Cotten's Bar

Dec 20, 2023

After 36 years as a beloved barbecue destination, a Jacksonville restaurant known for its succulent pit-smoked ribs, beef, pork, chicken and turkey plans to close permanently at the end of the month.

Cotten's Bar-B-Que, also known for its pledge "We sell no Swine before its Time," will shutter its doors at the close of business on Feb. 28.

Fred Jr. and Yvonne Cotten announced the pending closure as well as their retirement in a Facebook post on Sunday evening. The couple thanked their customers and staff for their support over the years.

The restaurant at 2048 Rogero Road in the heart of Arlington "will be sold at that time [closure] or will be in the near future," Yvonne Cotten confirmed to the Times-Union on Monday.

Because the details haven't been finalized, the couple isn't identifying the potential buyer or that person's plans for the restaurant.

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Yvonne Cotten fought back tears and her voice cracked with emotion as she talked about their decision to leave the restaurant that is more than just a barbecue joint.

Cotten's is home. Its guests and employees have become a close-knit family of friends that have celebrated the good times and weathered the hard times together over the years, she said.

"It's very hard to leave something that you've devoted your life to for so many years," she said. "I'm very happy to be retiring. I'm not a crybaby but I'm telling you it's ridiculous how emotional the [upcoming] separation is for me."

She is 77 and her husband is 80. They "need to retire, want to retire and are happy to retire," but leaving the barbecue and its people is heart-wrenching, she said.

"People have been so kind and so good to us over the years," said Yvonne Cotten, noting nonetheless, it's time.

"I'm going to work in my garden. My husband's going to fly model airplanes. … I'm going to be able to go to concerts and the symphony on a Friday night or a Wednesday night or any night that I want. All the shows and events that we've missed in 36 years because we've had to be here," she said of their retirement plans.

Cotten's customers responded to the closing announcement on social media with dismay about the closing but wished the couple well in their retirement.

"I have been a patron there since they opened. I would eat there at least once a week when I lived in Arlington and after moving to Mandarin would come to eat once a month, My Wife and I had our Wedding Rehearsal Dinner there. I understand why you are retiring but I am still sad. Enjoy your retirement. God Bless," one man posted.

Some also reminisced about their favorite meals.

"I have been eating at your restaurant since the day you opened. My favorite menu item has always been the sloppy Freddy with fries and a big glass of your sweet tea. I'm sorry to see your restaurant close. You and Fred deserve to retire after all these years I wish you both the best," a woman posted.

Cotten's opened Feb. 22, 1987, on Rogero Road. The restaurant is one of the oldest family-owned and operated barbecues in Northeast Florida.

Fred Cotten Jr., who is the son of Fred Cotten Sr., founded the Rogero Road location. That restaurant is unrelated to Fred Cotten's Landmark BBQ, 1417 N. Main St. in the city's historic Springfield neighborhood.

Among the customers' favorites are the rib dinner, Sloppy Freddy sandwich with fries, pork dinner and Jumbo Combo dinner of ribs, chicken, beef and pork.

Cotten's also will be the latest Jacksonville barbecue to shutter its doors. Last year, these smokehouse mainstays closed:

2023 has seen several notable, unrelated restaurant closings. They include The Loop Pizza Grill in Orange Park after 33 years, Beach Road Fish & Chicken Dinners, which plans to close on Feb. 28 after 84 years and The Mini Bar Donuts + Coffee in Jacksonville Beach, which closed on Feb. 19.

Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on Twitter @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at [email protected].

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