Sweet treats are made of these: 2 new dessert-driven concepts coming to St. Johns Town Center area

There are decadent milkshakes – and then there are The Yard Milkshake Bar milkshakes, like the Peanut Butter Finger Waffle: honey-roasted peanut butter ice cream in a peanut butter-dipped mason jar rolled in crushed Butterfinger and topped with whipped cream, peanut butter drizzle, Butterfinger and a waffle. 

That’s a mouthful to say and a mouthful to eat. 

It’s just one of 18 specialty shakes served in souvenir mason jars that will be offered at The Yard Milkshake Bar when it opens its first Northeast Florida restaurant later this year at The Strand at Town Center, next door to Grub Burger Bar, in the former Yogurt Mountain spot. 

[Keep reading for more news, including the latest on the devastating fire at Grumpy's Middleburg restaurant; the planned closing of an award-winning Jacksonville craft brewery; and the opening of 1928 Cuban Bistro's third restaurant.]

According to the restaurant’s website, The Yard also offers more than two dozen ice cream flavors, including some that are gluten-free and vegan friendly, that can be topped with your choice of dozens of options ranging from tried-and-true sprinkles to rainbow whipped cream, cotton candy cloud and more. 

Or for something different, choose from several flavors of edible cookie dough, including Nutella Brownie, M&M Sugar Cookie, Peanut Butter Monster and more. 

Founded in 2017 in Gulf Shores, Ala., the concept has grown to at least 20 locations helped, in part, by a 2019 appearance on Shark Tank by founders Logan and Chelsea Green. In Florida, The Yark Milkshake Bar operates restaurants in Panama City, Destin and Tampa. 

In Jacksonville, The Yard will join Bon Chon, Grub Burger Bar, Keke’s Breakfast Café, Mission BBQ, Planet Smoothie, Domu, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Chuy’s, Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill, Fogo de Chao and Moe’s Southwest Grill at The Strand. 

But The Yard isn’t the only decadent dessert shop on tap for the Town Center. 

Sugar Factory American Brasserie, the upscale confectionery and restaurant made popular by celebrities and social media influencers, plans to take over the former Brio Tuscan Grille spot at nearby Markets at Town Center later this year. 

Known for its $25, celebrity-endorsed couture pops, Las Vegas-based Sugar Factory offers its own decadent desserts, including $20 milkshakes, $17 sundaes and its $99 “World Famous Sugar Factory King Kong Sundae” featuring 24 scoops of ice cream topped with dark chocolate, caramel and strawberry sauces, banana, marshmallows and even a glazed doughnut, red velvet cupcake and more. 

Sugar Factory also offers a menu of signature burgers, soups, salads and sandwiches as well as steaks, seafood and pasta entrees.

The restaurant has nearly 20 locations open in the United States, including four in Florida, in Miami, Tampa and Orlando, according to its website. 

In other news

TAKE A DRINK ON THE WILD SIDE: Jacksonville’s Veterans United Craft Brewery is launching Endangered NEIPA, a New England-style India Pale Ale, to bring awareness to Yulee-based Wild Animal Health Fund’s mission to slow and stop the extinction of animals by raising money to fund health research studies of zoo animals and wildlife. The new brew will be available at the craft brewery’s taproom at 8999 Western Way and other locations beginning Friday, Feb. 4. 

FORGET THE COOKIES: When you donate blood through January 31, you can get a free dozen from Krispy Kreme. To bring awareness to the nationwide blood shortage, the chain famous for its glazed doughnuts is giving a dozen to anyone who shows proof of blood donation and date via donor band or sticker or donor app. Offer only available at participating shops. 

More restaurant news below.

Have a question about a restaurant opening or closing in your neighborhood? Let me know.

Cheers!

Gary Mills 

Deputy Managing Editor 

The Florida Times-Union 

Email: gmills@jacksonville.com 

Twitter: @garytmills