Jacksonville Beach Town Center is about to get a little smokier. Alder & Oak, the wood-fired Mediterranean concept from local operator Restaurant & Hospitality Investment Group (RHIG), is slated to open a second location in the former Jekyll Brewing space, adding another fire-fueled dinner option a short walk from the sand.
According to the Jacksonville Business Journal, RHIG plans to slot the new Alder & Oak next to another restaurant it already runs in Jacksonville Beach. The report identifies the ex-Jekyll Brewing address as the future home for the concept, although the company did not pin down a firm opening date.
RHIG's beachside cluster
RHIG has been quietly stitching together a coastal lineup in Northeast Florida, often pairing its Southern Grounds coffee shops and bakeries with full-service restaurants. As reported by the Florida Times‑Union, Southern Grounds was scheduled to open a Jacksonville Beach location at the Costa Verde Shops in 2025, part of a broader portfolio that includes Southern Grounds, Blueberry Bakery and Oaxaca Club, detailed in the Jacksonville Free Press.
From The HUB to the beach
Alder & Oak made its debut on paper as a signature tenant at The HUB Brooklyn development downtown, where the Jax Daily Record reported that a shell permit for the concept was granted in December 2024. That buildout positioned Alder & Oak as an evening-focused, wood-fired restaurant designed to complement RHIG's Southern Grounds and bakery operations.
The space and the vacancy
The Jacksonville Beach space opened up after Jekyll Brewing abruptly shut down all five of its locations in May 2025, a sudden closure that drew national coverage of the chain's quick exit. Reports noted that the May shutdown left multiple storefronts sitting empty, a gap local groups like RHIG are now moving to fill, with national coverage appearing in outlets such as Men's Journal.
What’s next for diners
RHIG has yet to announce an official opening date for the Jacksonville Beach Alder & Oak, and the Jacksonville Business Journal report did not include a projected timeline. For now, the move signals that RHIG is doubling down on clustered concepts along the coast, a strategy that is poised to reshape several high-visibility beachside storefronts once Alder & Oak officially lights the wood fire.
