ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (Nov. 2, 2026) – Jennifer Ashton, owner of St. Augustine’s popular Juniper Market, is bringing her fresh, scratch-made casual fare to historic downtown Hastings with her new Marshtackie Florida Cafe. Ashton and her team opened for service in mid-October but will celebrate the café’s Grand Opening on Friday, Nov. 6 with a Ribbon Cutting at 8:30 a.m., during Hastings’ annual Fall Harvest Festival. Located at 420 North Main Street, on Hastings’ main downtown thoroughfare, Marshtackie Florida Cafe’s seasonal approach to food fits in perfectly with the area’s agricultural roots.
“Hastings’ passionate growers and the abundance of fresh, seasonal produce are incredibly inspiring to me. I love using what’s in season to create something delicious,” says Jennifer Ashton, owner of Marshtackie Florida Cafe and St. Augustine’s Juniper Market. “Marshtackie is a place where the community can come together to enjoy good food and good company. We’re here to serve our locals and be part of the neighborhood.”
Ashton opened her St. Augustine location in May 2013 on San Marco Avenue, tucked into a corner of furniture import retailer Coastal Traders. Fourteen years and three locations later, Juniper Market is a staple in Uptown St. Augustine. Seeking to invest in a commercial property and expand the business, Ashton purchased the vacant 3,600-square-foot building at 420 North Main St. in Hastings in August 2023. She completely rehabilitated the café, uncovering and restoring historic elements, including a large pane of original windows, which she refinished and reinstalled. The refreshed building features a new kitchen and counter space, with seating for 42 inside. Ashton plans to add outdoor patio seating in the future. The interior features bright Florida-themed murals painted by local artist Cynthia Romani-Reagor.
Marshtackie Florida Cafe is named after the Florida Cracker horse, also called a marshtackie, Florida’s official state horse. These small horses, descended from those brought to Florida by 16th-century Spanish explorers, were commonly used by Florida “Cracker” cowmen to herd cattle. “We love everything old Florida,” says Ashton. “Juniper Market was named after our favorite Florida tree and springs; I wanted to find a name for our new space that was a nod to Hastings’ agricultural roots.” The café will serve a fresh, seasonal menu featuring Juniper Market favorites, including bakery items like croissants, muffins, and cookies; all-day breakfast dishes such as avocado toast, pimento cheese grits, and breakfast burritos; salads; sandwiches; heartier lunch options like tater tots and smashburgers; and daily specials.
