Owners sold the landmark Bistro AIX restaurant at 1440 San Marco Blvd. to New York City-based San Marco AIX LLC for an undisclosed price.
Mike and Terry Schneider, operators of the Loop Pizza Grill chain, created Bistro AIX in 1999. They sold it in 2014 to Forking Amazing Restaurants, which owns The Cowford Chophouse.
A spokesman for San Marco AIX said Bistro AIX will close for renovations after service March 21. He expects interior renovations to take two to three weeks.w
The reopening date depends on the restaurant regulations in place due to new coronavirus, he said.
Federal and state officials are placing limits on the hours of operation and the number of customers restaurants can serve at any one time.
The renovations will recreate the restaurant’s original décor, he said. The bar that faced the open kitchen will return.
Much of the work will be cosmetic, although a new air conditioning system is planned. No contractor has been hired and budget details were not available.
Bistro AIX fell victim to 4-foot-deep floodwaters from Hurricane Irma in September 2017. The restaurant closed for four months for repairs.
Imad Din will be the general manager when Bistro Aix reopens. A new chef and sous chef from New York City will be hired to prepare the familiar French bistro cuisine. Some staff will be retained.
The spokesman said there are plans for a Sunday jazz brunch with a live band. Bar X, the separate lounge area, will remain as will the private dining space.
Bistro AIX was not placed on the market, the spokesman said.
The new owners were in discussions to partner with Forking Amazing Restaurants to handle daily Bistro AIX operations.
That led to a decision for San Marco AIX to buy the restaurant. It has a 20-year lease on the building.