Anyone familiar with the culinary scenes in Riverside and San Marco is also familiar with European Street Cafe. Indeed, anyone who has driven down San Marco Boulevard to or from the Square, or down Park Street, has spotted cars constantly parked outside of the restaurant’s San Marco location or spotted people seated in the outdoor patio in Riverside.
For more than 30 years, the Zarka family and European Street Cafe have been synonymous with local neighborhood dining.
This year, European Street Cafe will launch its chapter to become synonymous with downtown dining as it prepares to move into its new location in the café space at Riverfront Plaza.
This will mark the restaurant’s fourth location, with a third open in Jax Beach, as well, and owner Andy Zarka said opening a location in the space that was once the Jacksonville Landing is a meaningful moment for him, personally.
“I was a big fan of being able to go down there and sit on the river and, you know, have a beer or eat some chicken wings and watch the dolphins float by and look at Friendship Fountain,” Zarka said. “So to occupy that space and bring that element back to Downtown Jacksonville means a whole lot to me.”
European Street Cafe is coming to Riverfront Plaza.
Zarka said since the closing of The Landing, riverfront dining options have been lacking for Jacksonville residents.
“It was one of the only places in the River City where you could actually go enjoy the river as a public citizen,” Zarka said. “Anybody could go down there and walk along the river and eat and drink – it’s something that’s been sorely lacking for far too long, and I’m glad it’s coming back.”
Early last month, the City of Jacksonville announced it had selected European Street Cafe through a public Request for Proposals process to operate the new café at Riverfront Plaza.
“Riverfront Plaza is being created as a place where Jacksonville comes together, and great public spaces deserve great local partners,” said Mayor Donna Deegan. “European Street Cafe has been part of Jacksonville’s story for decades, and we’re excited to welcome them to the riverfront as they help create a vibrant gathering place for residents and visitors alike. Their commitment to hospitality and community makes them an outstanding fit for this exciting new chapter in Downtown Jacksonville.”
European Street Cafe had an opportunity to interact with downtown visitors during a pop-up event at its new café space during the City’s 4th of July celebrations. Daryl Joseph, director of parks, recreation and community services for the City of Jacksonville, said European Street Cafe, with its deep roots in the community, will help fulfill the vision for Riverfront Plaza.
“Our vision for Riverfront Plaza has always extended beyond the park itself,” said Joseph. “We wanted to create an experience where quality dining, public programming and community life all come together. European Street Cafe understands Jacksonville and has built a reputation for creating welcoming spaces where people naturally gather. We’re looking forward to seeing them become an important part of the everyday experience along our riverfront.”
While the new Riverfront Plaza space will mirror the existing European Street Cafe spaces residents are familiar with, Zarka said there will be tweaks to the design and menu to reflect the neighborhood it serves. This will include an earlier opening time of 7 a.m. with a more robust coffee menu, more breakfast items, and Italian ice to beat those hot Florida summer days.
This location marks the next chapter in the legacy Zarka’s parents began when they first moved their family to Jacksonville in 1980 and acquired Mr. Dunderbox, a restaurant in the former Regency Square Mall. In 1990, they rebranded the restaurant as European Street Cafe, with the Riverside location opening in 1992 and the San Marco location following swiftly in 1996. European Street Cafe opened in Jax Beach in 2005.
Zarka takes great pride in continuing the legacy his parents began.
“They set up a wonderful restaurant, and it’s been my great honor and joy to keep it going,” Zarka said.
It will still be some time before European Street Cafe opens in Riverfront Plaza, as the buildout must begin. The design team working with Zarka on this project is Doherty Sommers Architects Engineers, Inc. and Intracoastal Construction.
Zarka said he hopes to open by the end of the year.