Mikata Buffet renovating closed Red Lobster in Baymeadows

The city issued a permit for the project Jan. 24 as two more closed seafood restaurants are being converted into Asian restaurants.


Mikata Buffet, Fushimi Grill & Modern Buffet and Gogi Korean BBQ are planned for former Red Lobster locations in Northeast Florida.
Mikata Buffet, Fushimi Grill & Modern Buffet and Gogi Korean BBQ are planned for former Red Lobster locations in Northeast Florida.
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Mikata Buffet is renovating the closed Red Lobster in Baymeadows now that the city issued a permit Jan. 24 for the conversion at 8720 Baymeadows Road.

The Rose Group LLC of Jacksonville is the contractor for the $282,606 project to renovate the 7,496-square-foot restaurant.

It also is reviewing a demolition permit of $10,000 to remove some of the existing finishes. 

The building was developed in 1983 on 1.87 acres.

LOD Jacksonville LLC of Coral Gables owns the building. 

Greenlogic LLC, based in  Orlando, is the interior designer.

Plans show five buffet stations and 46 tables. Occupancy is listed at 226. It has a full kitchen and no bar.

The original Mikata Buffet is in Jensen Beach, about 240 miles south of Jacksonville. The Baymeadows store will be its second in the state, according to Daniel Dominguez of LOD Jacksonville LLC.

Its menu includes appetizers, soups, a selection of chicken, beef, pork and shrimp dishes, sushi and sashimi.

It is one of three closed Red Lobsters in Jacksonville being converted into Asian restaurants.

The Red Lobster chain closed more than 80 restaurants, including three in Jacksonville, in May and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Red Lobster announced Sept. 16 it was exiting Chapter 11 under the ownership of RL Investor Holdings LLC, part of  Fortress Investment Group.

The remaining Red Lobster in operation in Northeast Florida is at 32 Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park.

The other two being converted are:

The sign is up for Fushimi at River City Marketplace outside the former Red Lobster building at 13150 City Station Drive.

Fushimi Grill & Modern Buffet

The city issued a permit Jan. 7 for Greenlogic LLC to renovate the closed Red Lobster at River City Marketplace for Fushimi Grill & Modern Buffet.

Greenlogic LLC will renovate the interior of the 7,150-square-foot restaurant at a project cost of $99,000 at 13090 City Station Drive, near Jacksonville International Airport.

The restaurant will seat 192 people.

Fushimi is a multicuisine buffet with more than 200 items daily, according to its website. Its menu features hibachi, sushi, sashimi, Chinese, Korean and American choices, There also is a dessert bar.

Fushimi also has a restaurant in Girvin Plaza at 12777 Atlantic Blvd. The website says the River City Marketplace restaurant is coming soon.

The River City Marketplace building is owned by Mark J. Freitag Trust of 1988 of Durango, Colorado. The building was developed in 2008 on 1.34 acres.

Gogi Korean BBQ

The city is reviewing a permit application for Gogi Korean BBQ in the Regency area.

Gogi Korean BBQ, where each table has a grill for customers to prepare food, is in review for the closed Red Lobster at 416 Commerce Center Drive, north of Regency Square Mall and east of Southside Connector.

The city is reviewing plans and a permit application for renovation of the 7,400-square-foot building at an estimated job cost of $180,000.

Plans indicate a renovated bar area and interior and patio dining and a small private dining room. Each table has a grill.

Plans show ISEED Construction Inc. of Great Neck, New York, as the contractor. E-Pro Design Solution is the designer. 

Korean BBQ restaurants offer grills on the table along with scissors, tongs and sauce trays for the preparation and cooking.

The Regency Red Lobster building sold Sept. 4 for $3.7 million to St. Augustine-based CJC USA LLC, which is managed by Jing Xin Liu. 

The building, on 1.8 acres, was constructed in 2003.

State corporate records show that Liu also is the manager or member of several other LLCs, including Sunrise Center Group. It bought the former O’Charley’s in the Regency area at 410 Commerce Center Drive, next to the former Red Lobster, and opened Cajun Crab Juicy Seafood & Bar.

He also is the president of New Pacific Asian Bistro Inc., which operates the Pacific Asian Bistro at 159 Palencia Village Drive, Suite 111, in St. Augustine. 

 

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