A New England-style seafood shack founded by two Nocatee residents has opened its doors at The Fountains at St. Johns, bringing live Maine lobster rolls and Massachusetts-style roast beef sandwiches to the County Road 210 corridor. Ned's New England Deck took over unit 7 at 170 Fountains Way, a space that previously housed Jax Fish Fry before it closed.
A New England Concept Rooted in Nocatee
The restaurant is the second location for the brand, following an original Ned's New England Deck that opened in Fairfax, Virginia, in spring 2023 under founders Steve Forbes and Tony Gallotto as a New England coastal seafood shack concept, according to the Washingtonian. Founders Steve Forbes and TJ Johnston are New England natives who moved to Florida and currently reside in Nocatee, according to a release from the Florida Press Association, giving the St. Johns County opening a personal connection for the pair. The restaurant was set to open Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
At the heart of the menu is a commitment to fresh seafood over shortcuts. Forbes and his team import live Maine lobsters year-round to cook in-house for their lobster rolls, explicitly avoiding frozen lobster meat, per the same Florida Press Association release. That sourcing choice sets the restaurant apart from fast-casual seafood chains that typically rely on pre-processed frozen product.
Roast Beef With Roots on Revere Beach
Alongside the lobster rolls, Ned's serves a North Shore-style roast beef sandwich, a menu item with deep Massachusetts roots. The sandwich traces back to 1951 at Kelly's Roast Beef on Revere Beach, Massachusetts, when leftover uncarved roast beef from a canceled wedding was sliced thin and served on grilled buns, according to Edible Boston. A classic North Shore “three-way” version of the sandwich consists of thinly sliced rare roast beef on a toasted bun topped with American cheese, mayonnaise, and James River Barbecue Sauce, as detailed by Foodigenous.
Family Amenities Built for Suburban St. Johns
The St. Johns location also features Play Date Social at Ned's Hideaway, a designated indoor and patio play section tailored for young children while parents dine, per the Florida Press Association release. The amenity reflects the surrounding neighborhood: The Fountains at St. Johns is a nearly 100-acre development at County Road 210 and Interstate 95 that integrates medical offices, retail shops, apartments, and educational facilities, according to Cross Regions Group.
Betting on a Booming Corridor
The opening comes as St. Johns County continues to draw new residents at a rapid clip. The county grew by 25.8% between 2020 and 2025 to reach an estimated population of 348,690, leading Florida in annualized population expansion rates, according to St. Johns County Economic Development data.
Not every seafood concept has thrived in that growth, however. Regional competitor Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls closed its St. Johns Town Center location in August 2026, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. That closure leaves open the question of whether Ned's broader menu, full-service hospitality, and family-friendly amenities can succeed where a narrower lobster roll concept could not.
