Photo Credit: Kurt Lischka
A beloved gem to locals and tourists alike, The Red Bar
provided an extraordinary atmosphere for dining and
entertainment for 24 years. Then, in the early hours
of a cool, windy morning on February 13, 2019, the
renowned institution went up in flames.
“It was one of those moments where time completely
stops,” Petit recalls. “Everything was gone—the entire
building was burning all at once—and it was so
incredibly painful to watch.”
Situated outside of Chiringo, the neighboring
restaurant, Petit remained with his staff, his family, and
members of the community until the flames subsided
around 10:00 p.m.
“All of these emotions run through you… this feeling
of loss and fear,” Petit says. “All I could think is, What is
going to happen?”
“The secret to The Red Bar’s success is loyalty, and it
has worked wonderfully for 25 years,” Petit explains.
“I think the restaurant has created a culture and a
scene that is so reliable and so consistent. You know,
enchanted eyes looking at the lights, wonderful
music coming from the corner… If you stick it out long
enough, people will discover you, and if you hit it on the
head right off the bat, they will follow you.”
This mantra is evident in Petit’s plans for the future.
Of his own volition, and to the delight of former
visitors, The Red Bar will be rebuilt to the near-exact
specifications of its former self. Slated to reopen on
Memorial Day weekend of 2020, The Red Bar’s return
will signify a new but familiar chapter in the story of the
community of Grayton Beach.
SoWal Photographer Kurt Lischka has been
documenting Red Bar memories since day 1. See
more of Kurt’s work at his Moon Creek Gallery in
Grayton Beach or online at MoonCreekGallery.com.
While the loss of The Red Bar had left many questions
unanswered, one thing presented itself as crystal clear as
Six months later, after a long process of salvaging
the remnants and planning for what came next, the
uncertain return of The Red Bar transitioned into
reality with a groundbreaking ceremony on October
8, 2019. The new iteration of The Red Bar will
faithfully return to the roots that established it as a
must-experience landmark when it opened its doors
for the very first time in January of 1995, offering its
distinctive blend of cuisine, atmosphere and live music.
Co-owner and restaurant-pioneer, Oliver “Oli” Petit,
received a call around 5:00 a.m. from a neighbor in
Grayton Beach notifying him of the fire. Petit was on
the scene in short order, helplessly watching on as his
labor of love for nearly a quarter-century was
transformed into smoldering rubble.
the emerald waters of the Gulf: The community would
stand behind its most cherished treasure, and they would
rally together to ensure its return. The outpouring of
support was immediate. Fundraisers were held to assist
employees who had suffered the loss of their jobs, while
donations came in from across the country.
T
he word community can be defined in numerous
ways. It can describe a sense of fellowship,
a specific group of people, or merely indicate
a locale. But with regard to the small realm of largely
undisturbed land on the Emerald Coast between
Pensacola and Panama City known as Grayton Beach,
the definition can be simplified into a singular
embodiment: The iconic establishment and genuine
staple that is Piccolo’s Restaurant & The Red Bar.