ST. JOHNS, Fla. — Justin Milliken, co-owner of the Grumpy’s Restaurant location in St. Johns County, was found dead Wednesday morning at the popular County Road 210 restaurant.
Deputies with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office responded to Grumpy’s at 155 Fountains Way, where Milliken was found deceased. The Sheriff’s Office said there was no indication of foul play, according to local reporting.
Grumpy’s Restaurant Company President and CEO Daniel DeLeon issued a statement following Milliken’s death, saying the company was deeply saddened by the loss and that its thoughts were with Milliken’s family, Leah, the St. Johns restaurant team and others affected. The company declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding his death out of respect for the family and because authorities were handling the matter.
The St. Johns restaurant closed Wednesday following Milliken’s death. Grumpy’s said the location was expected to reopen Thursday during its normal business hours.
A familiar name in the St. Johns community
Justin and Leah Milliken brought Grumpy’s to St. Johns County after becoming franchisees of the Northeast Florida restaurant brand.
The location opened at The Fountains at St. Johns in August 2021, becoming the company’s third restaurant at the time, following locations in Orange Park and Middleburg.
When the St. Johns restaurant was announced, Leah Milliken described Grumpy’s as a favorite restaurant for their family and said they hoped to create a place where families and friends in the community could gather together.
The new restaurant was also expected to create more than 40 local jobs.
Over the following five years, the breakfast-and-lunch restaurant became a recognizable part of the rapidly growing County Road 210 community, serving breakfast, brunch and Southern-style diner favorites.
Community mourns sudden loss
News of Milliken’s death began spreading through the St. Johns community Wednesday, with condolences being shared for his family, friends and restaurant employees.
Recent photographs shared publicly by Milliken showed his connection to the restaurant and its employees, including a late-August photo with members of the Grumpy’s staff in which he praised the restaurant’s front-of-house team.
Authorities have not publicly released detailed findings explaining the circumstances surrounding Milliken’s death. StJohnsFL.org will update this story if additional information is released by the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office or the family.
Our condolences are with Justin Milliken’s family, friends and the Grumpy’s St. Johns team.