European Street Cafe has submitted plans for a $200,000 restaurant build-out at Jacksonville's Riverfront Plaza, moving closer to opening its fourth Duval County location.

The city is reviewing a permit application to build out 2,367 square feet at 2 Independent Drive W., Unit 1, inside the park pavilion, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported Oct. 19. A floor plan lists 2,444 square feet, while a proposed city incentive agreement identifies 2,377 square feet. The figures could change as plans undergo review.

Intracoastal Builders Corp. of Jacksonville is the contractor for the estimated $200,000 project. Doherty Sommers Architects Engineers Inc. of Jacksonville Beach is the architect, and NV5 Inc. of Jacksonville is providing private plan review.

City approves $71,310 incentive

The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) voted 8-0 on Sept. 16 to approve a $71,310 forgivable loan for the project under the city's Core Retail Enhancement Program. The vote constituted final action, with no City Council approval required.

The loan would go to E Street Riverfront Inc., whose president is European Street Cafe owner Andrew Zarka.

Total build-out costs are estimated at $412,058, according to a proposed agreement between the city and E Street Riverfront Inc. The incentive is structured as a no-interest loan, with approximately one-third forgiven annually over three years if the borrower meets the agreement's requirements and avoids default.

Under the proposed terms, construction must begin within three months of the agreement's effective date and be substantially completed within nine months after that. Restaurant operations must begin no later than one year after the agreement takes effect.

The DIA meeting also included a lighter moment involving one of the restaurant's signature sandwiches.

Board member Patrick Krechowski noticed that a staff report did not list European Street's Blue Max sandwich, a pastrami-and-corned-beef variation of a Reuben, among the planned menu items.

He asked Zarka whether the sandwich would be available downtown. After Zarka confirmed it would, Krechowski replied, "In that case, I move for approval of Resolution 2026-09-03," the Daily Record reported.

The board then voted unanimously.

New cafe will serve park visitors

The downtown location will feature indoor counter service and outdoor cafe-style seating overlooking Riverfront Plaza, according to a DIA staff report.

The restaurant plans to adapt its existing concept to a smaller, faster-service format aimed at downtown workers, residents, tourists and park visitors.

Its menu will include European Street favorites such as sandwiches, soups and salads, along with breakfast items, coffee beverages, Italian ice, desserts, beer and wine.

Proposed hours are 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Hours could be extended for special events.

Mayor Donna Deegan's office announced July 6 that European Street Cafe had been selected through a competitive request-for-proposals process to operate the city-owned dining space.

At the time, the city projected an opening by late fall 2026. An updated opening date has not been announced.

Family business expands downtown

European Street Cafe traces its roots to 1980, when Mary and Lew Zarka purchased a Mr. Dunderbak's German deli franchise at Regency Square Mall.

The family transformed the business into European Street Cafe in 1990, according to the city's announcement and the restaurant's website.

The Riverside location opened in August 1992, followed by San Marco in August 1996 and Jacksonville Beach in 2005.

Andrew Zarka later joined his mother in running the family business after his father's death in 2006, according to a Resident News profile.

The company currently operates three restaurants in Duval County, at 2753 Park St. in Riverside, 1704 San Marco Blvd. in San Marco and 992 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach.

The new restaurant will occupy part of the city-owned pavilion at Riverfront Plaza, which stands on the former Jacksonville Landing site. The Landing was demolished in 2019 and 2020.

The city opened the $38 million first phase of Riverfront Plaza in December 2025. The project included the cafe building, a rooftop playground, riverwalk improvements, an event lawn and a pedestrian connection to the Jacksonville Performing Arts Center.

The pavilion shell was constructed separately from the restaurant's interior build-out, which is now undergoing permitting.

With its incentive approved and construction plans under review, European Street Cafe is advancing toward its downtown debut. The city has not announced a confirmed opening date.