Local
Island Fin Poke Co. to Close at Beachwalk in St. Johns County After Two Years
Island Fin Poke Co. will shut its doors at Beachwalk the last week of November, or sooner if it runs out of food, franchise owner Seth Neiman said. The closure adds to a growing list of restaurant departures at the upscale St. Johns County development.
Island Fin Poke Co., a fast-casual Hawaiian-style restaurant, will close its location at 345 Beachwalk Shores Drive, Suite 105, in the Beachwalk community in St. Johns County during the last week of November, or earlier if it runs out of food, franchise owner and operator Seth Neiman said.
The closure comes roughly two years after the restaurant opened, bringing the flavors of Hawaii to the upscale resort-style master-planned community. Beachwalk, developed around a Margaritaville-inspired theme, has seen a series of restaurant departures in recent months.
Neiman did not specify a reason for the closure, but the decision reflects the challenges facing fast-casual operators in a market where rising costs and shifting consumer habits have squeezed margins. For residents of Beachwalk and the surrounding St. Johns County area, the loss of Island Fin Poke Co. means one fewer quick, health-oriented dining option within the community.
The restaurant's departure is part of a broader pattern of turnover at the development, which has attracted national attention for its resort-style amenities and master-planned design. As Beachwalk continues to grow, the closure raises questions about the sustainability of its retail and dining mix and what it will take to keep local businesses thriving there.
Island Fin Poke Co. is a Florida-based franchise known for build-your-own poke bowls, salads and wraps. The Beachwalk location was among the chain's outposts in the Jacksonville area.