News Summary
Jacksonville, Florida is set to welcome ‘Saucy by KFC’, a new restaurant concept from Yum! Brands. The first location will open in the city at 4816 Gate Parkway, converting an existing PDQ restaurant. This expansion is part of Yum! Brands’ strategy to enhance its presence in Florida. Saucy specializes in customizable chicken tenders and offers a variety of sauces. While some PDQ locations will close, existing employees will have the opportunity to apply for positions at the new Saucy locations. The opening date is yet to be announced.
Jacksonville, Florida will soon welcome a new dining option as Saucy by KFC prepares to open its first location in the city. The new restaurant is part of a broader strategy by Yum! Brands to expand its portfolio in Florida, converting an existing PDQ restaurant into the Saucy concept at 4816 Gate Parkway. This conversion is currently underway as the city reviews permits for the estimated $375,000 renovation.
The Jacksonville location of Saucy is part of a 13-property real estate transaction between PDQ and Yum! Brands, which operates the Saucy restaurant chain. The conversion process signifies a shift rather than an outright acquisition, as the PDQ brand itself will not be acquired, but rather specific locations will transition to Yum! Brands’ restaurant concepts.
Saucy, which opened its first location in December 2024 in Orlando, focuses on chicken tenders complemented by an array of 11 signature sauces. The menu at Saucy will feature meal customization options, allowing patrons to combine different sauces with their chicken tenders. The offering will also include toasted Hawaiian rolls, crinkle-cut fries, coleslaw, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.
As part of this transformation, employees at the affected PDQ locations will have the opportunity to apply for positions at the upcoming Saucy restaurants. PDQ management has expressed gratitude to customers during this transitional period, indicating that while some locations will close, the brand remains committed to its guests.
The opening date for the Jacksonville Saucy location has yet to be announced. In addition to Jacksonville, Yum! Brands plans to begin conversions at four PDQ locations in Central Florida, three in North Florida, and six on the West Coast of Florida starting this month. The overall development strategy proposed by Yum! Brands emphasizes a customer-focused approach to meal choices and flavor combinations.
Existing PDQ locations in Jacksonville, including those in Bartram Park and Beach and Hodges boulevards, are expected to close by the end of the year. However, Yum! Brands has not provided detailed information regarding which other PDQ locations will be converted to the Saucy brand or which will remain unchanged.
The Orlando location of Saucy has already garnered attention for its modern design and tech-forward customer experience. The restaurant’s menu showcases a variety of sauces, including five ranch flavors, sweet and spicy barbecue, spicy mango chutney, and creole honey mustard, appealing to a broad range of taste preferences.
The development of Saucy in Jacksonville represents part of a significant investment by Yum! Brands aimed at expanding its reach in Florida. By transforming existing PDQ locations into Saucy, the company is clearly positioning itself to address growing consumer demand for innovative, customizable dining experiences centered around chicken tenders and flavorful sauces.
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HERE Resources
Saucy Restaurant to Open in Jacksonville Town Center
Additional Resources
- News4Jax
- Wikipedia: KFC
- Action News Jax
- Google Search: Saucy KFC
- Jax Daily Record
- Google Scholar: restaurant branding
- Click Orlando
- Encyclopedia Britannica: fast food brands
Author: STAFF HERE JACKSONVILLE WRITER
The JACKSONVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREJacksonville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Jacksonville, Duval County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Riverside Arts Market, and World of Nations Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce and JAXUSA Partnership, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and entertainment that power the local economy such as CSX Corporation, Baptist Health, and VyStar Credit Union. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, HERETallahassee.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
