Habit Burger & Grill says it is opening in Jacksonville in the second half of 2025 because the area’s food culture is growing, with an interest in comfort foods and innovative dishes.
That is “making it a welcoming spot for a Habit Burger & Grill restaurant,” the company said in an email.
Habit Burger & Grill, an Irvine, California-based chain, intends to open at 13559 Beach Blvd. where Bojangles closed in June 2023.
“We’ve got Habit Burger & Grills sprinkled across the Sunshine State, and we’re pumped to fire up the grill in Jacksonville,” said chef Jason Triail, director of Culinary Innovation at Habit Burger & Grill, in an email Nov. 7.
“Jacksonville has this amazing vibe — it’s fresh, it’s buzzing, and it’s growing fast. We can’t wait to jump into the mix and serve up our Charburgers, award-winning sides, handcrafted sandwiches, and more.”
Habit Burger said it will hire about 40 people.
Asked whether more sites are in consideration in Northeast Florida, Habit Burger said it does not share expansion information. It also did not identify the Jacksonville real estate broker representing the company.
The Jacksonville restaurant will be owned by the company and is not a franchise. Habit Burger was acquired by Yum! Brands Inc. in 2020. Yum! Brands also owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.
Habit Burger intends to renovate the 3,875-square-foot free-standing restaurant and drive-thru on a 0.83-acre site at an estimated project cost of $750,000.
The site is at northwest Beach and Hodges boulevards.
The property owner is shown on a building-permit site as JLR Hodges Station LLC. The architect is Lingle Design Group of Lena, Illinois.
The HabitBurger.com says the company began in Santa Barbara, California, in 1969 and “has been chargrilling California’s freshest flavors for over half a century.”
It says its menu features freshly chargrilled burgers, chicken and tuna “all cooked-to-order over an open flame.”
It also has salads and shakes.
The menu shows its signature charburgers, including singles and doubles with or without cheese, a barbecue bacon and cheese burger, teriyaki burger, Impossible and portobello choices; sandwiches including chicken, ahi tuna, a veggie burger and grilled cheese; meals with fries and a drink; salads; bundles; kids’ meals; sides that include fries, sweet potato fries, crispy chicken bites, onion rings, tempura green beans; combinations, and side salads.
There also are drinks, shakes and sundaes.
As of Aug. 28, 2024, Habit Burger operated more than 380 locations in 14 states and internationally. The largest number is in California.
As of June 30, the company owned 84% of the U.S. locations. It also franchises.
There are 12 locations in Florida, mainly in South Florida with one in Largo, near St. Petersburg.
On Aug. 28, Habit Burger announced it would open its newest Florida restaurant and drive-thru Sept. 4 in Westlake, near Palm Beach.