Another burger-and-beer player is officially on the way to Atlantic Beach. Spliff's Gastropub broke ground Monday on its Atlantic Beach location at The Reef along Mayport Road, marking a new step in the northern Beaches dining scene. The Jacksonville-based gastropub is moving ahead with a build-out that residents have expected since the lease was first reported.
According to the Jacksonville Business Journal, Spliff's will join a cluster of food-and-drink tenants at The Reef, including Eggboy, Mayport Brewing Company, Zap Cat Coffee and Mayport Garden Club. The outlet reports that construction has started at the retail pad along Mayport Road.
Plans for the space
The new outpost is expected to take roughly 4,100 square feet at The Reef and will feature outdoor dining, expanded indoor seating and a full bar, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported when the lease was announced. The Reef development includes hundreds of apartments and about 30,000 square feet of retail that managers have been working to fill with neighborhood tenants.
What Spliff's Will Bring
Spliff's is known locally for oversized burgers, mac-and-cheese riffs and a long tap list; the company describes its menu as scratch-made comfort food on the Spliff's Gastropub website. The Beaches location is expected to echo the downtown spot's late-night hours and beer-focused lineup.
Timeline and next steps
The Jacksonville Business Journal did not list an opening date, and earlier coverage had eyed a fall opening after the lease was signed. Earlier reporting by the Jacksonville Daily Record noted that timeline, but the new ground-breaking suggests the buildout is finally under way.
The new restaurant is another piece of retail activation on Mayport Road as developers fill The Reef's storefronts and more residents move into the area. We will update this story when an official opening date is announced.
