Woody’s Bar-B-Q is getting a new home on Jacksonville’s Southside, with the longtime barbecue brand planning to open another location nearby this fall.
The new restaurant is expected to open around November according to the Jacksonville Business Journal, as owners Jack Dunsmoor and Kelly Harris continue to grow and update the 46-year-old brand.
Dunsmoor and Harris took over Woody’s in October 2025 through Greater Purpose Restaurant Group. Since then, the company has been focused on updating operations, expanding its digital presence and finding new ways to reach customers while continuing to build on Woody’s longtime barbecue roots.
According to the news outlet, sales have improved across most of Woody’s nearly 10 restaurants, and the brand has begun adding new locations after roughly a decade without opening a new restaurant.
The upcoming Southside location will also come as Woody’s makes a change to its original Jacksonville restaurant at 1638 University Blvd. S. The location, where founders Woody Mills and Yolanda Mills-Mawman opened the first Woody’s on July 1, 1980, is expected to close at the end of September.
Rather than leaving the area, the company is looking to relocate the restaurant nearby with the new Southside location.
The new restaurant will also arrive as Woody’s continues to experiment with its menu. One of the newer additions getting attention is beef ribs, which are currently offered as a weekly special.
The ribs receive an overnight smoke before being served, and according to the report, the special has been selling out at several Woody’s locations by lunchtime.
Woody’s continues to serve its core barbecue menu, including smoked meats, ribs, sandwiches and sides. The company’s website also offers online ordering and catering, while many of its locations feature drive-thru service.
Convenience has become an important part of the business under the new ownership, with the company putting more emphasis on online ordering, pickup and catering alongside traditional dine-in service.
The Southside opening comes at an interesting point for Woody’s. The brand was founded in Jacksonville more than four decades ago, but the new ownership is looking to move it forward with updated operations and continued expansion.
Woody’s currently has two Jacksonville restaurants, including the University Boulevard location and its restaurant at 5930 Powers Ave. The company also operates locations throughout Florida and in Durham, North Carolina.
For more information, visit Woody’s Bar-B-Q online.
