BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — It looks like Zaxby’s is coming to Bradford County.
Three parcels south of Starke sold for $700,000 in January to MattsZax301 Inc., which is owned by Matthew Karlton of Lake City, owner of a few Zaxby’s locations.
The location is at the northern entrance of Deerwood Subdivision, across from Walmart. The parcels were rezoned for commercial use after being acquired by New River Land Development. The change also made the way for Main Street Family Care, the urgent care center that opened last year.
The timeline for Zaxby’s is uncertain, but the Bradford County Building and Zoning Department confirmed that a “rough” site plan has been submitted.
Zaxby’s is a relatively young franchise. The first location opened by childhood friends in Statesboro, Georgia, in 1990. According to the company, it was one of the first premium quick service restaurants. Based on the success of the original, the owners decided to franchise the brand in 1994.
The restaurant is most known known for its chicken and its sauce. Originally made by hand, the sauce recipe remains a well-guarded secret. As for the chicken, it appears in wing or finger form in a variety of meals, sandwiches and “Zalads.”
More on the way?
Harbor Freight opened weeks ago, and there are still plans for Five Below to come to Starke.
Two more newbies could be joining them in Bradford Square, where the parking lot was recently resurfaced.
According to city hall, there has been interest from a well-known retailer as well as another new restaurant.
It was too soon for anyone with the city of Starke to go on record, however, as no plans have been submitted or permits pulled.
Zoning for solar panel project
According to Zoning Director Randy Andrews, the county’s application to rezone around 38 acres at the at the old landfill on State Road 100 is related to a solar farm.
The county plans to change the property from conservation to agriculture to accommodate the project, which was brought to them by Keystone Heights RV Resort. Andrews said the small project — seven or eight acres — would provide power for the nearby resort if the business was to acquire the property.
The county separately advertised a commercial rezoning for Keystone Plumbing, which would bring the property into compliance, Andrews said.
The Building and Zoning meeting will take place at the courthouse at 6 p.m. on March 16.
