Update: The Olive Branch Cafe opened its doors on Tuesday, February 10th.
A new cafe and eatery has opened in a familiar spot on Ribaut Road across from Beaufort Memorial Hospital.
The folks at the popular Urban Brew + Co. in Beaufort Town Center renovated the old Athenian Gardens restaurant and turned it into a new cafe, and “The Olive Branch Cafe by Urban Brew+ Co.”
Locals have been clamoring for something to go into the building since Athenian Gardens closed in 2022, with many missing the food, and the personalities of the mother-son duo who operated the restaurant, “Mom and Stefan.”
But the folks at Urban Brew are keeping that memory going.
The new cafe, “have a house made Mediterranean twist on our menu we think you’ll enjoy. We want to honor the Athenian Gardens memory,” said owner Kaitlynn Vassalle.
That sounds very interesting.
“It’s been a dream in the making, and we couldn’t be more excited (and honestly, a little emotional) to bring it to life,” she said in a Facebook post. “This new space has the same amazing coffee and welcoming vibe you know — but with a twist.”
“Yes, we have some Urban Brew favorites but also brand fresh, scratch made new items that are inspired by Mediterranean flavors we’ve fallen in love with.”
“And, here’s what makes it even more meaningful,” she added, “the café lives inside the old “Athenian Gardens” building on 950 Ribaut Road, a place that holds so many beautiful memories for our Beaufort community.”
“We’ve felt the weight of its history every step of the way, and our mission is to honor that legacy, while creating a new space where everyone feels like they belong.”
The new cafe has lots of amazing menu items, with a Mediterranean twist to honor the fond memory of Athenian Gardens.
On our visit, we found gyro bowls & gyro pitas, Greek salads, homemade Baklava & pita bread, pistachio croissants, frittatas, hummus, acai bowls, pastries, a full service coffee bar, to-go items, and so much more!
Open for several years in Beaufort Town Center, Urban Brew + Co. has been a popular locally-owned trendy coffee shop with a smallish, high-quality menu of breakfast options that meshes perfectly with its larger drink menu.
You’ll find all the coffee, lattes, and cappuccinos that you need, but you’ve got to eat, too. Lucky for you, you can choose from their waffles, breakfast sandwiches on ciabatta rolls, specialty toasts, oatmeal offerings, acai bowls, yogurt parfaits and lots more. And, patrons always make sure to pay special attention to their fresh pastry case to see what just came out of the oven.
“We didn’t just open up another coffee shop — we’re opening a place full of heart, history, and hope,” Kaitlynn said.
“A place where old memories are honored, and new ones are waiting to be made.”
