It’s been about nine years since St. Augustine lost its beloved Matanzas Innlet, a restaurant operated for decades by Joan and Jerry Galasso, in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. First Coast News coverage from 2017 described an accumulation of problems stemming not just from the storm damage (which was total), but from a long and unsuccessful process with FEMA.
“There are remnants from their final night of business last October but nothing of what this place used to be remains,” the coverage said. “What was once a popular restaurant with a beautiful waterfront view attracting celebrities like Kenny Chesney is now a lot full of wreckage and full of memories.”
In recent months, however, word has spread of a comeback in the works for the restaurant. Coverage by Jax Today published last September described a pre-application filed with St. Johns County to start the process of rebuilding.
“The pre-application states that plans call for reconstruction of the restaurant, which was operated by Jerry Galasso for 25 years before the storm. County documents identify Galasso as the owner of the property and the applicant as Jed Galasso, his son.”
A representative of the restaurant confirmed on Thursday that the project is ongoing. What Now reached out to Jed Galasso to ask about Mantanzas Innlet’s plans. Galasso was not immediately available for comment.
