The White Pelican is Opening in Vero Beach. Here Are Details

VERO BEACH, FL – Vero Hospitality Group is rolling out a new concept combining membership-driven dining, a liquor store centered on wine and spirits education (aptly named Liquor Library), and a daytime cafe and juice bar.

The project, called White Pelican, will open at 4885 Jimmy Buffett Mem Hwy, Vero Beach, FL 32963, replacing Vinz Wine and Dining and utilizing the atrium of Pelicans Plaza. Managing Partner Rusty Cappelen III shared the information with Business Debut in a phone interview.

What to Expect

White Pelican will function as a members-based supper club in the evenings and as a public-facing cafe, juice bar and leisure destination during the day. The reworked atrium will offer covered indoor-outdoor seating with a central Japanese blueberry tree and custom made chandeliers.

The Roosevelt Room, created from the former Vinz interior, will serve as the primary indoor dining room for evening service. The Liquor Library space, redesigned with built-in shelving, Carrera marble floors, and custom wallpaper, will operate as a liquor store by day and shift into a bar and dining area for members at night.

During daytime hours, the atrium bar will serve as a coffee and juice bar with light food, including pastries and possible tea sandwiches, Cappelen shared. The team is exploring regular use of the atrium for community activities such as mahjong groups.

Menu and Vision

The White Pelican dining program will operate as a tasting-menu-driven supper club with a changing lineup of dishes. The approach centers on clean, fresh ingredients, with a mix of local sourcing and specialty products flown in from other markets.

The club has been testing its format over the past year through pre-opening events. Those have included multi-course omakase dinners with sake pairings, a seven-course “pasta and Sinatra” night featuring Italian American dishes and wine pairings, and cocktail parties with hors d’oeuvres.

For ongoing service, the team plans a single-plate tasting menu framework with roughly 15 items, ranging from lighter plates to heavier options. Guests will be able to drop in for an appetizer or dessert or build larger, family-style dinners for groups, Cappelen told Business Debut.

Ownership Background

Vero Hospitality Group leads the project. The group includes managing partner Rick Engel, managing partner Rusty Cappelen III, COO and partner Allison Domeneghetti, senior advisor Jose Robledo, and executive director of hospitality Paolo Domeneghetti.

Cappelen said he is a fifth-generation Vero Beach native whose family has lived in the city since 1924. Several partners have long careers in food and beverage across markets including Texas, New York, Miami, and Italy.

Cappelen shared that the group came together as friends discussing gaps they saw in the Vero dining landscape. White Pelican grew from those conversations and from what the team identified as a need on the barrier island for a focused tasting menu and robust wine and spirits program.

Interior designer Maddy Bickford created the overall look and feel for the club, from the atrium elements to the Liquor Library finishes.

Other Concepts in the Group

White Pelican and Liquor Library is one of several projects under Vero Hospitality Group. Over the past 18 months, the team has acquired and reworked multiple local businesses.

On Ocean Drive, the group is rebranding the former Boiler bar and bottle shop into a new concept called Eight. Cappelen said Eight will focus on sushi and ramen, paired with a bar and bottle shop that sells wine and spirits for off-premise consumption.

The group also owns What a Tavern at 58 Royal Palm Point, which first opened in the early 1990s. Cappelen said they have already remodeled the riverfront spot and added a game room, outdoor green space, and boat slips, along with a small liquor store component for customers who arrive by boat.

Opening Timeline

Construction on White Pelican and Liquor Library is nearing completion, and the team expects to finish the buildout in three to four weeks, Cappelen told Business Debut during the late October interview.

Cappelen said the group is targeting a grand opening in early December. Membership pre-sales have been underway during construction.

Hours

Cappelen said the Liquor Library will operate seven days a week, likely 9 a.m. — 5 p.m. Final daytime hours are to be announced.

Evening supper club hours will start with dinner service on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday nights, Cappelen told Business Debut. Detailed hours for the coffee and juice bar are to be announced.

Follow for More

To inquire for memberships at the supper club, visit the White Pelican on their website.