Snappers, a Vilano Beach restaurant concept under development by Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar, is working its way permitting.
St. Johns County and the St. Johns River Water Management District are reviewing the project at 165 Vilano Road. Permits can be issued after approvals.
It is on a strip of land past Florida A1A near the Publix and Holiday Inn Express.
The water management district said Oct. 16 it needed additional technical information to properly review plans. Snappers has 90 days to respond.
The spouses own several Northeast Florida restaurants including Fish House & Oyster Co., Tally Fish House & Oyster Bar, Outback Crab Shack and The Boathouse.
Stuart said he sees potential in Vilano Beach.
“They’re almost making like a little San Marco. It’s like a walking district. So, we grabbed the property two years ago to position ourselves,” he said in June.
The plan is to renovate a 2,153-square-foot, historically designated landmark structure and expand it by 1,813 square feet. Tropicana Cuban previously operated there. Stuart said they bought the property for $950,000.
Site plans show a common dining area, sushi bar, ice cream shop, a full bar and event space. It seats 194. No parking is required, per the county’s planning and zoning department.
Gulfstream Design Group is the civil engineer.
Surrounded by mostly residential properties, Gulfstream Design told the county Oct. 23 that it expects the majority of Snappers’ clientele will arrive by bicycle or on foot.
Cronk Duch Architecture of Jacksonville is the architect.
The Daily Record reported in June the project will be built from the ground up with a $3 million budget
Previously, the couple bought Beach Road Chicken Dinners in 2019 and renamed it Beach Road Fish House and Chicken Dinners. They sold it to Corner Lot Development Group in February 2023 for $1.9 million.
Stuart is part of a restaurant family. His father, Russell, owns the Seafood Kitchen in Atlantic Beach.