Known for authentic “northern-style” fried cod, lobster rolls and fries, a popular family-owned seafood restaurant abruptly closed its last Jacksonville-area location, revealing that its co-owner is battling cancer.
Jax Fish Fry shut its doors abruptly at The Fountains at St. Johns center off County Road 210 nearly three years after opening there.
Husband-and-wife owners Roger Alexanian and Dori Blockberger-Alexanian announced the closure in an emotional post on social media Saturday morning, Aug. 8.
Blockberger-Alexanian has been battling cancer for almost two years, they revealed on Facebook
“The cancer has not improved as we hoped. She is still fighting and has no intention of giving up. We decided to close Jax Fish Fry and concentrate on the care plan and enjoy our time together,” they posted. “Thank you for supporting Jax Fish Fry over the years. We truly enjoyed serving you!”
Jax Fish Fry a shared dream ’18 years in the making’
The closure of Jax Fish Fry in Saint Johns comes nearly eight months after its original restaurant closed at 8380 Baymeadows Road in Jacksonville. After six years, the couple closed the Baymeadows location in December 2025 when its lease expired.
They opened the Saint Johns restaurant in October 2023. Opening the seafood restaurant was a dream “18 years in the making,” Blockberger-Alexanian told the Times-Union at that time.
“We wanted to bring a little bit of the North to the South,” she said back then.
Jax Fish Fry was inspired by Roger Alexanian’s love of a fried cod sandwich unique to Upstate New York. The sandwich and other northern-style fish fry fare is a “must-have meal” whenever the couple visited family in his hometown of Troy, New York.
“What sets us apart is there’s really nowhere here that you can get a fried cod sandwich like ours,” Blockberger-Alexanian noted.
In addition to its freshly made-to-order seafood sandwiches and baskets, Jax Fish Fry was popular for its bakery offering cakes, New York-style cheesecakes, cookies and more sweet treats — all made in-house from scratch with family recipes.
New northern seafood restaurant plans to replace Jax Fish Fry
Although Jax Fish Fry is closed, the couple posted that Ned’s New England Deck, based in Fairfax, Virginia, another northern-style seafood restaurant, will be replacing them.
“We are excited to welcome the new restaurant taking over our space. They too are ‘bringin a little north to the south.’ We look forward to the chef-inspired menu and variety NED’S will bring to the Fountains,” the couple said in their farewell post.
Ned’s ownership couldn’t be reached immediately for comment. The restaurant offers New England-style seafood, specializing in regional coastal fare, according to its website.
The online menu for Ned’s lists dishes including a Down East Lobster Roll showcasing Maine lobster, clam chowder, lobster bisque, whole-belly fried clams, and North Shore beef sandwiches.
Also featured are a Penobscot Bay Crab Roll, Sesame Tuna Wrap, and platters showcasing whole-belly clams, fried scallops, fish and chips and popcorn shrimp, the menu shows.
No opening date has been announced for Ned’s.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Popular family-owned seafood restaurant closes in St. Johns County
Reporting by Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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By Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY Network
