Gourmet baked potato restaurant Mr. Potato Spread closes original Regency Square Mall food court location

Teresa Stepzinski, Florida Times-Union
·2 min read
Lakita and Aaron Spann, the co-founders of Mr. Potato Spread, a popular gourmet potato restaurant that began in their home kitchen then grew into a catering business, food truck, Regency Square and Orange Park Mall locations and soon stand-alone and franchise restaurants.
Lakita and Aaron Spann, the co-founders of Mr. Potato Spread, a popular gourmet potato restaurant that began in their home kitchen then grew into a catering business, food truck, Regency Square and Orange Park Mall locations and soon stand-alone and franchise restaurants.

Regency Square Mall has lost one of its most popular food court mainstays.

Mr. Potato Spread closed permanently on Saturday at the 55-year-old shopping mall, 9501 Arlington Expressway.

The gourmet stuffed potato fast-food restaurant had been serving customers at the Regency food court for 3 1/2 years.

Lakita and Aaron Spann, restaurant co-founders, announced the closure Friday afternoon in a Facebook post thanking their Regency customers and supporters.

"We’ll continue to accept catering orders at that location but no walk-up or online ordering," they posted.

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Remaining open is Mr. Potato Spread at the Orange Park Mall Food Court, the restaurant's catering business, delivery and food truck operations, the couple emphasized.

Mr. Potato Spread began in the Spanns' home kitchen, became a catering service, grew into a popular food truck then expanded to the two mall food courts.

The husband-and-wife entrepreneurs are preparing to open their first standalone Mr. Potato Spread restaurant at 840 Nautica Drive, Suite 117 in River City Marketplace on the Northside.

The Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Pot at the popular Mr. Potato Spread gourmet potato restaurant founded by Jacksonville restaurateurs Lakita and Aaron Spann.
The Chicken, Bacon, Ranch Pot at the popular Mr. Potato Spread gourmet potato restaurant founded by Jacksonville restaurateurs Lakita and Aaron Spann.

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In addition, another Jacksonville couple — Randall Coursey and his wife Shinika Summeries — are almost ready to open Mr. Potato Spread's inaugural franchise location at 7159 Philips Highway, Suite 102, just south of Butler Boulevard.

The Spanns expect the Southpoint location to open first followed by the River City Marketplace storefront.

Closing the Regency Square Mall location comes as multiple businesses have left the shopping center over the past few years.

"It’s no secret that the mall has changed over the years and while we are very grateful for our time in Regency and every customer that has supported us there, we’re excited to focus on caterings in the space while planning for our TWO upcoming locations," the Spanns also posted.

The Mr. Potato Spread food truck "will be hitting the streets more." The food truck schedule and online ordering will be available on the restaurant's website.

Following the closing of Mr. Potato Spread at Regency, the mall's online directory lists a total of just 38 tenants, including restaurants Boba Blends, Catering by Chef Tony, First Coast Cookies, Funnel Cake Queen/Boricuajax Cafe, Mandarin Kitchen and Peru Kitchen.

Regency Square Mall lists its hours as 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. However, Food Court hours vary, according to the mall directory.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Mr. Potato Spread closes at Jacksonville's Regency Square Mall