Known for its $99 King Kong Sundae and $175 24K Gold Burger, Sugar Factory American Brasserie has quietly closed at The Markets at Town Center in Jacksonville.
On June 19, would-be Sugar Factory diners found locked doors and a sign announcing the closing at the restaurant.
“We’re closing our doors, but the good times will stick with us forever!!” the sign read. “Thank you for the memories, the smiles, and the sugar highs. Thank you to the amazing Jacksonville team, St. Johns Town Center and every guest who stopped by for a bite, a sip or a sweet memory.”
The location was still listed on Sugar Factory’s website on June 19, but reservations were no longer being accepted.
Sugar Factory closing comes after recent restaurant inspections
Sugar Factory’s closing follows the temporary closure of the restaurant on June 8 after a state inspector noted 21 violations, including one for rodent activity after the discovery of 52 rodent droppings in multiple areas of the restaurant’s kitchen and food storage areas, in a report.
Follow-up inspections on June 9 and 10 resulted in extensions of the temporary closure to allow the restaurant additional time to correct multiple issues. During a fourth visit on June 12, an inspector noted that several violations had been corrected and that the restaurant would have additional time to correct other issues, including cleaning and repairs.
Sugar Factory opened in late March 2023 at 4910 Big Island Drive, in the former Brio Tuscan Grille spot vacated three years earlier. The opening came after nearly a year of postponements for the Las Vegas-based chain known for its “Instagrammable” decadent desserts and “over-the-top” entrees included on a menu of more affordable salads, sandwiches, pastas and burgers.
The restaurant was also known for its signature drinks “designed and tasted” by celebrities, including Kendall Jenner, Nick Jonas, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, George Clooney, Bruno Mars, Pitbull and others.
Sweets were the main attraction, though, including shakes priced $13 to $20 and sundaes ranging from the $19 “The Classic” to the $99 “King Kong Sundae,” featuring 20 scoops of ice cream topped with hot fudge, caramel and strawberry sauce, caramelized bananas, marshmallows, chocolate chip cookie pieces, a glazed doughnut and vanilla cupcake and a variety of candy, including Gummy bears, giant whirly pops and whipped cream, that served 12 people.
Other Sugar Factory locations that have closed
The closing is the latest for Sugar Factory, which shuttered locations in Indianapolis in 2024, Delray Beach, Florida, in 2025, and Detroit in May.
Other Sugar Factory locations remain open in Florida
Other locations in Florida, including Miami Beach, Orlando and Tampa, remain open.
Gary T. Mills is the deputy managing editor at The Florida Times-Union. He has led the newspaper’s dining coverage since 2010.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Sugar Factory closes at Markets at Town Center after 3 years
Reporting by Gary T. Mills and Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Gary T. Mills and Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
