Olive Garden is opening a new location on an 11.4-acre parcel at the intersection of Blanding Boulevard and Henley Road in Middleburg, FL, as part of a new retail development by The Ferber Company, a privately held real estate firm headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach. The company closed on the parcel on August 7, with construction set to begin immediately and the location anticipated to open by late 2027.
Olive Garden has built its identity nationally around Italian American classics, unlimited breadsticks and salad, and a wide pasta menu, making it a familiar draw for family dining in growing suburban markets like Middleburg. The chain has continued to expand steadily across Florida in recent years as residential development pushes farther from Jacksonville proper.
Ferber executive vice president Tom Mundy said the completion of a segment of the First Coast Expressway at the end of 2025 created a rare opportunity, calling the site one of the last remaining tracts available for significant retail development along Blanding Boulevard inside the expressway corridor. According to the Jacksonville Business Journal, Mundy pointed to strong tenant demand tied to the new road network and continued residential growth in Clay County, particularly for full service, dine in restaurants, a category that fits squarely with Olive Garden’s format.
Ferber worked alongside project partners Franklin Street and Prime AE throughout planning, leasing and the municipal approval process to bring the development to life.
