Southern Roost will open first Florida restaurant in Yulee
Southern Roost will open in early summer 2026 offering hand-breaded chicken and Southern-style breakfast.
YULEE, FL — Southern Roost, a Georgia-based fast casual restaurant known for its Southern-style breakfast and chicken sandwiches, is expanding to Florida with a new location planned for early summer 2026 at 87 Wildworks Ave, Yulee, FL 32097.
Owner James Weathersby told Business Debut that the Yulee restaurant will mark the fourth Southern Roost and the brand’s first in Florida. Southern Roost operates under parent company Concept 99 Group, which also owns Jerry J’s and Hog-N-Bones.
What to Expect
The restaurant will feature a fast casual setup with counter service and double drive-thru lanes, plus a turf-front outdoor area with cornhole and a fire pit designed for families and the local community. The space will seat about 140 guests across indoor and outdoor areas.
Southern Roost’s menu centers on hand-breaded chicken tenders, sandwiches, and traditional Southern breakfast offerings. “We’re real big on drive-thru and hometown-style breakfast,” Weathersby told Business Debut.
Menu and Vision
The restaurant’s signature sandwich, The Dirty Bird, features crispy chicken, house-made pimento cheese, bacon jam, Southwest ranch, and fried pickles. Popular sides include grape salad and honey butter croissants, while desserts feature cookies and lemonade milkshakes.
Images from Southern Roost website
“All of our sauces are made in-house — about eight in total,” Weathersby said. “Our signature one is called ‘R Sauce,’ which is our top seller.” Other favorites include house-made ranch and pickle sauce crafted with freshly ground pickles.
Weathersby, who serves as president of Concept 99 Group alongside his brother Benji Crosby, said the family business has operated for generations. “My dad started Jerry J’s years ago in Waycross, Georgia. My brother and I grew up in the restaurant business and have continued to expand our concepts.”
Opening Timeline
The Yulee Southern Roost is targeting an early summer opening, likely in June 2026.
Hours
Typical hours for Southern Roost are 6 a.m.–9 p.m., though Yulee’s final hours may extend later on weekends.
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