Closed for now or for good? Popular north Tallahassee chicken joint has customers curious
A popular restaurant and hangout prized for helping individuals “weather the storm of life” with 35 flavors of chicken and frothy beers shuttered its doors after more than 10 years in its northeast Tallahassee location.
Hurricane Grill & Wings, a franchise restaurant owned by FAT Brands, located at 6800 Thomasville Road, announced its closure for construction on the restaurant's Facebook account.
The September 28 post read: “Due to construction we will be closed until further notice. Please check back on this page for when we re-open.”
Days later, Avenue Realty Florida, a locally based realty group posted on its Facebook account that the 4,432 square foot restaurant with outdoor seating is for sale at a listing price of $1,999,000.
“We’ve gotten a lot of inquiries,” Bruce Carpenter, owner of Avenue Realty Florida said in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat.
Carpenter shares that most of the inquiries came in Thursday morning as news circulated that the property was up for grabs. He said burger restaurants are looking to snag the spot despite the renovations needed to reopen.
After learning of the three-to-four-month projected timeline for making repairs to both the kitchen and bathroom, Carpenter shared that the restaurant’s team elected to not reopen immediately after.
“Our team is planning to reopen,” a representative with FAT Brands told the Tallahassee Democrat Thursday, although the group’s future plans for the location are uncertain. “The lease is up, but we are seeking a solution.”
FAT Brands also franchise Round Table Pizza, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Great American Cookies, Ponderosa & Bonanza, Buffalo’s Cafe, Elevation Burger, Hot Dog on a Stick, Twin Peaks, Pretzelmaker, Yalla Mediterranean, Native Grill & Wings, Fazoli’s and Smokey Bones.
Carpenter, of Avenue Realty Florida, said that there has been another buyer looking to put Hurricane Grille back in the Thomasville Road location, but they will be up against many other buyers who are eyeing the property.
The casual restaurant served as a hub for game days, live bands and trivia nights. It's outdoor space was a draw for live music and local bands.
The location was prized for offering island-inspired appetizers, entrees, and sides, as well as its all-natural jumbo wings offered in 35 different sauces.
Customers who frequented the restaurant took to Facebook with their reactions to the news of the closure.
Melissa Smith shared, “That’s a shame! There were several bands I was planning to come see.”
Others said they were upset to see it go during Tallahassee’s football season, but they weren’t surprised by the closure, noting that the bathroom and floors needed work.
Hurricane Grill plans to keep local foodies updated on the future of the restaurant through their social media accounts.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story referred to the restaurant as Hurricane Grille and Wings.
Food and dining reporter Kyla Sanford can be reached at ksanford@gannet.com.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Hurricane Grill Tallahassee: Quick closure may lead to new 'solution'
