Rising Rent Shuts Down Mulligan's Jensen Beach After 23 Years

Rena Caldwell spent years welcoming guests through the doors of Mulligan's in Jensen Beach with a simple pitch: the breeze off the water, the view, the feeling that this was exactly where you were supposed to be.

Sunday, she worked her last shift.

Mulligan's Jensen Beach closed after 23 years in business. The waterfront restaurant served its final customers on Easter Sunday — a closing day that carried the weight of a community farewell. The owner cited rent costs that had grown impossible to sustain.

"Unfortunately, for the past couple of years, we worked only to pay the exorbitant rent to the landlord," the owner said in a statement. "The building is already becoming half empty; it's obvious other businesses are having the same problem paying West Palm Beach rent prices in Jensen Beach."

The business itself remained strong throughout its run but could not generate enough revenue to absorb the lease costs. Efforts to find a buyer over the past six months failed because prospective buyers balked at the lease terms, the owner said.

Staff at the Jensen Beach location were offered transfers to Mulligan's restaurants in Vero Beach and Sebastian, both of which will remain open. Some employees accepted. Others said Sunday they were uncertain about making the move.

Caldwell, who worked as a hostess, described the restaurant as a community anchor. "It's like a hub around our town," she said, "and that to me is more important than another $10,000 or whatever else they want."

Longtime customers lingered through the final hours. Jerry Barbieri, who had been eating at Mulligan's since it opened, said the closure stung. "I've seen a lot of changes to restaurants throughout the years," he said. "This one makes me sad."

The owner expressed gratitude to Ron Rose of the Chamber of Commerce, to neighboring businesses and to staff. As for what comes next, the statement left the door open — barely. "I may find another location in Martin County," the owner said, "or I may drive into the sunset and enjoy the rest of my life."

Whether the Mulligan's name returns to Martin County remains unconfirmed.

This article was generated with AI assistance using publicly available information. It was reviewed and approved by a human editor before publication. TC Sentinel uses AI writing tools in accordance with FTC guidelines.