JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Four years after expanding its popular barbecue concept to a second restaurant, The Bearded Pig is closing in Jacksonville Beach. 

“… It is with the heaviest of hearts to announce the permanent closure of our Jacksonville Beach location,” owners Michael Schmidt and Chad Munsey wrote in a social media post on Monday. 

The restaurant that opened in March 2021 at 1700 Third St. S. is expected to remain open through Sunday, April 6, they said in the post. 

“We opened this location at a difficult time, post covid, with extremely high construction costs and staffing shortages. Both combined make it difficult for the business to ever have financial success,” the social post continued. “As with any business endeavor, you have to know when it’s time to say goodbye and we have certainly learned a number of lessons in regards to our business and the ever-changing Jacksonville markets.” 

The Bearded Pig’s San Marco restaurant remains open. There, Schmidt and Munsey plan to “direct all our focus and energy into its continued success,” by introducing new menu items, expanding bar options and growing the restaurant’s catering options, the post said. ‘

The San Marco location opened in 2021 at a new, three-story, 5,417-square-foot building at 1808 Kings Ave., five years after the concept made its debut a half-mile away, in a small space at 1224 Kings Ave. 

Known for its smoked meats drawing on Texas and Carolina influences, The Bearded Pig also features Southern-style starters and sides — staples of any Jacksonville barbecue joint. But from its start in the smaller San Marco spot, The Bearded Pig has been more than just a barbecue joint, offering draught beer, wines and craft cocktails in a beer garden setting for adults as well as an outdoor area for its youngest patrons. 

“We want to say a very heart felt thank you to all of the guests that have dined with us over the years, enjoyed a cool drink on the patio, the kids who have adorned our chalk walls with amazing art and our staff that have poured their hearts into serving the community,” the social post continued.