provided to The Santiva Chronicle
The Blue Giraffe Island Bar & Grill led the way for food trucks on Sanibel Island after Hurricane Ian in 2022. Instrumental in making food-truck permitting on the island possible, it opened at Periwinkle Place the same day the public was allowed back. In March 2025, 863 days later, its brick-and-mortar location reopened at 2075 Periwinkle Way, and on May 2, the SanCap Chamber made it official with a ribbon-cutting.
“For us, it was about community, resilience, and providing a sense of normalcy during a time of recovery,” said Michael Puente, a previous employee who purchased Blue Giraffe in June 2023, mentored by former owner Bill Letendre. “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 percent loss, the new owner 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,” said Puente. “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,” said John Lai, SanCap Chamber president and chief executive officer. “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 chamber has been very helpful in our recovery process,” Puente said. “They’ve helped us greatly during the past three hurricanes, showing up with support and encouragement when we needed it the most. Thank you so much for connecting us to other local businesses and organizations.”
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