The Purple Olive restaurant says it will reopen Oct. 24 at 828 Anastasia Blvd. in St. Augustine, replacing Gypsy Cab Co.
Chef and co-owner Peter Kenney opened Purple Olive in 2004. He and his partner, Kristen White, are moving it from 4255 Florida A1A S., Suite 6, and expanding its offerings, according to an Oct. 22 news release.
“We’ve approached this transition with a lot of thought and care,” Kenney said in the release.
“This building has a lot of memories for both of us as well as the community," he said.
They intend to "bring new life to the space but keep the comfortable, neighborhood bistro feel — the kind of place where you can relax and enjoy a really good meal. Our commitment to creating honest, simple, scratch-made food won’t change.”
The space, about a mile south of the Bridge of Lions, has 120 seats, an outdoor patio and a full bar, the release says.
Kenney has worked in several St. Augustine restaurants, including Gypsy Cab Co., La Parisienne and Manatee Café. In the release, he described the new Purple Olive menu as “a collection of my greatest hits” from 35 years in the restaurant business.
The restaurant will open daily at 4 p.m., with extended hours for events and busy evenings. The release says reservations are recommended.
After 42 years of operation, Gypsy Cab Co. announced May 22 it was closing June 5. Purple Olive, through P&K 828 Holdings LLC, purchased the property June 6 for $1.5 million.