October 27, 2026 · Angela Tharp
If you’ve driven down Mayport Road lately, you’ve probably noticed the cones, the shifted lanes, and the general sense that getting around Atlantic Beach has gotten a little more complicated. It’s easy to let that detour you entirely — but tucked right in the middle of the construction sits one of the neighborhood’s most rewarding little clusters of small businesses. Shoppes of A1A North isn’t just surviving the work zone; it’s quietly becoming one of the best blocks in town.
Inside Shoppes of A1A North
Spanning 1221–1261 Mayport Road, Shoppes of A1A North has grown into a compact destination worth planning an evening around. Grey Matter Distillery anchors the plaza with small-batch spirits and a laid-back tasting room vibe, while Reve Brewing keeps the craft beer crowd happy with a rotating lineup of local pours. Round out the block with Bones Pizza, a go-to for a casual slice or a full pie before or after a round of tastings, and you’ve got the makings of a genuine neighborhood night out — all within a short walk of each other.
A MICHELIN Nod for Eggboy’s
The plaza’s culinary credibility got a serious boost when Eggboy’s earned a MICHELIN Recommended distinction as part of Florida’s 2026 selection. For a neighborhood spot on a stretch of road better known for traffic patterns than tasting menus, that’s a genuinely exciting bit of recognition — and a good reminder that some of the best food in Jacksonville doesn’t need a flashy address to earn it.
An Invitation-Only Escape: Mayport Garden Club
Also part of the Shoppes of A1A North lineup is the Mayport Garden Club, a reservation-only space that adds a touch of exclusivity to the block. It’s not a walk-in kind of spot, so if you’re curious, plan ahead and reach out before you go — it’s the kind of detail that rewards a little extra planning.
Construction Ahead: The $9.6 Million Mayport Road Makeover
The reason for all those cones isn’t going away soon, but it is in service of a long-term upgrade. The Florida Department of Transportation broke ground on a $9.6 million reconstruction of Mayport Road on June 15, 2026, with completion expected in fall 2027. According to FDOT, the project includes:
- Reducing the roadway from six lanes down to four
- Buffered shared-use paths for pedestrians and cyclists
- Dedicated bike lanes
- Wider sidewalks
- Improved drainage
- Upgraded lighting
- Updated traffic signals
In other words, once the dust settles, Mayport Road should feel a lot friendlier to anyone arriving on foot, by bike, or by car — a meaningful shift for a corridor that’s long felt built mainly for passing through rather than stopping in.
Our Take: A Destination Worth Seeking Out
Here’s our honest opinion: right now, getting to Shoppes of A1A North takes a bit more patience than it should. Lane shifts and detours are part of daily life on this stretch of Mayport Road, and that’s a real, if temporary, inconvenience. But a MICHELIN-recognized breakfast spot, a distillery, a brewery, a solid pizza joint, and an under-the-radar garden club sharing one small plaza isn’t something you find on every block. We think it’s worth the extra few minutes — and once the road work wraps up, this corner of Atlantic Beach is going to be even easier to love.
Before You Visit
Because of the ongoing construction, it’s worth doing a little homework before you head out. Check current hours for each business, confirm whether reservations are needed (especially for the Mayport Garden Club), and look into parking and construction access routes, since lane closures can change from week to week. A quick call or a glance at each business’s website or social media before you leave home can save you a few extra minutes of detour-dodging.
Reporting on the Mayport Road reconstruction project and the Shoppes of A1A North business lineup is based on coverage from CIRE First Coast. Read the original article, “The Best Block on Mayport Road Sits Inside the Work Zone,” for more.