Justin Milliken, co-owner of the Grumpy’s Restaurant location in St. Johns, Florida, was found dead at the establishment on Wednesday morning, according to local authorities. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies responded to a call at the restaurant located at 155 Fountains Way, where Milliken was discovered.
The sheriff’s office stated there was no indication of foul play, though authorities have not publicly disclosed additional details about the circumstances surrounding his death. The investigation remains active, and officials have not released a confirmed cause of death.
Grumpy’s Restaurant Company President and CEO Daniel DeLeon issued a statement confirming the death of the franchise partner and expressing the company’s condolences. The restaurant remained closed on Wednesday and was scheduled to reopen Thursday during normal business hours.
According to information from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and local reporting, the following sequence of events has been confirmed:
Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Location: Grumpy’s Restaurant, 155 Fountains Way, Building 1, Suite 1, St. Johns, Florida
Discovery: Milliken was found dead inside the restaurant establishment early Wednesday morning
Law Enforcement Response: Deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at the restaurant location. Upon arrival, first responders located Milliken’s body inside the premises
Official Statement on Foul Play: The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office said there was no indication of foul play
Restaurant Status: The St. Johns location remained closed on Wednesday, September 9. The restaurant was expected to reopen Thursday, September 10 during normal business hours
The exact time of the discovery has not been officially released by authorities. Newz18 has not independently verified the specific time of the emergency call.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Milliken had posted a photo of himself by a pool on Tuesday, September 8—the day before he was found dead. The post has since received an outpouring of comments from community members expressing grief and shock.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has provided limited but specific information about the case:
Confirmed by authorities:
Not disclosed by authorities:
It is important to distinguish between the statement “no indication of foul play” and a definitive conclusion about what happened. The sheriff’s office has not stated that they know exactly what occurred—only that initial indicators do not suggest criminal activity. The investigation is being handled by the appropriate authorities, according to official statements.
Newz18 will update this article if and when authorities release additional confirmed information.
Grumpy’s Restaurant Company issued an official statement through President and CEO Daniel DeLeon addressing Milliken’s death. The statement, shared with local news outlets, expressed the company’s grief and outlined its priorities moving forward.
According to the statement, the company is “deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Justin Milliken.” DeLeon said the company’s thoughts are with “his family, Leah, the St. Johns team, and everyone affected by this incredibly difficult situation.”
The company stated it would not comment on the specific details surrounding Milliken’s death, citing respect for the family and the fact that the circumstances are being handled by the appropriate authorities.
Regarding the restaurant’s operations, Grumpy’s confirmed that the St. Johns location would remain closed on Wednesday and reopen Thursday during normal business hours. The company stated that its focus is on “supporting the family, the restaurant team, and making sure the location is handled appropriately and responsibly.”
Justin Michael Milliken was a co-owner and franchisee of the Grumpy’s Restaurant location in St. Johns, Florida. Beyond his role in the restaurant business, public information from his professional profiles provides additional background about his career and life.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Milliken had a diverse professional history:
Military Service: Milliken served in the United States Army from 1997 to 2001, attaining the rank of captain. His profile states he served as a Special Operations Medical Officer with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and as a medical intelligence and bioweapons officer with the 1st Ranger Battalion. The St. Johns Citizen noted that it had not independently verified Milliken’s military service.
Education: Milliken’s professional profiles indicate he attended Norwich University and Cornell University, where he earned an online executive MBA. He also enrolled in a Harvard Business School Online financial accounting course.
Business Career: Following his military service, Milliken worked for more than two decades in medical-device sales and management. His LinkedIn profile describes “15 years successful medical devices and medical diagnostic sales” and highlights his specialties in medical sales.
Personal Information: Milliken publicly described himself as a father. His Facebook bio, as reported by local media, describes him as a “Father, Christian, Conservative, Saving the World 1 Pancake at a Time!”
Milliken and his wife, Leah, brought the Grumpy’s franchise to St. Johns County, signing on as franchisees in 2020 before opening the restaurant in August 2021.
The Grumpy’s Restaurant location in St. Johns opened in August 2021 at The Fountains at St. Johns shopping center. It was the third location for the Jacksonville-based chain.
The restaurant is known for Southern-style diner fare and has been a favorite for breakfast and lunch in the local community. Its address is 155 Fountains Way, Building 1, Suite 1, St. Johns, Florida.
When the restaurant opened, Leah Milliken told local media that Grumpy’s was their family’s favorite restaurant and that they hoped to build a local gathering place for families and friends. The location was expected to create more than 40 jobs.
According to the Jacksonville Daily Record’s original 2021 coverage, Grumpy’s serves breakfast, lunch, and brunch, including sandwiches, soups, salads, coffee, fresh-squeezed juices, hot chocolate, and desserts.
As authorities continue handling the matter, several aspects of the situation remain to be addressed:
Investigation Status: The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has not announced whether the investigation is ongoing or concluded. The statement that there is “no indication of foul play” suggests authorities are not treating the death as a criminal matter, but official confirmation of the case status has not been provided.
Official Updates: Newz18 will continue to monitor official channels, including the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office and Grumpy’s Restaurant corporate communications, for any additional statements or confirmed information.
Restaurant Operations: According to the company’s statement, the St. Johns location was scheduled to reopen Thursday during normal business hours following the one-day closure.
Family and Community: The Milliken family and the Grumpy’s restaurant team are receiving support from the company, according to the official statement.
Newz18 does not speculate on autopsy findings, police conclusions, or family decisions. This article will be updated only with verified information from official sources.
Following news of Milliken’s death, members of the community and those who knew him have shared their reactions publicly.
Milliken’s final Facebook post, shared on Tuesday, September 8, showed him smiling by a pool. The post has received numerous comments from friends and community members expressing grief and reflecting on his life.
One commenter, who described themselves as a close friend, wrote about their last conversation with Milliken and expressed confusion about his death. They stated that Milliken had not spoken about being “broken inside” and that they had prayed together. “This just does not make any sense,” the commenter wrote. “May God Grant Justin peace as only Jesus can. My heart is broken.”
Another commenter emphasized the importance of mental health awareness, writing that “we never truly know what someone is carrying behind their smile.”
A third commenter wrote simply, “Super sad. You never know what someone is going through.”
Grumpy’s Restaurant Company President and CEO Daniel DeLeon expressed the company’s condolences in its official statement, saying the company’s thoughts were with Milliken’s family and the St. Johns team.
Newz18 has not independently verified the identities of those who commented on social media and presents these reactions as publicly visible sentiments rather than official statements.
Timeline of Confirmed Events:
Tuesday, September 8, 2026:
Justin Milliken posted a photo of himself by a pool on Facebook.
Wednesday, September 9, 2026:
Thursday, September 10, 2026:
This article will be updated as new confirmed information becomes available from official sources.
Justin Michael Milliken was the co-owner and franchisee of Grumpy’s Restaurant in St. Johns, Florida. He and his wife, Leah, brought the franchise to St. Johns County in 2020 and opened the restaurant in August 2021. According to his LinkedIn profile, he served in the U.S. Army from 1997 to 2001 and worked in medical-device sales for over two decades before entering the restaurant business.
Justin Milliken was found dead at the Grumpy’s Restaurant location in St. Johns, Florida, on Wednesday morning, September 9, 2026. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call at the restaurant and confirmed there was no indication of foul play.
Milliken was found dead inside the Grumpy’s Restaurant establishment located at 155 Fountains Way, Building 1, Suite 1, in St. Johns, Florida. The restaurant is situated in The Fountains at St. Johns shopping center on County Road 210.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office stated there was no indication of foul play. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the cause of death or additional details about the circumstances. The investigation is being handled by the appropriate authorities.
The St. Johns location was closed on Wednesday, September 9, following Milliken’s death. According to the company’s official statement, the restaurant was scheduled to reopen Thursday, September 10 during normal business hours.
Grumpy’s Restaurant is a Jacksonville-based chain. The St. Johns location was owned by Justin Milliken and his wife, Leah Milliken, who signed on as franchisees in 2020. The corporate entity is Grumpy’s Restaurant Company, led by President and CEO Daniel DeLeon.
No official cause of death has been publicly confirmed by authorities. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has stated there was no indication of foul play, but has not released additional details. Reports about the specific circumstances should be treated cautiously until confirmed by official sources.