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Please login here to access content or go here to purchase a subscription Read News-Leader, Fernandina Beach Florida YULEE – Dozens of restaurant employees in Nassau County now don’t have jobs after Añejo Cocina in Yulee closed its doors and changed the locks Añejo Cocina is a Mexican restaurant with locations all over Florida People News4JAX spoke with said the Yulee location was usually pretty busy “We were planning on showing up having some tacos maybe a drink,” Evan Muys said Muys visited the restaurant on Tuesday but was met with a locked door A note with the words “Temporarily closed” sat inside the window But even the employees at the restaurant said they were surprised by the sight “An answer would be nice,” a former host said “We at least deserve an answer or an explanation.” Employees said the restaurant has two sets of owners who have disagreed over the future of the business they said they were cleaning up the restaurant when some of the owners walked in changed the locks The restaurant then posted a message on Facebook that said: “Añejo Yulee is temporarily closed. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. We’ll be back soon to serve you!" But dozens of employees said they didn’t receive any warning about the closure and don’t know when the restaurant will reopen. They said now they have to look for new jobs. When asked if some advance notice would have helped, Camden Williams said, “I would’ve been disappointed, but it would’ve changed the situation drastically because I would’ve been able to have a job like today, yesterday I haven’t been able to work.” And with the holidays around the corner, dozens of workers now need to figure out what’s next. “Finally, I was getting my life in order and then back to zero again,” former server Samuel Bena said. And the same situation is happening at the Salsa’s on Blanding Boulevard, which has the same owners. News4JAX reached out to the restaurant owners but did not receive an immediate response. Copyright 2024 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. Chris Will has joined the News4JAX team as a weekend morning reporter, after graduating from the University of Florida in spring 2024. During his time in Gainesville, he covered a wide range of stories across the Sunshine State. His coverage of Hurricane Ian in southwest Florida earned a National Edward R. Murrow Award. Click here to take a moment and familiarize yourself with our Community Guidelines TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Contests and Rules Contact Us Careers at WJXT / WCWJ Closed Captioning / Audio Description WJXT Public File WJXT EEO Report WCWJ Public File WCWJ EEO Report Terms of Use Privacy Policy Do Not Sell My Info FCC Applications Copyright © 2025 News4JAX.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group Chris Will prompting a lawsuit against the majority owners of the eateries while the Salsas on Blanding Boulevard is already back open The two restaurants are at the center of a lawsuit filed by their minority owner after the majority owners “temporarily closed” them The lawsuit makes several allegations and asked the court to allow Higdon to reopen the restaurants without interruption from the majority owner The complaint highlighted an ongoing back-and-forth between the majority and minority owners of the Mexican restaurants in Northeast Florida Court documents claimed the majority owners “took unilateral steps – against the demands of its minority shareholder – to shut down both of these successful and profitable restaurants.” Higdon said she tried to reopen the restaurants but the Valencias had changed the locks the majority owners sent News4JAX a statement “For over a year-and-a-half Blanca and Jesus Valencia have attempted to find an amicable solution to turn around their Yulee and Blanding restaurants The Valencias own and operate several restaurants All of them are successful and turn profits Higdon was given the option to let the Valencias' team come in and run the failing restaurants (without her removal as a minority partner) while driving the restaurants into the ground….” They said that they asked Higdon to step down from her role and when she didn’t they “had no choice but to lock the doors to regain control of our business.” 3 we had to make the painful decision to temporarily lock the doors of two of our restaurants in Blanding and Yulee This was the direct result of infructuous negotiations with Melandy Higdon a minority partner we had asked to step down from her executive duties at these two locations She refused numerous times and was informed in writing that her refusal would result in the temporary closing of the restaurants to relieve her from her duties Valencia as President of the company and majority owner to regain control of the operations and restructure them for success Once the decision was made to close temporarily Higdon was notified in writing more than once over the span of four weeks and was specifically asked to notify the employees under her We had no choice but to lock the doors to regain control of our business All employees in good standing are being invited back to their jobs We have sent an informative email (attached) to them and held a meeting today with many of them all the employees we’ve reached are happy to return to work We are very sorry about the disruption this caused in our employees’ lives and have expressed this sentiment to them We are now moving on to restructure our management team in the affected stores to improve operations as well as communication with our staff and the community that has kindly supported us throughout the years But Higdon’s attorneys said their client was trying to buy the majority stake and that their move to close was to pressure a better deal Melandy Higdon has successfully operated both Salsas Cocina Mexicana & Cantina and Anejo Cocina Mexicana in Northeast Florida to the delight of patrons providing a wonderful place of employment for many dedicated and hardworking staff the majority shareholders have schemed to engage in a plan of disloyalty and sabotage to enrich themselves This corporate greed ultimately hurts the hardworking staff and their families and deprives its patrons of a favorite mainstay in the communities they operate Jesus and Blanca Valencia’s actions will be dealt with in a court of law so that justice can be served Higdon and her dedicated team can return to serving the patrons who love the food and service they received at both restaurants and there is no legitimate business reason for closings,” said a spokesperson for Ms That lawsuit also asked for the court to have the majority owners pay for any relief the court deems fit But the Valencias say the situation at the restaurants is already turning around with a new management team in place The Blanding location opened less than 48 hours after closing and the Valencias said most if not all employees are back They said all employees will be paid for their time off Añejo Yulee, which reopens Monday, posted that they are hiring. The Valencias said they nor their attorney have been served with the lawsuit. This native of the Big Apple joined the News4Jax team in July 2021. A highly anticipated restaurant known for its craft burgers draft beer and bourbon selection overcame about two years of challenges to open its first Northeast Florida restaurant Bohemian Bull Tavern & Beer Garden recently debuted at 76030-1 William Burgess Blvd. in the Publix-anchored Crossings at Wildlight shopping center off Florida 200 in Yulee The restaurant is the first in Florida and only the second outside of South Carolina where the concept originated at James Island in 2013 The 150-seat restaurant from franchise co-owners Justin de Boer and Christina Hanvey offers brunch It features a diverse selection of craft beers on tap as well as bourbons and hand-crafted cocktails de Boer said Bohemian Bull was the type of gastropub he enjoyed as a customer It features great food and drink amid a fun "Right now we have 20 taps for beers and all of them are craft beers but we do have some domestics in bottles too We're really trying to push local breweries as possible," de Boer said Among the local brews are selections from Disco Witch Brewing in Yulee as well as Macoma Beer Co. in Fernandina Beach. They plan to add Intuition Ale Works of Jacksonville to their draft rotation "I would say we're gonna look at probably having between another 20 to 30 bottle and can options," he said adding that they're looking for unique beers nationwide Specialty bourbons are also a focus at Bohemian Bull "The goal here is that once we get a little bit more established in this location we will be working with some distilleries to see if we can get our own kind of batches and barrels made specifically for us or this location," de Boer said "So every location should have its own unique bourbon and whiskey selection." WhistlePig and Elijah Craig are among the favorites at the restaurant that also offers Maker's Mark and others Although their whiskey wall is a little sparse at the moment because they just opened I kind of want to get local bourbon clubs kind of involved so they can help come up with a creativity direction on what we want to do with the wall," he said craft cocktails as well as wine are featured at Bohemian Bull Bohemian Bull showcases are full menu from appetizers to craft burgers the Boom Boom Shrimp and the Smash burgers are probably the most popular items that we see coming out of our kitchen," he said noting that on opening day Bohemian Bull's craft burgers are made with a blend of Black Angus brisket and chuck "ground in-house and hand-spanked." They are served on a potato bun with a choice of a side dish Wings, burgers and lots of TVs to watch: Sports fans score with new restaurant at hotel near downtown Jacksonville People can substitute grilled chicken breast or a ground-in-house chicken burger sandwiches are also offered along with entrees that range from steak frites to fish and chips and a shrimp platter Desserts include Hot Donut Holes topped with vanilla ice cream whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles; or a Brownie Sundae which is a Chocolate Fudge Brownie topped with vanilla ice cream Family in the restaurant businessBohemian Bull is de Boer's first restaurant and I kind of wanted to go my own way but now that I'm a little bit older I can find my way back to my roots a little bit," he said He said he was fortunate to find Bohemian Bull describing it "as an awesome franchise that I think kind of captures my personality the food and so it was kind of a no-brainer." Describing it as "almost a perfect storm" of circumstances opening Bohemian Bull ran into a few challenges It was announced in 2023 that the restaurant planned to come to Yulee permit process and construction all took longer than expected I could probably write a book about it," he said Shoot a hole in one: Hit the links virtually and score elevated pub grub at new Jacksonville golf tavern Bohemian Bull lists a total of nine restaurants including the Yulee location as well as six in South Carolina and two in Texas Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at tstepzinski@jacksonville.com If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest dining coverage YULEE, Fla. – A convicted felon who was just released from prison may be headed back to the slammer after Nassau County Sheriff’s Office deputies said he bludgeoned, robbed and then carjacked a disabled man. According to investigators, the 63-year-old victim was at a home on North Prince Drive in Yulee to watch a football game, when a man he didn’t know was later identified as Onquarius Swails, 35, entered the home and told everyone inside that he had just been released from prison and was threatening to kill the person responsible for being sent to prison. The victim told police he walked out of the home towards his car when Swails followed him outside and asked for a ride. Investigators said when the victim refused, Swails grabbed the victim’s walking stick and beat him with it before ordering the victim to hand over a wallet and keys to a car that belonged to the victim. Although the victim did not see a handgun, he told deputies that Swails bragged about being armed with one. According to the arrest report, when the victim had secretly called 911 while he was being robbed. A 911 dispatcher could hear the victim pleading with the attacker. Another deputy eventually located the victim’s stolen car and pulled it over. Bodycam video of the traffic stop showed deputies arresting Swails at gunpoint and ordering his passenger to exit the stolen car. In the video, police not only recovered the victim’s car but also his wallet which Swails was still in possession of. Several minutes into the video, Swails is seen telling a deputy that he was just released from prison earlier that day. According to the Florida Department of Corrections, Swails was released from prison two days before his reported encounter with the victim. Swails had gone to prison after he was convicted on multiple charges of burglary and grand theft. Records show that Swails has a documented violent criminal history that includes convictions for assault and battery and a stint in prison for selling cocaine. Several people who live near the home where the victim was assaulted confirmed to News4JAX that the victim did not know Swails. One of the neighbors also confirmed that the victim was beaten pretty badly before he was robbed and carjacked. News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst Tom Hackney said this case is an example of a revolving door when it comes to repeat offenders. “You get these people who are incarcerated, and that’s what they know. That’s what they like and it’s almost like a drawback to doing something that leads them right back to prison,” Hackney said Due to Swails criminal history and the nature of the new charges he now faces, a judge set his bond at more than a half million dollars. Swails remains in custody inside the Nassau County jail. Award-winning broadcast and multimedia journalist with 20 years experience. Garth Walton of Yulee appeared to be part of the first wave of people awaiting trial who would have their cases dismissed due to presidential action A Bureau of Prisons website continued to show both men in custody Tuesday, but also still showed in custody a prominent figure from the riot, Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes who was released Monday evening from a prison in Maryland A Fleming Island man, 48-year-old Marcus Smith was sentenced Friday to a year and a day behind bars for destruction of government property ― a door installed in the Capitol in1853 ― but won't have to set foot in prison because of the pardon By Tuesday afternoon, prosecutors had also asked a judge to dismiss Smith's case, using the same wording as the motion about Walton, and U.S District Judge Dabney Friedrich appointed during Trump's first term as president granted the request and vacated any remaining deadlines for action The pardon will also apparently end prosecution of a Palatka man, Dylan Swinehart who was charged only with misdemeanors and had been allowed to remain free while his case was handled This story was updated to include new information YULEE, Fla. – Derrick Henry will host his annual holiday toy giveaway at the Yulee Walmart on Saturday at 1 p.m. Henry’s family will pass out toys on behalf of him and his Two All Foundation to the first 500 children who arrive. The Walmart is located at 464016 FL-200, Yulee, FL 32097. Hailing from Detroit, Jonathan is excited to start his media career at News4JAX in November 2023. He is passionate about telling stories that matter to the community and he is honored to serve Jacksonville. – A lawsuit has been filed against the owners of a restaurant in Yulee after they “temporarily closed” its doors Dozens of employees from Añejo Yulee and the Salsas on Blanding were unsure what their future holds The restaurants' Facebook pages each had a post indicating the closures were temporary But when the majority owners came and changed the locks “I’m applying for other jobs at the moment if they open back up filed a lawsuit in Nassau County court making several allegations but asked the court to allow her to reopen the restaurants without interruption from the majority owner The complaint highlighted an ongoing back-and-forth between the majority and minority owners of the Mexican Restaurants in Northeast Florida A statement from the majority owners said that they asked Higdon to step down from her role and when she didn’t they “had no choice but to lock the doors to regain control of our business.” That lawsuit asked for the court to allow Higdon to reopen the restaurants and have the majority owners pay for any relief the court deems fit But the majority owners said they plan to restructure the management team and reopen next week with “employees in good standing.” News4JAX is told several employees we spoke with were not looped into those reopening conversations Añejo Yulee posted that they are hiring. News4JAX asked for a reopening date, but we have not received an answer yet. – The LifeSouth Bloodmobile will be at the newly opened Nassau County HCA Florida Yulee Emergency on Monday Florida 32097 at the northeast corner of I-95 and SR 200 the Kona Ice truck will be there from 11 a.m Blood collected by LifeSouth is used by local patients in Northeast Florida area hospitals Please drop by or sign up for the Yulee drive online with LifeSouth: Blood Drive (9am-4pm) and Kona Ice truck (11a-2p) HCA Florida Memorial Hospital is part of Florida’s largest health care system, consisting of 48 hospitals, 77,000 employees, and 11,000 physicians operating from more than 50 urgent care centers. Copyright 2025 by WJXT News4JAX - All rights reserved. This story first appeared in Dining Notes, the free weekly restaurant newsletter from the Times-Union's Gary Mills delivered to your email inbox each Wednesday. Sign up now Months after signs went up in Yulee for Bohemian Bull Tavern & Beer Garden the new restaurant could soon have an opening date According to Florida’s Department of Business & Professional Regulation, a site plan has been submitted for the bar and grill planned for 76030-1 William Burgess Blvd. at the Publix-anchored Crossings at Wildlight. There, Bohemian Bull is planning a 2,719-square-foot restaurant opposite Grumpy’s Restaurant the restaurant will be the first in Florida and just the second outside of South Carolina where the concept first debuted at James Island in 2013 “We wanted a place where family and friends could come and relax in a lively, open atmosphere,” owner Chad Biel told Charleston Living Magazine a year ago craveable food and wash it down with a delicious selection of craft beers hand-selected bourbons and world-class cocktails.”  Biel took over as Bohemian Bull owner in 2018 after several years as the restaurant’s general manager is expected to include a covered patio dining area and beer garden ideal for enjoying the restaurant’s laid-back vibe and menu Bohemian Bull’s menu also features a selection of salads and wraps and sandwiches Folly Cheese Steak and Fried Chicken Sandwich isn’t just limited to appetizers and handhelds Entrees include Milk Braised Pork Rigatoni A weekend brunch menu features unique takes on brunch staples arugula and sesame seeds Chicken & Waffles: Buttermilk fried chicken topped with blueberry maple syrup served over a Belgian waffle Country Fried Chicken Brunch: Buttermilk fried chicken topped with sausage gravy two eggs over easy and served with home fries Huevos Rancheros: Black bean and cheese quesadilla with two over easy eggs jalapenos and sour cream served over home fries cheddar and two over easy eggs topped with sausage gravy guests will find a rotating menu of more than two dozen craft beers on tap as well as a selection of craft cocktails and more than four dozen bourbons and whiskeys Bohemian Bull joins a growing list of dining options in Yulee's Wildlight area, including Grumpy's, Tasty's Fresh Burgers, Anejo Cocina, Hana Sushi and more Support from readers like you makes this story possible. If you're a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get all of our latest dining coverage By late Tuesday, Pensacola reported 7.6 inches of snow Totals in other Panhandle areas could be even higher Tallahassee recorded 1.9 inches of frozen precipitation NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. – A man was arrested and accused of punching a woman and stealing her cellphone Sunday on Interstate 95 in Yulee, according to the Nassau County Sheriff’s Office. According to deputies, the 65-year-old man was charged with strong-armed robbery and felony battery after the woman said she gave the man a ride from South Carolina to Florida and told deputies that he punched her when they crossed the state line. According to NCSO, the woman told deputies that she pulled over after the man began punching her, and he then dragged her out of the driver’s seat and threw her to the ground. She also said he punched her a couple more times and then hopped the fence and fled into the woods, deputies said. Body camera video shows the moment when K-9 Kylo and his handler, Deputy Tyler Clements, tracked the area and found him in the woods near I-95, where he was arrested. A search of the suspect also revealed he had the woman’s cellphone in his pocket, according to deputies. “This arrest highlights the importance of having K9s like Kylo,” Sheriff Bill Leeper said. “We continue to devote time and resources into the training required for these K9s to make sure suspects like this man can’t escape law enforcement.” Marcela joined News4JAX in 2023. She grew up in Mexico and eventually moved to California to pursue her dream of becoming a journalist. Now, she is a proud San Diego State University alumna who has many years of experience in TV and digital journalism. Baptist Health on Thursday announced a freestanding Baptist emergency room is now open at Nassau Crossing The new ER brings life-saving health care services to central and western Nassau County the center will serve adults and children living in Yulee Hilliard and the rapidly expanding surrounding areas Baptist says about 63,500 people live within a 15-minute drive of the new center the facility has been designed to allow for future expansion The Baptist Nassau Crossing Emergency and Imaging Center in Yulee includes Wolfson Children’s pediatric emergency providers “We hope to bring peace of mind to parents and caregivers throughout the Nassau Crossing community knowing that children are cared for by pediatric providers here who are part of Wolfson Children’s emergency network,” said Allegra C “Our pediatric emergency teams here are trained to know how to recognize the subtle nuances of a child’s symptom ensuring our most vulnerable populations receive access to care tailored especially for their unique needs.” The Nassau Crossing ER also includes an adjoining imaging center for adults and children to provide X-rays “No one plans on having an emergency,” said Tammy Daniel senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Baptist Health “But having timely access to expert care can save lives prevent complications and bring peace of mind to patients and families.”  Baptist Emergency and Imaging Center is the first facility to open on the new Baptist Nassau Crossing Medical Campus behavioral health and specialty physician offices as well as the Borland Groover Medical Office and Nassau Crossing Endoscopy Center and infusion services to treat a range of autoimmune disorders such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis Baptist also operates Baptist Medical Center Nassau about 13 miles east of the new freestanding ER By Megan Mallicoat School closures don't begin to fill the gap in Duval Schools' budget YULEE, Fla. – Baptist Health just opened an emergency and imaging center in Yulee, and it’s already looking toward future expansion. Located just east of I-95, near Wildlight on State Road 200, the Emergency and Imaging Center at Nassau Crossing will serve adults and children living in Yulee, Callahan, Hilliard and the rapidly expanding surrounding areas. There are currently 63,500 individuals living within a 15-minute drive of the new center and by 2029, that number is expected to grow by 11.4%. With this in mind, the facility has been designed to allow for future expansion as the community’s need for emergency care increases over time, Baptist said in a news release announcing the opening of the center, which is about 13 miles west of Baptist Medical Center Nassau. The Baptist Nassau Crossing Emergency and Imaging Center in Yulee includes pediatric specialists who are part of Wolfson Children‘s Hospital’s emergency network. Wolfson is the region’s only full-service children’s hospital and state-designated Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in Northeast Florida. The specialized children’s ER is equipped to care for the specific medical needs of children aged 0 to 18, with special pediatric protocols and emergency teams skilled in handling serious pediatric conditions that may arise from seemingly minor symptoms. Start your morning with our daily forecast, trending news and stories curated by The Morning Show team. “We hope to bring peace of mind to parents and caregivers throughout the Nassau Crossing community, knowing that children are cared for by pediatric providers here who are part of Wolfson Children’s emergency network,” said Allegra C. Jaros, president of Wolfson Children’s. “Our pediatric emergency teams here are trained to know how to recognize the subtle nuances of a child’s symptom, ensuring our most vulnerable populations receive access to care tailored especially for their unique needs.” The Nassau Crossing ER also features an adjoining imaging center for adults and children, outfitted with the latest technology to provide X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, mammography and bone density screenings closer to home. “No one plans on having an emergency,” said Tammy Daniel, senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Baptist Health. “But having timely access to expert care can save lives, prevent complications and bring peace of mind to patients and families.” Baptist Emergency and Imaging Center is the first facility to open on the new 56,588-square-foot Baptist Nassau Crossing Medical Campus—a new hub with convenient access to a range a health care services for the whole family. Due for completion in December 2024, the complex will feature primary care, behavioral health and specialty physician offices as well as the Borland Groover Medical Office and Nassau Crossing Endoscopy Center. In addition to advanced colonoscopies and upper endoscopies, patients of the Endoscopy center also will have convenient access to expanded infusion services to treat a range of autoimmune disorders such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. A Jacksonville native and proud University of North Florida alum, Francine Frazier has been with News4Jax since 2014 after spending nine years at The Florida Times-Union. Two Northeast Florida Mexican restaurants have abruptly closed leaving employees and customers confused about the restaurants’ futures According to posts on the restaurants' social media accounts on Monday, Anejo Cocina Mexicana in Yulee and Salsas Cocina Mexicana and Cantina in Middleburg have closed both of which have several locations in Jacksonville and Northeast Florida are operated by companies owned by Jesus and Blanca Valencia and Melandy Higdon according to Florida Division of Corporation records Higdon told Action News Jax that the closings – which came as a surprise to her – left 45 of her employees without work People who identified themselves as employees of the restaurants to Action News Jax and News4Jax After making its debut in Ponte Vedra in May 2020, Anejo Cocina Mexicana has grown to nine locations in just four years including seven restaurants in Northeast Florida and others in Daytona Beach and Winter Park The Yulee Park restaurant opened in July 2021 with the opening its restaurant at Beach & Hodges boulevards The Middleburg restaurant opened in August 2020 The Valencia family also operates 904 Tacos Street Tacos & Cantina in Five Points Attempts to reach the restaurants’ owners for comment were not immediately returned