3. Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q - 1949
4970 Beach Boulevard Jacksonville, FL
(Courtesy of Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q Facebook page)
In business for 71 years, Bono’s is Jacksonville’s second longest continuously operating barbecue restaurant. The first Bono’s was established by Lou Bono in 1949, near the intersection of Kings Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard in San Marco. Making room for the construction of the Jacksonville Expressway (now I-95), Bono’s relocated a few miles east to 4970 Beach Boulevard.
Lou’s vision was to cook meats the “traditional” way—in specifically designed pit, over wood, with a pit master standing watch. This method is still in place today; as Bono’s has never strayed away from authentic barbecue. Bono’s continues to have success under the careful watch of current owners Joe Adeeb and his daughters, Kirsten and Katie. Bono’s has transformed from a local operation to a large enterprise with twenty restaurant locations in Florida and Colorado.
(Courtesy of Bono’s Pit Bar-B-Q Facebook page)
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2. Fred Cotten’s Landmark BBQ - 1946
1417 N Main Street Jacksonville, FL
(Courtesy of Fred Cotten’s Landmark BBQ Facebook page)
The original Fred Cotten’s opened its doors in 1946 at 2623 North Main Street in New Springfield. Fred Cotten, the owner, and his family served up delicious barbecue—never changing their recipe. The Cotten family ran the joint all the way up to 2000, when the restaurant was sold to Bill Cowart.
Cowart ran the business just the same, but eventually closed in 2014. This was only temporary though, as Melanie Dosztan purchased the space and re-opened the barbecue favorite. They were even able to stick to the original legendary recipe by re-hiring Johnnie Brown, who had been stoking the pit’s fire six days a week since 1989. In 2018, the restaurant relocated to a larger building in Springfield, allowing it to expand to serve seafood and beer.
(Courtesy of Fred Cotten’s Landmark BBQ Facebook page)
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1. Holley’s BBQ - 1937
3604 Moncrief Road Jacksonville, FL
(Courtesy of Holley’s BBQ Instagram page)
Established by Jack Holley in 1937, Holley’s BBQ is Jacksonville’s oldest and longest continuously operating barbecue restaurant. A historic space in Moncrief, Holley’s is said to be the place where curly fries were invented!
“My dad’s brother Leroy made the machine that curled the fries. I could dig it up. My dad could have had a patent on it, but he couldn’t read nor write, so he got bamboozled.” - Wendy Holley.
That may be a little Jacksonville history that most may not know. In a recently published book written by Mark Winne, “Food Town USA, Seven Unlikely Cities That Are Changing The Way We Eat”, the author visited the Northside hole-in-wall and asked the owner if the curly fry rumor was true. Despite not being officially credited with the invention or largely promoted by the mainstream, Holley’s continues its tradition of serving up ribs and curly fries.
(Courtesy of Holley’s BBQ Instagram page)
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Article by Ennis Davis, AICP and Kristen Pickrell. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com