Southern Grounds, BurgerFi to come to Jacksonville International Airport

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two Florida-based restaurants with strong Jacksonville-area ties are coming to the Jacksonville International Airport.

Southern Grounds will be coming to Concourse A this fall, according to a release from HMSHost.

BurgerFi will be located in Concourse B and its opening will coincide with the construction going on in Concourse B.

HMSHost said the two restaurants are part of a 10-year contract valued at approximately $60 million that the Jacksonville Aviation Authority awarded to global restaurateur HMSHost, and its Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise joint venture partner Lee Wesley Group Inc.

Southern Grounds will be serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks, pastries and other bakery items, as well as gourmet coffee and teas. The menu includes artisan sandwiches, salads, and tartines, including gluten-free, vegetarian and health-forward options for various eating preferences, as well as freshly prepared grab-and-go items for those in a hurry.

The expansion in dining options comes as the airport continues to grow.

In March, Action News Jax first told you about plans to add a third concourse at the airport.

The JAA announced that it reached a record-high passenger count in 2019, as 7.2 million passengers flew through Jacksonville International Airport -- a 12 percent increase over 2018 when 6.4 million passengers traveled through JAX.