After 32 years, Jacksonville fast-food restaurant abruptly closes
Open 32 years, one of Hardee's oldest restaurants in Jacksonville closed abruptly — leaving a farewell sign thanking ccustomers taped to the front door.
The fast-food restaurant shut its door Monday, Nov. 2, at 11191 San Jose Blvd. in Mandarin.
Although its restaurant's monument sign was empty and lights turned off inside the following day, several cars with customers hungry for breakfast pulled in to the parking lot the next day only to leave disappointed.
The closure sign on the front door thanked would-be diners for being a valued Hardee's customer.
"We sincerely appreciate your business and support over the years, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause," the sign read.
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It also invited people to visit nearby Hardee's locations at 6852 Wilson Blvd. and 9210 Baymeadows Road.
The Mandarin location remained listed on the restaurant chain's website. Neither Hardee's corporate owners nor local management could be reached for comment Nov. 3.
Dating back to 1994, the Mandarin restaurant was a neighborhood staple. It's had multiple owners over the years, and had been rebuilt at least once, according to state and Jacksonville public records.
8938 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville
After 40 years, Jacksonville's first and last remaining Hooters location abruptly closed Oct. 1 after days of restaurant inspections that found dead roaches and rat droppings in multiple areas of the restaurant. Dating back to 1986, the sports bar overlooked Goodbys Creek in Mandarin. Its closing followed a wave of Hooters closures in the Jacksonville area and across the chain over the past two years, including locations at 1740 Wells Road in Orange Park (after a 24-year run) and at 4521 Southside Blvd. in Tinseltown (after 18 years). | Read more
More restaurant news: Sign up for our free Dining Notes newsletter to get all of the latest restaurant openings, closings and more (Teresa Stepzinski/Florida Times-Union)
Its current ownership is Tampa-based Phase Three Star LLC — an affiliate of Phase Three Brands , also headquartered in Tampa, according to Florida Division of Corporations online records Nov. 3.
Phase Three Star LLC — under Phase Three Brands — is a major Hardee's owner and operator in Florida with about 80 statewide.
Considered the restaurant chain's largest franchisee in Florida, the company owns and operates Jacksonville's 10 other Hardee's restaurants.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: After 32 years, Jacksonville fast-food restaurant abruptly closes
