Mission BBQ coming to Jacksonville, Orange ParkQuoteMission BBQ, a Maryland-based company formed a decade to the day after 9/11, is expanding into Florida, including restaurants in Jacksonville and Orange Park.
In Jacksonville, Mission BBQ intends to open at the 1.4-acre site of a former Bennigan's in Southwest Jacksonville. State corporate records indicate an Orange Park site as well, but no address was provided.
Mission BBQ was founded by former Under Armour executive Bill Kraus and former Outback Steakhouse executive Steve "Newt" Newton. The first restaurant opened Sept. 11, 2011, the 10th anniversary of 9/11, in Glen Burnie, Md.
The company supports military, veteran and first-responder organizations.
Site plans filed with the city show that the Bennigan's at Interstate 295 and Blanding Boulevard will be demolished and a 7,800-square-foot building constructed. Mission BBQ will take 4,000 square and Aspen Dental will lease the other 3,800 square feet at 8440 Blanding Blvd.
Kraus said Tuesday the company will expand into Florida in 2015, but was not committed to a specific number of locations. He cited Jacksonville and Florida's focus on the military, veterans and first responders as reasons the company was opening in the state.
"The whole mission is to serve, honor and thank American heroes," Kraus said. "We are proud to serve them."
Kraus said the stores are all corporately owned. Each provides 40-50 full- and part-time jobs.
Mission BBQ's website said its two founders traveled the country to discover barbecue trends. The site shows 13 locations, comprising seven in Maryland, three in Virginia, two in North Carolina and one in Pennsylvania.
State corporate record show Mission BBQ groups to serve Orange Park, Fort Myers, Southwest Florida and Town N Country in Hillsborough County. Newton is listed as the authorized member of the LLCs.
Mission BBQ donates a portion of proceeds from meals to local and national military and law enforcement charities, including Wounded Warrior Project, USO and Honor Flight Network.
The Maryland Gazette reported in June that Kraus and Newton were named entrepreneurs of the year. They said they planned open 10 new restaurants this year to take "American food for American heroes" to the rest of the East Coast. They said they wanted to have 40 restaurants open in four years.
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=544575
I am confused about the locations. I-295 and Blanding is in SW Jax, but in the Orange Park area. Is this multiple descriptions of one site? Or is the Blanding/I-295 site the "Orange Park" location? Or, will there be two in the OP area? Not very clear writing JDR.
^^^Sounds like the Jax Mission BBQ is at Blanding and 295, and the OP one is further down Blanding in Clay County.
At least this will get that Bennigans building torn down
Great! Another BBQ "restaurant" in Clay County. Just what we needed. The other 15 just aren't enough.
So let me get this straight, a BBQ joint is cynically wrapping itself in the flag for its own profit? 9/11 reference? Check. Deifying the Military and Police/first responders? Check. Bandying about the term "hero" to the point that it cheapens its meaning? Check. This really is something. And frankly I don't know if I'm more disgusted or disturbed by it.
^^^I'm not gonna lie, I thought that the 911 reference was very odd to say the least.
The whole concept is really weird- look at their website, they are entirely focused on the "OUR HEROES!" angle. It's like my dad's facebook page/forwarded emails came to life and opened a bbq joint.
Looks like Fox News opened a BBQ restaurant