A mainstay family-friendly St. Johns County restaurant and sports bar quietly closed after at least 20 years with a heartfelt, handwritten note thanking customers and the community for its support.
Dick's Wings & Grill shut its doors Sept. 18 at 965 State Road 16 in the Publix-anchored Shoppes of Mission Trace retail center in northwest St. Augustine.
Franchise owner James Redman confirmed the closure to the Times-Union. Describing it as a difficult decision, he said their family is relocating to New Jersey to be closer to other relatives. Remaining open — under separate franchise ownership — is Dick's Wings at 4010 U.S. 1 South, also in St. Augustine, which is now the sole St. Johns County location.
Founded locally, the fast-casual restaurant
chain owned by Jacksonville-based ARC Group Inc. lists a total of nine Northeast Florida locations and one in Southeast Georgia on its website.
The State Road 16 restaurant closure comes seven months after Dick's Wings in Nocatee Town Center shut its doors in February after 13 years. Michelin-recommended Asado Life, based in St. Augustine and Jacksonville, plans to open its third restaurant in a 3,415-square-foot Nocatee space.
Neighborhood mainstay
The State Road 16 restaurant dates back at least 20 years, said Redman, who is its third franchise owner.
Redman joined the restaurant as general manager and managing partner in 2014. He then worked his way up to become its franchise owner in 2020.
The restaurant originally was located about a quarter-mile away, but relocated to the current location in 2014, he said.
"I have wonderful, wonderful memories of my time here," he said of the people and community.
An emotional farewell
Redman recalled that when he came on board at the restaurant, the owner told him that "no matter what you have in the building, your fryers, your TVs, none of it matters unless you have good people."
"I wish I could say that I had good people, but I have great people," he said. "Over the years, my employees took care of me. I have nothing but thanks and appreciation for every single one of them that have worked for me."
His last day at the restaurant was filled with memories.
"On my last day, I opened up the employee files, and I just went through them one by one alphabetically and just had memories of each one of them. Some of them I hadn't even thought of in 10 years, but it was wonderful to think of them again. It was a nice trip down memory lane."
Redman said they've been able to find jobs for most of the restaurant's staff before it closed. But a couple couldn't relocate because of location or availability, he said.
"When you have great people, you want to give back to them and take care of them. That was one of my outgoing goals, was to make sure I took care of the people who took care of me," he said.
Redman announced the closure in a handwritten sign taped to the restaurant's front door.
"We will be closing 9/18 permanently as my family is relocating. I would like to thank all of you for the support over the years. This city and restaurant will hold a special place in my heart forever. With love, James," Redman wrote on the sign.
The end came at 7 p.m. that final day.
"We sold out of chicken wings at 6:58 p.m., and I had to close the door at that point," Redman said of their last day.
Restaurant will be missed
Dick's Wings on U.S. 1 South posted "A Fond Farewell To SR16" on its Facebook page in response to the closure announcement.
"We congratulate our fellow franchisee and wish him all the best in his future endeavors," read the post that also reminded people that the U.S. 1 South restaurant was ready to serve them.
Longtime customers also wished Redman and his family well.
"We have certainly enjoyed the great food and friendship over the past years. Thank you and good luck in your future endeavors," one customer posted on Facebook.
Redman said he will never forget their time at the restaurant.
"We have had so many great customers, employees and memories here in St. Augustine. This city and restaurant will always hold a special place in our hearts," he posted on Facebook.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: After 20 years, Dick's Wings closes St. Augustine SR 16 restaurant
