Georgia-based Parker’s Kitchen made progress toward its expansion into Northeast Florida on Sept. 19 when the Jacksonville Planning Commission approved a zoning variance for the convenience store and gas station chain to build on undeveloped property in West Jacksonville.
The commission voted 7-0 on Zoning Variance V-24-17, which supports the chain’s plan to build on a 1.9-acre parcel at northeast Old Middleburg Road North and Wilson Boulevard.
According a city Planning and Development Department staff report, Parker’s Kitchen plans to build a convenience store and fuel station with eight pumps on the property. The site is west of the Wilson Boulevard interchange of the Interstate 295 Beltway, across Old Middleburg Road North from a Circle K convenience store and gas station.
The variance reduces a required landscape buffer area to 10 feet from 15 feet on the north, east and west boundaries of the property.
Casey Dendor, a senior planner for the England-Thims & Miller infrastructure and development consultancy firm, told commissioners that the reduction was needed to accommodate power lines and improve vehicle circulation on the site.
Dendor is the agent for the property owner, DCP-FL LLC of Savannah, Georgia. The LLC is associated with Drayton-Parker Cos. of Savannah, which develops Parker’s Kitchens.
Staff recommended approval of the variance.
A site plan for the property shows entrances and exits on the southeast corner along Wilson Boulevard and northwest corner along Old Middleburg Road North. The gas pumps are near the southern boundary of the property, with the convenience store building in the north-central portion.
In July 2023, the Daily Record reported that the chain was planning expansion into the West Jacksonville location and a North Jacksonville site at Faye Road and Alta Drive.
In the story, Parker’s Kitchen said the Jacksonville expansion was part of a strategy 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 chain said in a news release.
The company said Jacksonville consumers were familiar with its properties from visiting them in Georgia.
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; fried catfish and pork chops; macaroni and cheese; sweet tea; and other menu items with roots in Southern cooking.
According to the chain’s website, parkerskitchen.com, CEO Greg Parker opened his first convenience store in 1976 in Midway, Georgia.
The site lists 90 locations across Georgia and South Carolina.