Family-owned burger chain closes one-third of its Florida locations after 7 years 

A family-owned Florida burger chain is saying goodbye to one of its locations after seven years, marking the latest restaurant closure in the region. The restaurant served its final customers Sunday, August 23, as the business continues operating at its remaining locations.

Tasty’s closes Wildlight location

Tasty’s Fresh Burgers and Fries permanently closed its Wildlight location in Yulee, Florida, after seven years in business. The restaurant announced the closure earlier this month, thanking employees and customers for supporting the location since it opened.

In a social media post announcing the decision, the restaurant said August 23 would be its final day of business at the Wildlight location. Tasty’s also thanked the staff members who worked there over the years and encouraged customers to visit during the restaurant’s final week. 

Why is the restaurant closing?

The restaurant did not initially provide a reason for the closure in its announcement. Some reports have cited high local rent costs as a factor, although the company’s public announcement focused primarily on thanking the Wildlight community and its employees. 

Tasty’s has been part of the Wildlight community since opening there in 2019. The location was among the businesses announced for the growing community, with the restaurant described as a locally owned, family-operated business. 

Three locations remain open

The closure does not mean Tasty’s is leaving the area. The chain continues to operate three other restaurants in Yulee, Fernandina Beach, and Kingsland, Georgia. 

Tasty’s was founded by Chad and Katy Dougherty, continuing a family restaurant tradition that dates back to Chad’s grandmother, who operated a burger restaurant in Fernandina Beach beginning in the 1950s. The chain specializes in fresh-ground burgers, hand-cut fries, and hand-spun shakes. 

For local customers, the Wildlight closure marks the end of a seven-year run, but Tasty’s other restaurants remain open for those hoping to keep the family-owned burger chain in their dining rotation.

Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same