It was a short-lived goodbye for Pineapple Express Hawaiian Grill − a Hawaiian-inspired Pensacola restaurant at 1400 Barrancas Ave. that was set to close on July 26. Thanks to the support of the Pensacola community, the restaurant is now set to reopen at 19 N. Navy Boulevard Suite A on July 29, per the restaurant's social media pages.
The Hawaiian style restaurant first opened its Barrancas Avenue location in February as an expanded version of a popular food truck, Pineapple Express Rice Bowls, owned and operated by chef Michael Perez. The brick-and-mortar Pineapple Express Hawaiian Grill opened as a partnership with Perez and the owners of Xiscali Mexican Taqueria, Gerardo Zentle and Reina Medina.
The owners announced the decision to close via social media on July 17, expressing concerns over lack of sales only a month before.
“Opening this restaurant was not a simple decision for us. We appreciate all the support and love. Unfortunately, we’re not seeing the same activity as when we first opened. We are hoping for the best, but at the same time we are seeing our options,” the social media statement said on June 13. “If you don’t have any lunch or dinner plans. Please come by and grab (a) meal. We appreciate your patronage. We’re only here because of you.”
Now, Zentle and Medina are taking full ownership of the Pineapple Express Hawaiian Grill restaurant and will reopen it at 19 N. Navy Boulevard Suite A, out of which their other two restaurants are now based. The space will offer food from Xiscali’s, which operates as a quick service Mexican taqueria; Egg N Eggs, which offers table service for breakfast and lunch; and as of July 29, Pineapple Express Hawaiian Grill.
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“After receiving overwhelming support and numerous messages, Pineapple Express Hawaiian Grill is relocating!” the Pineapple Express owners announced in a social media statement on July 20. “We are grateful for everyone who voiced their support and understanding.”
Perez will continue to operate the food trailer part of the Pineapple Express Rice Bowls business, and a “nearly identical” menu will be offered at the Navy Boulevard brick and mortar.
“To avoid confusion, Pineapple Express Hawaiian Grill and Pineapple Express Rice Bowls (food trailer) will be two separate businesses but will serve nearly identical menus. We’re grateful for Gerardo and Reina, for continuing Pineapple Express Hawaiian Grill,” Pineapple Express Rice Bowls wrote in a statement. “Their love and passion for food would surely bring more families to their establishment.”
For more updates and information, follow Pineapple Express Hawaiian Grill on Instagram.
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