Difficult decision: After more than 21 years, Ponte Vedra barbecue restaurant closes

Gary T. Mills, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union
·2 min read

After more than 21 years, Woody’s Bar-B-Q has closed its Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant.

Saturday marked the last day of the service at the restaurant at 225 Solana Road, Suite 1, at the Winn-Dixie-anchored Ponte Vedra Square.

In a letter to the restaurant’s patrons posted on social media Jan. 9, owners Woody Mills and Yolanda Mills-Mawman wrote that “[t]his decision was not made lightly. Due to unprecedented increases, we have chosen not to renew our lease.”

In 2019, Mills and Mills-Mawman renovated the restaurant to reflect the chain's new brand design and to become its base for franchise training operations.

Following the closing, Woody’s continues to operate a dozen restaurants in Florida – including in Jacksonville, at 5930 Powers Ave. and 1638 University Blvd. S. on the city’s Southside. Other Northeast Florida locations include Green Cove Springs, Macclenny and Palatka. The chain also has a restaurant in Huntingdon, Penn.

“We wish to express our deepest appreciation for the incredible support and patronage you have extended to us for more than two decades since we first opened our doors at Solana Road,” the letter continued. “Our entire team will miss you, and we invite you to visit us at one of our other locations in nearby Jacksonville and beyond.”

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Known for its signature slow-smoked baby back ribs, the Jacksonville-based chain made its debut in 1980 with its University Boulevard restaurant. In the early 2000s, Woody’s operated as many as eight restaurants in Jacksonville. In 2013, though, just three remained open in the city limits as the chain expanded to include 21 locations in Florida and one each in Utah, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

The chain, however, is planning two new restaurants – one in Wauchula, Fla., and another in Raleigh, N.C., Mills and Mills-Mawman wrote in the letter.

For more than 40 years, Jacksonville-based Woody's Bar-B-Q has been serving up its signature barbecue in Northeast Florida and beyond.
For more than 40 years, Jacksonville-based Woody's Bar-B-Q has been serving up its signature barbecue in Northeast Florida and beyond.

Longtime Woody’s patrons reacted to the closing on social media, commenting:

“Having spent many hours at Woody's PVB, I am very sad to hear this. Plenty of good memories from this local staple. Best of luck as you push forward!”

“My daughter’s first ‘real’ job was at this location. I know that this decision was a hard one. Landlords right now are vicious and won’t recognize the times we are all in. Sad to see this location close.”

“The end of an era! I hate to see this! Best of luck with your new locations!"

“Woody - we will truly miss Woody’s and all the staff in PVB which we have been patrons of since day one. Good luck with the new locations and we hope to see you around.”

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Woody's Bar-B-Q closes Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant