Jacksonville restaurant closures 2024: Red Lobster, Hooters and more
Some of Jacksonville’s most popular restaurants, from mom-and-pop shops to national chains, are closing in 2024.
For more than 17 years, Art Jennette has served up heaping plates of barbecue, fried seafood and other comfort food at his old-fashioned restaurant on a worn stretch of St. Augustine Road, not far from the more upscale eateries of San Marco.
But for Northeast Florida foodies who appreciate classic Southern soul food cuisine — including Jennette’s famous Green Tomatoes — Southern Charm is a dining destination known for its daily buffets of meatloaf, chicken, chicken and dumplings, pork chops or seafood, all served with collard greens, mac and cheese, salad and more made fresh daily.
But when Jennette rings the dinner bell at 7 p.m. Saturday, it will mark the end of an era for the popular chef, who built a following during his 37-year stint at Palms Fish Camp on Heckscher Drive before bringing his “cracker kitchen” across the river in the mid-2000s, opening Checker BBQ and Seafood and later Southern Charm at 3566 St. Augustine Road.
His “Trailer Trash Special,” consisting of a smoked pork sandwich, fried green tomatoes, 15 fried shrimp and fries, was popular with many, including high school students from the nearby towns of Wolfson and Bolles, when the restaurant was still called Checker BBQ.
On Monday night, Southern Charm began promoting its final week of operation in a series of Facebook posts, prompting fans to question whether the restaurant would close.
Their questions were answered with a simple “yes” and an invitation to one last meal at the restaurant.
Several responded and asked for reservations. Others lamented the closure of another local dining landmark and paid tribute to Jennette:
“No!!! My favorite place in the world! Art, thank you for welcoming us into your kitchen, feeding us, and treating us like family. I will miss you and your wonderful cooking.”
“Art, thank you for all the wonderful, delicious food! We will miss you very much!”
“No. Say it’s not true! Art is a legend, a culinary icon. I will always remember the times I was lucky enough to enjoy shrimp, chicken, the incredible vegetables, the casseroles, but above all the JOY of art!”
Restaurant review 2016: Chef Art doesn’t let up on his southern charm
After serving a final serving of meatloaf on Tuesday and chicken on Wednesday, Southern Charm will offer pork chops for lunch and fried fish for dinner on Thursday, fish and shrimp for takeout lunch on Friday and a final North Florida Keys dinner buffet with shrimp, fish, pork ribs, Little Marsh Island Casserole and Southern sides on Friday and Saturday when the dinner bell rings at 7 p.m., the restaurant’s social media post said. Reservations can be made by texting (904) 517-3637.
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