After years of staring at an empty stretch of waterfront, St. Augustine locals may finally see fresh life at 135 Avenida Menendez this fall. The Wharf, a new bayfront restaurant, is aiming for a November debut at the long-vacant site once home to the Santa Maria, which was removed after storm damage and a slog of permitting and redevelopment talks. Recent interior work and a trickle of social media posts have amped up curiosity about what, exactly, is coming to the bayfront.
Owner David White told WhatNow that The Wharf is expected to open in November, though he is not yet sharing menu details or a firm launch date. The outlet lists the address as 135 Avenida Menendez and points to a spring sneak-peek video and the restaurant’s Instagram account, whose first post dates back to August 6, 2018. Those glimpses tease painted walls, chandeliers and wide bay views, but so far the public rollout has stayed limited to social hints and brief comments to local outlets.
A Slow Burn On The Bayfront
Plans to replace the former Santa Maria go back years. White secured approvals and sought demolition permissions in the mid-2010s as part of a long-running push to rebuild on the waterfront, Historic City News reported. The White family, which already operates several landmark bayfront businesses, had outlined plans for reinforced pilings and a sturdier deck once work got underway. That drawn-out backstory helps explain why locals have been watching the site so closely for so long.
What Locals Can Watch For Next
WhatNow notes that White still calls it too early to get into specifics, but says an opening is finally in sight for November. Those tracking the transformation can follow @wharfstaugustine for more sneak peeks and event news, while city permit filings will flag the next visible steps as fall approaches. We’ll update with confirmed dates, menu details and any preview events as soon as they are made public.
