It’s all about location in Parker’s Kitchen’s decision to expand into Florida with its first stops of two stores in North and West Jacksonville.
The North Jacksonville site is at Faye Road and Alta Drive and the Westside location is at northeast Wilson Boulevard and Middleburg Road.
Both are near Interstate 295.
The Savannah, Georgia-based gas station and convenience store chain offers Southern comfort food made fresh in its kitchen.
Jacksonville customers appear to seek out the fried chicken, gizzards and livers; macaroni and cheese; sweet tea; and other menu items with roots in Southern cooking.
“We have many customers from Jacksonville who shop with us already and have encouraged us to expand into the Florida market,” Parker’s Kitchen said in a statement July 21.
“At Parker’s Kitchen, we want to grow in concentric circles around our headquarters and our brand center in Savannah. The fact that Jacksonville is the fastest growing city in the fastest growing state and is located just two hours south of Savannah is extremely appealing.”
The company has 76 stores, comprising 44 in Georgia and 32 in South Carolina.
“At Parker’s Kitchen, we’re focused on strategic growth and continue to explore potential new markets,” said the statement.
“As we continue to grow, we believe Florida is a good area to explore and hope residents would welcome our award-winning Parker’s Kitchen food, inspiring architecture and powerful commitment to giving back to the community.”
Parker’s Kitchen is working toward a North Jacksonville site where Savannah-based Drayton-Parker Companies LLC paid $5.3 million for almost 10 acres at Faye Road and Alta Drive.
The city issued a mobility fee calculation certificate for a 5,175-square-foot Parker’s Kitchen on 3.11 acres of the site. The application shows 24 vehicle fueling positions.
It calculated a $397,241 fee to mitigate the development impact.
City utility JEA is reviewing a service availability request for a 5,175-square-foot store with 16 fueling positions on 1.9 acres at Wilson Boulevard and Old Middleburg Road.
England, Thims & Miller Inc is the civil engineer.
The ParkersKitchen.com menu shows breakfast, lunch and dinner that includes biscuits baked daily on-site, catfish, grits, sausage patties and gravy, chicken tenders, pork chops, pulled pork sandwiches, fried okra, breakfast burritos, lemonade and “Signature Chewy Ice.”
The website says Parker’s Kitchen is “redefining foodservice and convenience, offering freshly prepared Southern-inspired food, high-quality products and superior customer service at retail stores throughout coastal Georgia and South Carolina.”
Founder and CEO Greg Parker opened his first convenience store in Midway, Georgia, in 1976.
In June, Parker’s Kitchen announced expansion into Augusta, Georgia, where it will open a store in 2024, “with additional locations to be announced in the coming months.”
That news release said the new Parker’s Kitchen will offer grab-and-go options as well as a hot bar serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and electronic kiosk ordering.
“Highlights will include never-frozen, antibiotic-free, double-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders, signature mac ‘n’ cheese and potato logs as well as freshly made salads, gourmet coffee, freshly brewed sweet tea, Fancy Lemonade, 28-degree beer, fountain drinks with Chewy Ice and a wide range of convenience items.”