The Atlantic Beach corner where Ragtime Tavern served coconut shrimp and house-brewed beer for more than 40 years is getting its next chapter.
River Restaurant Group broke ground Sept. 30 on Grafton & Fleck's, an upscale steakhouse and rooftop lounge at the former Ragtime property, 299 Atlantic Blvd. The restaurant is expected to open in summer 2027.
"We're honored to be part of the next chapter of this property," said Jeff McCusker, co-founder of River Restaurant Group. "Generations of people have gathered here, and we want to respect that history while creating a destination that reflects the character of Atlantic Beach. Our goal is to build a place where people can celebrate special occasions, enjoy a great meal and make new memories."
A Beaches landmark
Ragtime opened in 1983 as a small Cajun seafood spot with 12 tables and a single bar. Through the 1980s and 1990s it grew to include a larger dining room, Salud and the Taproom & Brewery, where it brewed its own beer. Ragtime is widely credited as the Jacksonville area's first microbrewery. Its founders, the Morton brothers, went on to open A1A Ale Works in St. Augustine in 1995.
Known for red beans and rice, coconut shrimp and weekend live music, Ragtime anchored The Corner, where Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach meet at Beaches Town Center. It closed in January 2025. One month earlier, Houston-based SPB Hospitality had sold the restaurant business to Kelly Cos. of Southern California. SPB did not own the building.
The building dates to 1927, according to the Duval County Property Appraiser. It is owned by Rad Lovett of Southcoast Capital Partnership, and the property has been in his family for generations. Lovett, formally W. Radford Lovett II, is president of Southcoast Capital Corp., a Jacksonville holding company that invests in private companies, public companies and real estate. He is a former member of the University of North Florida Board of Trustees.
Southcoast Capital Partnership developed the project with River Restaurant Group. The partnership's portfolio includes several mixed-use and hospitality properties at the Beaches.
"We look for operators who are committed to creating places that contribute to the character of the community," Lovett said. "River Restaurant Group shares that philosophy, and we're excited to see this project come to life."
Steakhouse downstairs, lounge upstairs
Grafton & Fleck's will cover more than 8,000 square feet on two levels. The first floor will hold a steakhouse built around chef-driven cuisine and wood-fired cooking, with private dining rooms and a full-service bar.
"We really prioritized sound reduction throughout the space so guests can actually hear the person across from them, a rare thing these days," McCusker said. "The goal is a truly intimate dining experience."
Upstairs, a rooftop lounge with indoor and outdoor seating will overlook Beaches Town Center and serve cocktails, dinner and evening entertainment. McCusker told Action News Jax the rooftop will be walk-up, with no reservations. Valet parking will be available.
"Atlantic Beach has a unique personality, and we wanted to create something that feels authentic to the community," said Robert Fleckenstein, co-founder of River Restaurant Group. "As a locally owned group, we understand what this corner means to Atlantic Beach. Our goal is to create a place that feels like it has always belonged here, somewhere people will celebrate, gather and come back to for years to come."
Cronk Duch Architects designed the restaurant, and Rebecca Davisson Interior Design is handling the interiors. Some elements of the Ragtime building will remain, including an interior brick partition, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported. Fleckenstein estimated construction will cost about $6 million. Phil Whitehill of RLH Construction joined Lovett, McCusker and Fleckenstein at the groundbreaking.
The partners behind the name
Grafton & Fleck's is named for the group's founders, Jeffrey Grafton McCusker and Robert Fleckenstein. The two formed River Restaurant Group in 2017, when they opened River & Post, a restaurant and rooftop lounge at 1000 Riverside Ave. in Jacksonville. They opened River & Fort in St. Augustine in 2022, then Saint, an Italian restaurant in downtown St. Augustine. Grafton & Fleck's will be the group's fourth restaurant.
McCusker started in the restaurant business at 14, washing dishes. He later gained management experience with Southern Table Hospitality, the Jacksonville group behind Marker 32 and the Fish Camp restaurants. Fleckenstein owns Summit Contractors Group. The partners say they draw on their respective strengths in construction and hospitality.
