From Arden's to Wine Cellar to Zodiac: These Jacksonville-area restaurants closed in 2021

Jacksonville lost a combined total of at least 296 years of dining history when at least 16 longtime restaurant favorites, including River City Brewing Company and The Wine Cellar, closed their doors permanently in 2021.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to wreak havoc on business, several longtime restaurant owners chose to retire while others closed their establishments without explanation.

Gone this year but not forgotten by diners are the following restaurants.

Year in review: From RH Jacksonville to Estrella Cocina, Bearded Pig and more: Top restaurant openings in Jacksonville in 2021

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Arden's Kountry Kafe

8299 W. Beaver St.

After 19 years of serving buffet plates with good, old-fashioned Southern comfort food, Arden's Kountry Kafe closed permanently Jan. 4. Co-owners Arden and Michelle de Saussure told the Times-Union that the pandemic, with its lockdowns, social distancing and forced pivot to takeout, made it impossible for the buffet restaurant in Mariettta to stay in business. However, their catering business — Arden's Katering — remained in business.

Zodiac Bar & Grill

128 W. Adams St.

Zodiac Bar & Grill, a mom-and-pop Mediterranean restaurant considered a downtown Jacksonville institution closed permanently Jan. 4 after 20 years in business. Owners Jeriees and Rima Ewais said the restaurant was forced to close because of the pandemic. They lost most of their lunch and dinner business because downtown office workers were sheltering at home.

The Ugly Cupcake Muffinry

115 Fifth Ave. S., Jacksonville Beach

The Ugly Cupcake Muffinry closed permanently Jan. 19. Executive chef and owner Ivy Wolf said on Facebook that "in the end, the pandemic just hit us too hard to recover from." The family-owned business — specializing in freshly made, sweet and savory baked goods, breakfast and lunch fare — had been in business for 5 1/2-years.

Sonny's BBQ

5097 W. University Blvd.

After 38 years, Sonny's BBQ abruptly closed at 5097 W. University Blvd. on Sunday, Feb. 28. Signs posted on the restaurant's front doors and elsewhere thanked customers but offered no explanation for the closure.

Roy's Restaurant

2400 3rd St. S., Jacksonville Beach

After 18 years, upscale Hawaiian fusion restaurant Roy's closed abruptly on June 12 with no reason given. The restaurant opened in 2003 and was considered by many as a "go-to" eatery to celebrate anniversaries, graduations, engagements and other special occasions. The restaurant and its founder and namesake Master Chef Roy Yamaguchi were known for hosting the annual "A Night at Roy's'' gala fundraiser that benefitted the Monique Burr Foundation for Children.

Mediterrania Restaurant

3877 Baymeadows Road

Mediterrania, a longtime Jacksonville favorite featuring classic Greek/Italian cuisine in a strip mall at Baymeadows Road and San Jose Boulevard, closed on June 15 after about 36 years in business. The owners announced the closure on its website saying "stay tuned for to our future plans" but didn't specify them.

The Loop Pizza Grill

211 Third St., Neptune Beach

After 30 years, the Loop Pizza Grill closed its doors in Neptune Beach on July 15. The restaurant known for its signatures burgers, pizzas, salads and shakes opened about 10 years after the Jacksonville-based chain debuted its first restaurant in San Marco Square in 1981. The Neptune Beach restaurant franchise owner said he's searching for a new site so it can reopen as soon as possible.

River City Brewing Co.

835 Museum Circle

After 27 years on Jacksonville's Southbank, River City Brewing closed permanently on July 18 to make way for a planned 325-unit apartment building and a new restaurant overlooking the St. Johns River. The landmark restaurant was a favorite of Jacksonville politicians, power brokers, business and community leaders as well as residents celebrating special occasions such as weddings and graduations.

Catullo's Pizzeria

444 Talleyrand Ave.

Seven months after its opening, Catullo's Pizzeria closed at Toon Town near TIAA Bank Field in downtown Jacksonville. The takeout-only pizzeria opened Dec.17, 2020, in the arts and entertainment complex at 444 Talleyrand Ave. It closed July 30, 2021. The pizzeria was an offshoot of popular Catullo's Italian, which remains open at 1650 S. San Pablo Road.

Marco Pollo Mongolian BBQ and Chinese Restaurant

3000 Dunn Ave.

Believed to be the last of its kind in Jacksonville, Marco Polo Mongolian BBQ and Chinese restaurant, closed permanently after 32 years. The family-owned and operated eatery on the Northside of Jacksonville never reopened after being closed for remodeling. The owners, who retired, announced the closure July 31 on Facebook.

The Bread & Board Original

1030 Oak St.

Co-founders Dwayne Beliakoff and Jonathan Cobbs closed their original Bread & Board artisan sandwich shop in Five Points after five years on Aug. 8. The pair closed the restaurant to focus on their new downtown Jacksonville eateries: The new Bread & Board, The Bread & Board Provisions, Estrella Cocina and The Bread & Burger, as well as the Bread & Board at Town Center North. | Read more

Bold Bean Coffee Roasters San Marco

1905 Hendricks Ave.

Bold Bean Coffee Roasters announced Aug. 13 that it was closing permanently its San Marco coffeehouse when the store's lease expired at the end of September. The coffeehouse had opened in 2016. Other locations of the popular local coffee roaster in Riverside and Jacksonville Beach remain open.

Metro Entertainment Complex

859 Willow Branch Ave.

After 28 years as a "safe haven" for Jacksonville's LGBTQ+ community, the Metro Entertainment Complex closed permanently on Aug. 31. The 17,000-square-foot nightclub grew to have a piano bar, a disco dance floor, rooms for pool and drag shows. Over the years, it also hosted numerous nonprofit events for a variety of causes.

M Shack

299 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic Beach

After a decade, M Shack closed its original Atlantic Beach gourmet burger joint Oct. 2. Jacksonville chefs David and Matthew Medure, owners and founders, announced the abrupt closure on social media. The Atlantic Beach restaurant was the second M Shack to close in about as many years. In December 2019, the M Shack at 1012 Margaret St. in Five Points closed to make way for Another Broken Egg, a breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant. | Read more

Wine Cellar

1314 Prudential Drive

The Wine Cellar — a downtown Jacksonville landmark for 47 years — closed permanently on Oct. 16. The owners cited retirement and their plan to sell the fine dining bistro known for its wine selection and continental cuisine on the Southbank. The closure came two months after another longtime Southbank dining destination — River City Brewing Co. — closed permanently to make way for a 325-unit apartment building.

Other notable closings included:

Soto's Kitchen (January): The Venezuelan restaurant at 3809 Southside Blvd. had been in business since September 2017.

Shrimply Delicious (January): The small restaurant known for its seafood and fried green tomatoes was located at 1965 S. Lane Ave.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: River City Brewing, Roy's: Restaurant closings in Jacksonville in 2021