After nearly seven decades of service, a longtime favorite beach restaurant is closing next month. The Surf Restaurant, Bar, and Motel announced its closure and sets September 20 as its final day of operation. The restaurant mentioned heavy competition and increasing costs as the key reasons for its shutdown.
Surf Restaurant is Closing Down This September
Founded in 1957, The Surf Restaurant is an open-air beach dining destination in Fernandina Beach.
The restaurant is known for its coastal-inspired menu, it includes fresh, locally sourced coastal ingredients, a large Tiki Bar, and American pub fare. It also serves creative cocktails with live music events and beachy vibes. Popular items on the menu include a Florida shrimp basket, fish and chips, and smokehouse chicken sandwiches.
Through an Instagram announcement, the restaurant shared the closure news with a farewell message. The Surf, located at 3199 S Fletcher Avenue in Fernandina Beach, will be closing its doors on September 20.
“We would like to thank our dedicated employees and loyal customers for their support over the years,” the restaurant added in the post.
What Led to the Closure
In the closure announcement post, the restaurant team shared that heavy competition, soft consumer spending, its own performance issues, and rising costs led to the closure decision.
The team wrote, “This is not a decision that was made lightly; we are aware of the local significance of and the many great memories that have been made at The Surf.”
Following the closure announcement, the loyal customers of the restaurant expressed their disappointment on social media. Several guests also shared heartfelt messages and cherished memories in the comments.
One of the customers commented, “We are loyal customers. This is our weekly “neighborhood” Friday happy hour hangout, 12 months a year for the past 10 years. We’ve met so many locals throughout the years at the surf. We will miss this spot.”
