October 22, 2026 // Franchising.com // JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Grumpy’s Restaurant, the Northeast Florida breakfast, brunch and lunch brand known for homestyle cooking and Southern hospitality, officially opened its sixth location on Monday, October 12th, at 1803 East West Parkway in Fleming Island. The restaurant is locally owned and operated by Peggy Hoard, Dell Hoard Sr. and Dell Hoard Jr., who also own Grumpy’s Restaurant in Middleburg, which they opened in 2020 as the brand’s first franchise owners.
“Opening our sixth Grumpy’s Restaurant location in Fleming Island is an incredibly special milestone for me, both personally and professionally,” said Daniel DeLeon, President & CEO of Grumpy’s Restaurant. “I grew up right here in the Fleming Island area and have been a longtime resident of this community, so having the opportunity to bring Grumpy’s to my hometown means more to me than I can put into words. To see how much this community has grown over the years and now be part of that growth through a brand we've worked so hard to build is truly rewarding.”
Before opening to the public, the restaurant hosted two charity soft-opening events on October 9th and 10th that raised $13,031.54. 100% of the funds raised will be split equally between the brand’s two community charity partners: First Coast YMCA and Fleming Island High School Football Program. Grumpy’s will present checks to both organizations in the coming days.
The Hoards were the first franchisees in the Grumpy’s system, opening Grumpy’s Restaurant Middleburg on October 5th, 2020, almost exactly six years before Fleming Island. Middleburg is the family’s hometown: Dell Hoard Jr., who left a career with U.S. Customs to become a restaurant owner, attended Middleburg Elementary, Wilkinson Junior High and Middleburg High School, where his father coached. After a fire devastated their Middleburg restaurant in 2022, the family rebuilt and reopened it in 2023, demonstrating their resilience and love for the brand.
“When we opened Middleburg in 2020, we said it was just the beginning for our family, and Fleming Island proves it,” said Dell Hoard Jr., co-owner of Grumpy’s Restaurant Fleming Island. “We grew up in Clay County, and this community has supported us every step of the way. Expanding into Fleming Island gives us another chance to build a place where families and friends come together over great food, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone.”
Guests waiting for a table can visit the Grumpy’s Game Room, which features seven refurbished classic arcade games that are all free to play. In keeping with a longtime Grumpy’s tradition, guests are also offered complimentary coffee and water while they wait. The restaurant includes a dedicated to-go and pickup area with designated pickup parking.
Grumpy’s Restaurant Fleming Island is open daily for dine-in breakfast, brunch and lunch, with mimosas available. Rather than launching every service at once, the restaurant will introduce additional offerings in phases, so its team can master each one before adding the next.
“We don’t want to rush to do everything,” said DeLeon. “We want to take the time to be great at everything we do.”
Coming soon are an expanded beer, wine, champagne and specialty beverage program featuring house-made sangria, along with call-ahead seating. These will be followed by a specialty coffee program, catering, third-party delivery and a private dining room that seats up to 30 guests.
Grumpy’s Restaurant Fleming Island 1803 East West Parkway, Fleming Island, FL 32003. Open daily, 5:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., call (904) 938-2821 or visit www.GrumpysRestaurantCo.com.
Founded on the belief that great food brings people together, Grumpy’s Restaurant delivers high-quality, made-from-scratch comfort food with warm, Southern hospitality, all at a working-class price. Designed for operational consistency and scalable growth, the brand currently operates six locations across Northeast Florida, with continued expansion underway.
Serving breakfast, lunch, and brunch daily, Grumpy’s features fresh-made classics, rotating chalkboard specials, homemade soups, signature coffee, fresh juices, and house-made desserts.
For more information about the Grumpy’s Restaurant franchise opportunity, visit:
www.GrumpysFranchise.com or www.GrumpysRestaurantCo.com.
SOURCE Grumpy’s Restaurant
Founded in 2001 and franchising since 2019, Grumpy's Restaurant is a traditional Americana, full-service restaurant offering breakfast, lunch and brunch.