Planning its first new area restaurant in at least a dozen years, Olive Garden Italian Kitchen is in city review for a restaurant at Glen Kernan Park.
It also will be Olive Garden’s “Domani” prototype.
Civil engineering firm Prosser Prime AE submitted plans to the city Aug. 29 for an almost 7,850-square-foot restaurant on 1.83 acres at the residential and commercial development at northwest Butler and Hodges boulevards in South Jacksonville.
The Roberts Group PSC of Lexington, Kentucky, is listed as the project developer. The group provides architecture, engineering and landscape architecture services.
Darden Restaurants Inc., which owns several restaurant brands, explains Olive Garden’s newest prototype on its website.
It says Domani “is designed to evolve with our guests now and in the future through two main themes: creating an atmosphere that works for our guests’ different dining occasions and making the experience as convenient as possible.”
It says the design provides a dedicated to-go area with a separate entryway, a dining room layout that is more flexible for groups eating, and an alfresco space that merges indoor and outdoor dining through glass panels.
“The design includes brick interior walls, a white marble bar and countertops, natural tones of soft greens, caramels, natural wood, and textured stone accented with contemporary artwork,” says the site.
At Glen Kernan Park, Olive Garden intends to develop on the corner closest to Butler Boulevard, next to the Embassy Suites hotel site.
City utility JEA has been reviewing a service availability determination request and plans filed July 10 for a 237-seat Olive Garden at the site.
That request indicates the location is Outparcel 1, which is the southern corner of the property next to the seven-story, 174-room Embassy Suites hotel under development.
A Glen Kernan Park location gives the chain a presence closer to the Beaches and Mayo Clinic.
Four Olive Garden Italian Kitchens operate in Jacksonville in the Regency, Argyle, Avenues and River City Marketplace areas.
The Regency, Argyle and Avenues restaurants were built in 1990-91. The fourth Olive Garden was built in 2009 in River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville.
The Regency restaurant was rebuilt in 2015 after a fire.
Olive Garden is the largest brand within Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, whose brands include LongHorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s and Bahama Breeze. Darden bought Ruth’s Chris in June 2023.
Olive Garden makes up almost 44% of Darden’s total sales and 45% of its total restaurant locations. The first opened in 1982 in Orlando.
Darden had 2,031 restaurants as of May 26, 2024, up from 1,914 as of May 28, 2023.
News.alphastreet.com reported June 21, 2024, that Darden reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results, as contributions from the Ruth’s Chris purchase and recently opened restaurants helped the company overcome challenges.
“After opening 53 new restaurants in 24 states and acquiring and completing the integration of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in fiscal 2024, Darden plans to open 45-50 new units in the current fiscal year,” said the financial data site.
“The aggressive expansion strategy should enable the company to navigate headwinds like discounting-and-marketing pressure and cautious consumer spending. The Darden leadership remains committed to delivering profitable sales growth, rather than boosting revenue for the sake of it. The focus is on traffic growth and effective cost management.”
The Olive Garden site selection criteria says it looks for 2 acres and 130 parking spaces in a “prime regional focal point with good access, visibility and parking.”
The buildings are 6,261 or 7,477 square feet in size for interior seating of 193 or 255, although those are adjusted for available sites.
Glen Kernan Park is a 50-acre development that includes a Gate Petroleum Co. gas station and car wash, Dunkin’, Culver’s, Slim Chickens and other developments, including multitenant buildings whose tenants will include RadiFi Credit Union.
Rise: A Real Estate Company bought 29.8 acres for a 308-unit 55+ rental whose first units are scheduled to be available in summer 2025.