With a view to cementing Vilano Beach as a St. Johns County dining hotspot, restaurateurs Nathan Stuart and Margo Klar plan to open a sleek new restaurant to the increasingly popular destination.
According to paperwork filed with the county, the couple – who run several successful North Florida restaurants — want to open Snapper’s at 165 Vilano Road.
Stuart and Klar have an accomplished culinary track record, having built Outback Crab Shack, Fish House and Oyster Co., Tally House & Oyster Bar, and The Boathouse into thriving eateries.
Their application for the new location, which is still under review, aims to expand out the 2,732-square-foot space previously occupied by Tropicana Cuban to about 4,900 square feet.
Stuart told the Jacksonville Daily Record earlier this year that the area’s walkability enticed his interest several years ago, and he purchased the property with a future project in mind.
“They’re almost making like a little San Marco. It’s like a walking district,” he told the outlet. “So, we grabbed the property two years ago to position ourselves.”
The couple’s LLC, Fish House Holdings, bought the dilapidated concrete stucco property for $950,000 in 2021.
Renderings for the 1958 building show an Art Deco design similar to the historic structures that line Ocean Drive in Miami.
Plans show a main dining area, a full bar and event space providing seating for a total of 194 guests.
Project designer’s told the county that they expect patrons to arrive on foot or by bicycle due to its location.
Chef Michael Lugo announced last month that his celebrated Spanish eatery Michael’s in St. Augustine will move to a new space at the Hyatt Place in Vilano Beach this coming February.
