Scott McAlister, a local restaurateur with a handful of eateries in the area, has purchased a building in Downtown St. Augustine, located at 70 and 66 Hypolita St.
The property was recently sold to an LLC registered to McAlister for $3.95 million, according to Jacksonville Business Journal. He tells the publication the space will be redeveloped as a new restaurant concept, but additional details weren’t ready to be shared. McAlister is behind several other restaurants in the area, including The Phoenix Bar & Bowling, The Garage, Rogue, and theLOFT. While it’s too early to say what kind of restaurant this will be, it is destined to be a go-to establishment, much like McAlister’s other ventures.
The new restaurant will move into the former home of Scarlett O’Hara’s, which closed last year after the owners could not come to new lease terms with property owner John Arbizzani of 46 Avenida Mendez Inc. The to-be-named restaurant will also replace Dos Gatos, which closed in 2022 as well. 46 Avenida Mendez Inc. sold the property to McAlister at the beginning of the month.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to be a part of one of the greatest communities and cities in the country,” McAlister tells the Business Journal. “And (we) are looking forward to re-opening this local gathering place. Thank you, John Arbizzani, (real estate agents) Jena Baker-Dennis and Sammy Hale, for making this happen.”
