An iconic landmark of St. Augustine dining is now on the market.
The Raintree Restaurant, a bastion of elegant fine dining on San Marco Avenue for more than four decades, is being offered for sale for $5,600,000, The Citizen has learned.
“It may be time to retire if the right person comes along,” Lorna MacDonald told The Citizen, stressing that her beloved eatery remains fully operational.
“It’s been 45 years and it’s a long time to be doing what I’m doing. It’s been great and it’s been a serivce to the community. High days and holidays it’s always the same people. It’s iconic, and we’ve had lots of amazing customers that have stood by us for years and we’ll be there as long as we can.”
For locals, the Raintree has long been the place to celebrate milestones — anniversaries, weddings and family gatherings within its Victorian walls and serene garden courtyards.
Old City visitors have also flocked to the property, drawn by the combination of acclaimed cuisine and historic ambience.
That gilded reputation, built over nearly 50 years, remains part of the restaurant’s singular appeal.
Positioned on San Marco Avenue, the Raintree sits along one of St. Augustine’s primary north–south corridors, a gateway funneling visitors into downtown.
Unlike many similarly historic properties in the city, the Raintree offers on-site parking.
The parcel includes a grand two-story Victorian structure built in 1879 replete with original period details.
For restaurateurs or hospitality investors, the property is being marketed as a turnkey operation with an established customer base and brand recognition that can be continued or expanded under new ownership.
The restaurant’s history adds another layer of narrative. In 1979, the MacDonald family — Tristan and Alex, along with their children Gaere and Lorna — left England aboard their 45-foot yacht, Intsholo III, seeking new opportunities in America.
After a transatlantic voyage and a stop in the Caribbean, they arrived in Florida and, by late 1980, had purchased the San Marco Avenue property. Nearly a year of renovations transformed the aging Victorian house into a restaurant, and the Raintree opened its doors in 1981.
A replica of the yacht that carried the family across the Atlantic still sits inside as a reminder of the journey.
Now, it appears, the grand vessel may soon tack in a new direction.
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