Years after coming together for a one-time two-night pop-up, Little Miss Ha and French Pantry are working on opening a new brick-and-mortar in St. Augustine at 36 Granada St.
In November 2020, Little Miss Ha, a Vietnamese restaurant based out of Mt. Pleasant, SC, partnered with Jacksonville’s artisanal bakery French Pantry to offer a 5-course tasting menu. Now, the two businesses are coming together to open a restaurant in the former home of The Corazon Cinema and Cafe, according to restaurant and food service public records. Little Miss Ha owner Janice Hudgins declined to provide additional details regarding the opening.
This is the first time the space has made any progress in three years, despite rumors of other businesses having interests. After the cafe and movie theatre closed during the pandemic, Southern Grounds hoped to renovate the space into a new location with a full-service sit-down restaurant called The Alder & Oak. While these plans never came to light, the company changed plans and is bringing the concept to The Hub Brooklyn.
While details regarding the new restaurant have yet to be revealed, customers can guess what to expect based on the company’s past. In Mt. Pleasant, Little Miss Ha offers a beautifully modern and comfortable experience with seasonal food specials, a full bar, and occasionally pop-up chefs or events. The restaurant offers a handful of shareable options, pho, and other small plates. On the other hand, French Pantry offers delicious breakfast options, freshly baked bread, sandwiches, and desserts.
“The French Pantry can trace its iconic Northeast Florida roots more than 20 years to 1995 when the original owners, Tim and Barbara Felver, moved across the country from California, leaving behind careers working alongside the likes of celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck (who became a close friend) and legendary pastry chef Mary Bergin,” according to the company’s website. “With a passion and knack for culinary arts, the couple set out to build their next venture – a commercial baking business in a modest warehouse on Powers Avenue near Wolfson High School.”
