“The crazy thing, we're out there putting it up, [and] people are honking, high five and thumbs up. It was really cool. That was awesome.” 

Rarely has there been such anticipation for a restaurant to open. Then again, Grumpy’s Restaurant is a rare find. 

The restaurants in Orange Park and Middleburg have been voted Best of Clay for breakfast and brunch for eight consecutive years, while it’s been voted as the Bold City Best for nine years in a row in Jacksonville. When the Hoards, who also own the Middleburg store, decided to expand to Fleming Island, it was hailed with considerable anticipation. Work on the overhaul of the former Dick’s Wings has taken all summer. 

The hopeful opening date for early summer was pushed back several times, but Hoard Sr. said they expect to start offering food from “the bad mood dude,” on Monday, Oct. 12. 

Eager – and hungry – customers will quickly notice changes from the customary restaurants. 

The Fleming Island location will have 17 tables and 13 booths in the main restaurant, and it can accommodate between 20-and-30 in a party room. 

It also will have a game room where children can play for free, as well as a full bar. That’s right, a full bar. 

“We’re still going to close at 2 p.m.,” Hoard Jr. said. “We’ll be selling a lot of specialty drinks like Mimosas and Bloody Marys. “The other stores seat 107. Counting the party room, we can be pushing anywhere from, you know, 170 to 190 in here. Having that party room that seats 20 to 30 people, that is going to be so big. 

“We expect that to be full, especially Friday, Saturday, Sunday, but hopefully all throughout the week. We want to try to get different groups, church groups, whatever groups, like car groups coming in in the morning, having their gatherings in that place.” 

The new location also has larger restrooms. Customary Grumpy’s have one stall for men and women. The Fleming Island store will have four in each restroom. 

“It was hard to turn down a spot like this,” Hoard Jr. said. “This is just a much bigger store. It's going to be a lot more to handle, but we're up to it, especially since we’ve had years at Middleburg to get ready for this. So, we're pretty prepared.” 

And everyone can still pick from some of Grumpy’s classics. In addition to daily specials, Grumpy’s is known for its super-sized breakfast specials like two eggs, two pancakes, bacon, sausage links or patties, a choice of grits, hash browns or home fries and a drink. 

Other popular dishes include pancakes; a patriotic red, white and blue waffle made with strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream; giant omelets; an assortment of eggs Benedict dishes; meatloaf and turkey plates; country fried steak; chicken pot pie; chicken and waffles; burgers; hot sandwiches; and their fresh-squeezed orange juice. 

The Grumpy’s brand has become so synonymous with Clay County diners, it rallied around the Hoards and its employees when the Middleburg location was closed on Jan. 19, 2022, after a fire swept through the restaurant. The next day, Sheriff Michelle Cook offered one of her staff training rooms across the street at the Middleburg substation for an impromptu staff meeting. The Middleburg Chick-fil-A delivered sandwiches and drinks to employees and stores like Walmart donated thousands of dollars of materials to the store and its employees. 

Chick-fil-A also changed its marquee along Blanding Boulevard. And like the temporary sign in front of the new Grumpy’s on Fleming Island, residents honked and gave a thumbs up when they read, “Grumpy’s strong.”