St. Augustine Beach just scored a new spot for a morning bite, courtesy of chef Peter Kenney and his wife Kristen. The longtime local restaurateurs have turned the former Purple Olive space at 4255 A1A South, Unit 6, into Beach Bagels, a breakfast-and-lunch café serving from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu leans into made-to-order egg sandwiches, in-house roasted turkey, and a lineup of bagels paired with house-made cream cheeses, giving the Kenneys a way to reach the morning and midday crowds they have largely missed with their dinner-focused work.
“We’re so excited to expand our restaurant offerings with this new concept,” Kristen Kenney said in a statement. According to WhatNow, Beach Bagels opened on Wednesday in the former Purple Olive space at 4255 A1A S, Unit 6, and will operate 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The couple has been part of the St. Augustine restaurant scene for more than 20 years.
Menu and hours
Beach Bagels keeps things straightforward but not boring. The roster includes plain, whole wheat, everything, sesame, garlic and blueberry bagels, plus house-made cream cheeses in flavors like jalapeño, datil honey, strawberry and veggie. The bagels are made and delivered fresh each morning by Village Bread, and breakfast sandwiches feature made-to-order eggs and an in-house roasted turkey, according to Visit St. Augustine. Lunch stretches beyond the usual deli fare, with a Short Rib French Dip served with hot au jus and build-your-own bowls, and the menu notes vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free selections.
From Purple Olive to a morning café
The new café fills the footprint the Kenneys left behind when Purple Olive relocated in October 2025. As reported by Jax Daily Record, Purple Olive reopened at 828 Anastasia Blvd as a dinner-only restaurant, which freed up the A1A address for the Beach Bagels concept. The split lets the Kenneys keep Purple Olive's scratch-made dinner menu intact while adding a daytime option aimed at surfers, walkers and families on Anastasia Island.
What it means for the beach
With Beach Bagels now open, Anastasia Island picks up another morning option for visitors and residents looking for quick breakfasts or casual lunches. Local tourism listings already include the new spot among beachside dining choices, per Visit St. Augustine, and early response suggests the Kenneys' blend of comfort food and regional touches is resonating. For locals, Beach Bagels reads as a familiar-sounding experiment from owners who have been feeding the community for years and now want to meet it at breakfast.
