As many locals and 30A travelers alike know, the beloved Red Bar in Grayton Beach was victim to a tragic fire in February of this year. The restaurant and bar opened in 1995 and since has been a staple to the community. With its delicious seafood, live music and a lively, sultry, and flat out “cool” environment, each trip to The Red Bar was certainly an enjoyable one.
Immediately after the news of the fire broke, an outpouring of support and encouragement from the 30A community and beyond came pouring in. A GoFundMe page was started for The Red Bars employees, Grayton Beer Company held a fundraiser that raised upwards of $30,000 and countless numbers of people from near and far have shared their photos and fond memories from time spent at The Red Bar.
In the wake of this loss, there is hope for a new future. Red Bar co-owner Oliver “Oli” Petit gave a statement to the Northwest Florida Daily News announcing intentions of a re-build:
“On behalf of my family and the staff of The Red Bar, I want to thank the community for the tremendous outpouring of support that we have already received. It means a lot to me that we live in a county where our leaders recognize the importance of our shared history, and the efforts so many of us make to shape our community in a positive and unique way. I want to tell our patrons and my staff that we will be back, and we will rebuild to the exact previous specifications – maybe with a better bathroom. Life goes on.”
On February 28th, the staff was cleared to start rebuilding in the same spot, with a goal of re-opening by Labor Day weekend. The new structure will closely resemble the old one in terms of the look and decor, and elements salvaged from the original will be included in the re-build. The Red Bar held special moments for many people and here at 30A Cottages and Concierge we can’t wait to see the finished result and start making new memories at the iconic Red Bar.
