ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida (October 22, 2025) – One of St. Augustine’s favorite local restaurants is entering a new era as Purple Olive opens the doors at 828 Anastasia Boulevard on Friday, October 24th. The spot is a local legend, serving as home to the much-loved Gypsy Cab Company. Chef Peter Kenney, who has cooked in some of St. Augustine’s most beloved kitchens, including Gypsy Cab Co., La Parisienne, and Manatee Café, has been developing his own legacy, opening Purple Olive in 2004 on St. Augustine Beach. Now, he and his partner Kristen White look forward to the next chapter.
“We’ve approached this transition with a lot of thought and care,” says Peter Kenney, Owner and Chef at Purple Olive. “This building has a lot of memories for both of us as well as the community. We’re excited 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.”
Purple Olive has served up its fresh fare for the past 21 years, tucked in a shopping plaza on St. Augustine Beach. Purple Olive enjoys a loyal following, not only because of their delicious food, but also their commitment to the local community. The newly refurbished and refreshed space along Anastasia Boulevard, about a mile south of the Bridge of Lions, now features 120 seats, an outdoor patio, and a full bar. Chef Kenney and White are drawing inspiration from the building’s history for the restaurant’s new bar concept. Once home to Pape’s Drive In, Pape’s Bar at Purple Olive is a Hemingway-inspired full-service bar, focusing on expertly prepared yet straightforward classic cocktails and a dedicated bar menu featuring appetizers, sliders, and flatbreads.
The new Purple Olive will still serve the same delicious and eclectic fare it is known for, but with some new menu additions. “The new menu is a collection of my Greatest Hits,” says Kenney. “It draws from favorite dishes I’ve cooked over the past 35 years including a couple from the original Gypsy.” Chef Ned Pollack, still a friend and mentor, has given his blessing to Kenney to share some his classic dishes. Kristen White, Chef Kenney’s partner in business and in life, brings more than 30 years of hospitality experience to the table. She previously owned and operated the Downtown St. Augustine icon, Schmagel’s Bagels, and now brings her entrepreneurial drive and creative vision to Purple Olive as co-owner and Catering Sales Manager. In addition to the restaurant and bar, Purple Olive will be operating its catering operations from the new location, which provides double the kitchen space and closer proximity to the venues they serve most, including being a preferred catering partner at venues such as Treasury on the Plaza, Lightner Museum, and River House.
ABOUT PURPLE OLIVE: Since 2004, Purple Olive has been serving chef-driven bistro fare along with catering services using fresh ingredients prepared with passion and skill. Purple Olive will celebrate its grand reopening at its new location on Friday, October 24th. Located at 828 Anastasia Boulevard in St. Augustine, Purple Olive and Pape’s Bar will be open daily at 4pm with extended hours for events and busy evenings. Reservations are recommended. Learn more at purple-olive.com and follow along on Facebook @purpleolivestaug and Instagram @purple.olive
