A popular restaurant and bar nestled between a lake and The Tournament Players Club will soon transform into a new dining destination in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Pusser’s Caribbean Bar & Grille is undergoing renovations and will soon unveil itself as Craig’s Beach House, with expanded food and beverage offerings and what its creators call “an enhanced sports bar experience.”
The new venue is named after restaurateur Craig Miller, who is working with Gary Rogalski, president and CEO of Pusser’s Rum LTD, to redesign the restaurant.
Miller’s hospitality leadership experience includes executive roles with Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Uno Restaurants, and Brio and Bravo Italian restaurants. He was chairman of the National Restaurant Association.
“Our vision is to create a place where great food, genuine hospitality, and a lively atmosphere come together,” Miller said in a news release announcing the change. “Whether you’re joining us for dinner, meeting friends for cocktails, or cheering on your favorite team, we want Craig’s Beach House to feel like your favorite neighborhood gathering spot.”
Pusser’s current entrance in the Shoppes of Veranda in Ponte Vedra Beach. | Pusser’s Caribbean Grille
Pusser’s Grille opened almost 20 years ago at its current site at 816 State Road A1A, on a small lake at the Shoppes of Veranda, now next to a Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.
The name is one used by Britain’s Royal Navy in the past, referring to a “pusser” (short for purser), the ship’s officer whose duties included passing out the daily rum ration to sailors.
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Numerous other Pusser’s Grille’s have opened around the world since, all offering cocktails using Pusser’s Rum, launched in 1979 by Charles Tobias.
“Thus, Pusser’s Rum, Pusser’s restaurants, and Pusser’s Landing are separate identities,” the news release said. “But they are chapters of a single story: from sea to shore, from bottle to table, from sailor to guest.”
Restaurant officials say they plan to keep Pusser’s open throughout the transition, which is expected to take a few months.
The owners say “significant investments” have already been made to upgrade the restaurant’s audiovisual capabilities and sports viewing experience. That work is aimed at making it a venue to watch Jacksonville Jaguars and college football games in a scenic waterfront setting, Craig’s Beach House officials said.
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