Plank & Barrel Restaurant Proposed at Former Cedar River Seafood Site on Sadler Road

The former Cedar River restaurant (right) has plans to become a reservation-preferred bourbon and fine dining room (left).

By Mike Lednovich/Editor

A longtime restaurant along Fernandina Beach’s busy beach corridor is being redeveloped into a new upscale dining destination according to preliminary plans submitted to the city for review.

Documents filed with the City of Fernandina Beach show a proposal to transform the former Cedar River Seafood restaurant property at 2728 Sadler Road, more recently operating as Atlantic Seafood, into a new concept called Plank & Barrel.

The proposal was submitted to the city’s Technical Review Committee (TRC) by applicant Kenneth Lingafelt for what the city calls a “first step” review — an early meeting where city staff provide guidance on zoning, infrastructure and development requirements before a formal application moves forward.

According to the submission, the project would renovate the existing restaurant structure and construct a large new addition designed to create a higher-end coastal dining venue.

Initial plans call for:

• Renovation of the existing building into a reservation-preferred bourbon and fine dining room

• Construction of a 40-foot by 90-foot cathedral-style addition

• Approximately 3,000 square feet of indoor dining space

• A 1,500-square-foot covered outdoor dining area with operable garage doors connecting the indoor and outdoor seating areas.

The project description said the concept is an effort to “elevate” the existing restaurant use while maintaining a pedestrian-friendly destination near the beach hotels along Sadler Road.

Occasional live music could be featured in the covered outdoor dining space, with the applicant stating that sound levels would comply with the city’s 11 p.m. noise limitations.

The property has hosted restaurants serving beach visitors and residents for decades.

Built in 1989, for many years it operated as Cedar River Seafood, part of a North Florida seafood chain known for casual dining and large portions of fried seafood and shrimp. The Fernandina Beach location became a familiar stop for visitors traveling between the beach and Amelia Island Parkway.

In recent years the building transitioned to Atlantic Seafood, which continued the seafood-focused menu but with a more locally branded concept. The restaurant ultimately closed, leaving the building vacant along one of the island’s busiest commercial corridors.

The proposed redevelopment would represent a significant private reinvestment in the 0.86-acre property, which is zoned C-1 commercial under the city’s land development code.

According to the application, the restaurant’s location within walking distance of several oceanfront hotels is intended to encourage visitors to walk to dinner rather than drive, helping reduce traffic along the beach corridor.

The first step review Thursday does not constitute approval of the project but allows city staff to identify potential issues related to parking, building design, utilities and site access before a formal development application is submitted.