end is near for Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners, which began 84 years ago as Beach Road Chicken Dinners.
The restaurant at 4132 Atlantic Blvd. said in a Facebook post it will close after its property is sold later this month to make way for an apartment community.
“Unfortunately we will be unable to lease our building after the sale of Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners property febuary 28th! We are identifying locations for relocation in the meantime. Come see us. The orginal location. 2 weeks left! Construction starts immediately,” the post reads.
Spouses Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar took over Beach Road Chicken Dinners in 2019, leasing the property from owners Ken and Tena Ferger.
Stuart said Aug. 1 that Beach Road plans to remain open until spring 2023 and is considering moving to a smaller location in the area.
The couple bought 1.43 acres of the almost 4-acre parcel from the Fergers in October 2021. Fish House Holdings LLC bought the restaurant site, while the Fergers kept the remaining undeveloped property.
Nate Day said in August he is the prospective buyer.
Day is vice president of H. Smith Inc., a Jacksonville-based land acquisition, entitlement and development company in Northeast Florida. He said the deal is not being done through that company.
He said he plans a 285-unit apartment community on 7.14 acres that will be sold by several owners.
City Council approved legislation Nov. 9, 2022, rezoning the property to planned unit development. A concept plan dated July 25, 2022, shows an outline for 285 apartments in a five-story building that wraps around an amenity area with a pool and plaza. There also is a dog park.
Stuart and Klar have six restaurants with the Fish House or related names: Beach Road Fish House & Chicken Dinners; New Berlin Fish House & Oyster Bar in North Jacksonville; OP Fish House & Oyster Bar in Orange Park; Creekside Dinery in St. Augustine; partial ownership with Stuart’s father in Seafood Kitchen at the Beaches; and a licensed location in Tallahassee.
