An accomplished Memphis restaurateur is bringing the art of superior dining to a new location. John Paul Gagliano will be opening an outpost of Libro, his Mediterranean-influenced concept, in the Memphis Art Museum early next year, reports Memphis Business Journal.
Libro will be moving into a 4,595 square foot space in the 1934 Poplar Avenue museum. The decorative aspects of the restaurant, ranging from customized furniture to natural wood and reclaimed stone, will mirror the museum, creating a refined and memorable dining experience.
While this carefully curated space is certain to appeal to hungry art lovers, Libro will not be limited to visitors of the museum. The eatery will have its own entrance and will offer outdoor seating, allowing it to be entirely its own operation while enjoying a symbiotic relationship with its cultured neighbor.
Gagliano believes that the distinctive location will allow Libro to attract a unique mix of clients that will help spread Libro’s impact beyond Memphis’s borders. He states: “We’re going to be catering to people from all around the world who come in and are Downtown. We’re getting a platform to be able to be, in a sense in my eyes, nationally recognized.”
Libro will be serving up a menu of sandwiches, handmade pastas, and salads.
Though the Memphis Art Museum will be opening its doors in December of this year, visitors will have to wait a little longer to stop into Libro for a bite. Gagliano anticipates the restaurant being ready to greet and serve visitors in January of 2027.
