Chamber cuts ribbon on Blue Giraffe brick-and-mortar
The Blue Giraffe Island Bar & Grill led the way for food trucks on Sanibel after Hurricane Ian in 2022. Instrumental in making food-truck permitting on the island possible, it opened at the Periwinkle Place Shops on the same day that the public was allowed back.
In March — 863 days later — its brick-and-mortar location reopened on Sanibel, and the SanCap Chamber made it official on May 2 with a ribbon-cutting.
“For us, it was about community, resilience and providing a sense of normalcy during a time of recovery,” Michael Puente, a previous employee who purchased the Blue Giraffe in June of 2023 and was mentored by former owner Bill Letendre, said. “To me, a restaurant isn’t just a business. It’s a way to share love, culture and connection. This restaurant is my home, and my team is my family.”
The road back to full recovery was a long one for Puente. At 100% loss, he faced rebuilding from the new blue epoxy floor up, plus expanding to an adjacent storefront and freshening the look. A hand-painted giraffe mural by local artist Alex Bustamante, an open floor plan, and TVs around the dining room give the place a modern appeal. Art and artifacts from the previous Blue Giraffe restaurants ground it in history.
“Rather than seeing Hurricane Ian as an end, I viewed it as an opportunity to build something even stronger,” Puente said. “I had a blank canvas and I was ready to start creating something brand new for our community.”
The menu, too, takes cues from the past while adding new twists. The restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, dinner, special events and catering, with plans for late-night dining.
“Back when we were all in a stunned daze after Ian, Blue Giraffe was already feeding islanders and visitors and shining a ray of hope for the future,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “Now, it has created a fresh new product rooted in the legacy of Blue Giraffe’s former Periwinkle Place and Beachview locations. We congratulate the entire team for its foresight and determination to make a stronger comeback.”
The Blue Giraffe Island Bar & Grill is at 2075 Periwinkle Way, Suite 14, Sanibel.