We’re guessing there won’t be a drive-thru.
Caviar and escargot are on the menu for a planned restaurant and private club on N. Roscoe Boulevard, part of a hotly anticipated waterfront project backed by prominent oilman and philanthropist Alex Cranberg.
Representatives for Cranberg revealed the fine-dining focus during a recent county review session, when officials asked whether the venue would be fast-casual or sit-down—a distinction that affects parking and traffic planning.
The response: decidedly the latter, with upscale offerings such as escargot and caviar underscoring its haute cuisine concept.
The project, operating under Shark Tooth Dining LLC, will replace the former site of Lulu’s Waterfront Grille, which closed in 2021. County officials recently signed off on demolition of the existing building, clearing the way for construction.
Cranberg, a successful businessman and national conservative figure, purchased the 1.34-acre parcel at 301 N. Roscoe Blvd. for $4.1 million in late 2024.
He plans to open a public restaurant with a private second-story club, which he described as a space for some of the area’s “most interesting and prominent residents and visitors.”
“The owners of Shark Tooth Dining will create an innovative new restaurant and club for Ponte Vedra,” Cranberg previously told The Citizen of his vision. “Its purpose is to serve the community in an inviting and beautiful space.”
Plans submitted to the county call for 207 total seats across indoor and outdoor dining areas, plus 69 parking spaces. The project will span roughly 10,000, representatives revealed at last month’s meeting.
Cranberg, who moved to the area from Colorado more than a decade ago, owns a home on Ponte Vedra Boulevard and chairs Aspect Energy, a private oil and gas firm. His wife, Cathy Cranberg, serves as CEO of the company.
A longtime supporter of school choice, Cranberg founded the Alliance for Choice in Education, which has provided over $100 million in scholarships for low-income students attending private schools.
He’s also known for his influential political ties, having appeared at a policy summit last summer alongside Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
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