Proposals submitted for Olympia Cafe space – Savannah Agenda

By Eric Curl

Aug. 20, 2025 – The city received six responses to a request for proposals (RFP) to lease the ground floor of the Gamble Building currently occupied by the Olympia Cafe, ahead of the restaurant’s lease expiring at the end of the year.

The Olympia Cafe was among the respondents that submitted proposals by Tuesday’s deadline seeking to operate out of the space along the Savannah Riverwalk.

The respondents include:

• Galaxy Café (Olympia Cafe)
  5 E. River
  Savannah, GA 31401
• RSRM LLC
  PO Box 1265
  Savannah, GA 31402
• Oak Beauty, LLC
  705 Woodley Rd.
  Savannah, GA 31419
• Benaur, LLC
  2740 US HWY 1 S
  St. Augustine, FL 32086
• Koalaty Trading, Inc.
  38 Widewater Rd.
  Hilton Head, SC 29926
• Parker Scott Properties, Inc.
  352 Commercial Drive
  Savannah, GA 31406

The RFP for the Gamble Building space was issued on May 15 in accordance with state law concerning the use of public buildings, according to city officials.

“The City will accept the highest scoring proposal that aligns with the terms and conditions of the lease agreement outlined in the RFP,” Press Secretary Joshua Peacock said via email in May. “It is anticipated that Olympia Café will submit a proposal.”

According to the RFP, proposals will be evaluated by a selection committee based on the following criteria and weight:

• Income to City per proposed base rent; (45 points)
• Proposer’s qualifications and experience (20 points).
• Proposed use/concept, preliminary design considerations/renderings, hours of operation, and other operating information; (15 points)
• Proposed schedule to complete set-up after lease commence and open for business operations (10 points)
• Savannah First (10 points)

In response to a petition to “save” the Olympia Cafe, Mayor Van Johnson raised the matter on Facebook earlier this month.

“Everyone loves Olympia Café, including me. Olympia is a true Savannah icon, which is loved and supported by residents and visitors alike … ” Johnson said in the post.” By law, City Council has no discretion to bypass or interfere with this competitive process, regardless of how many signatures are collected or how beloved a business may be. The owners of Olympia Café have been informed of the process, and I hope that they participate.”

Olympia Cafe co-owner Nick Pappas died in May at age 80, after decades of delighting diners with his welcoming manner and Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant’s co-owner is Vasilis Varlagas.

Located along the waterfront at 5 East River St., Olympia Cafe has been serving Greek and Mediterranean dishes at the restaurant since its opening in 1991.

Pappas death came about a week after the city of Savannah recently issued the RFP to lease the ground floor of the Gamble Building currently occupied by the Olympia Cafe, ahead of the restaurant’s lease expiring at the end of the year. In addition to the lease’s scheduled expiration, renovation work is expected to take place in the space as part of a major renovation of the historic building and the start of the new lease is not expected to begin until the third quarter of 2026.

Olympia Cafe’s current lease with the city was originally executed inn 2011, according to the last 5-year extension in 2019. The current lease extension ends Dec. 31.

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