JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Daily Record reports that Bubba Burger president and CEO William "Billy" Morris added to his corporate menu with the purchase of Jacksonville-based candymaker Peterbrooke Chocolatier.
"It's exciting for me. Peterbrooke Chocolatier is an iconic brand well-loved in this city," Morris told the Daily Record on Friday.
Morris bought the company from owners that included Kelly Harris, who formerly owned the Times Grill restaurant locations that Morris turned into Bubba Burger restaurants.
Morris said he looks forward to carrying on the Peterbrooke tradition began by creator Phyllis Geiger in 1983.
What started as a small San Marco has grown to include a factory store, five corporate retail locations and 15 franchise stores.
The sale didn not include the franchised stores, but the Peterbrooke Chocolatier franchising business will continue to provide support for its current franchisees and look for opportunities to expand the brand, Morris said.
"For the people who love Peterbrooke Chocolatier, the transition will be seamless. The same team is in place at the franchisee level and our same team is in place at the corporate store level, so we are ready to go for Valentine's Day, Easter and Mother's Day," Morris told the Daily Record.
The Original Bubba Burger Grill opened last year in at the former Times Grill locations at Baymeadows Road and Florida 9A, Normandy Boulevard near Cassat Avenue, Beach and Hodges boulevards and at 1811 Town Center Blvd. in Fleming Island.