Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Bushee.
Hi Anthony, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Carolina Jax was given life when my son was born in late 2016, operating under a different name and concept; my dream was to bring the foods I grew up with down to Jacksonville, FL. Along with starting a new family, I started my new business. A barbecue food truck named Cackylacky’s. Carolina bbq was the vision, but our burgers were gaining so much attention in the community that I decided to switch gears and pivot into a burger truck. In 2017 we won our first award during the Jax Truckie’s Food Truck Championship, where we won “Best Burger” for our OBX burger. In 2018 we went on to win another local rally with our Riverside burger, and in 2019, the same burger won us our first major competition in Miami, Hamburger House Party. Winning this event, hosted by the food influencer Burger Beast, opened the door for me at South Beach Wine and Food Festival’s Burger Bash. Hosted by celebrities like Rachel Ray and Bobby Flay, my team and I competed alongside decorated Iron Chefs Alex Guarnacelli, Masaharu Morimoto, and some of the biggest names in the burger world. During the Covid pandemic, I could leap into a brick-and-mortar location right here in the heart of Riverside. Carolina Jax has been wildly popular over the last several years, gaining us recognition from Times Union’s Bold City Best and News4Jax’s Jax Best, among others. In the summer of 2021, talent scouts from Cooking Channel’s television show Food Paradise reached out to film a segment at my restaurant. It aired later that year on Cooking Channel and Travel Channel and is now streaming on Discovery+ and Amazon. Just last year, I was messaged again about appearing on Guy’s Grocery Games Season 30 opener, also now streaming on Discovery+ and Food Network. This May, I will be flying out to Atlanta for the Burger Benefit, where I will have the chance to cook alongside some of my idols, including the Burger Scholar George Motz. As Carolina Jax continues to evolve, one thing will always remain the same. My dedication to handcrafting the very best burgers available in Northeast Florida.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Nothing in life is easy, and as with any business, there are always hurdles, which is exceptionally true for the food and beverage industry. My idea was to start a food truck, pull up on the side of the road, open the window, and sell a bunch of food. That couldn’t have been any further from reality. I quickly learned the politics of food trucking in this city and the hands holding doors to locations where I could go and make money. With hard work, a little humility, and die-hard dedication, I quickly positioned myself as one of, if not the best, food trucks in Jacksonville. At the height of our popularity, we were a staple at every major local event, including The Player’s Championship, where we were shut down halfway through due to Covid. The pandemic permanently changed the landscape and how food trucks operate in this city. For the first few years of business, we operated Monday-Friday serving lunch at office complexes; Friday nights, we would park at amenity centers in master-planned communities and pick up events on the weekend. Covid forced people out of these offices, forcing owners to work in the same neighborhoods 7 days a week to stay in business. As you can imagine, oversaturation quickly led to a downturn in food truck popularity, leading to several businesses closing down. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s an adaptation, and this was the very reason I jumped at the opportunity to open a brick-and-mortar as soon as it was presented. I wish owning a restaurant was more accessible, but it’s not. Even with staffing and supply chain issues and our small space’s challenges, I have always found a way to persevere and keep the ball rolling in the right direction. The path to success is winding; if you stumble, get back up and continue to pave that road.
As you know, we’re big fans of Carolina Jax. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with the brand?
Carolina Jax has constantly named the best burgers in Jacksonville. We specialize in hand-patted Certified Angus Beef smash burgers done the old-fashioned way with simple, fresh, scratch-made ingredients. Our menu showcases various simple and imaginative burgers in the same perfectly executed style. What sets us apart is our dedication to the craft and commitment to serving the best burgers Jacksonville offers. We will never stop improving and never settle for anything less than the best because, as they say, Carolina Jax is where it’s at!
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Please visit our website, carolinajax.com, and follow us on Instagram and Facebook @carolinajax904 to stay current on all the exciting things we have going on. If you have been, please remember to leave us 5 stars on Google and Yelp and tell your friends! Carolina Jax is where it’s at.
Contact Info:
- Website: carolinajax.com
- Instagram: Instagram @carolinajax904
- Facebook: fb.com/carolinajax904
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUYF7GWi4Vw
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/carolina-jax-jacksonville
- Other: Google Carolina Jax
Image Credits
World Red Eye
