Restaurant at Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo Shutters Its Doors
Gulf Shores News Staff • July 10, 2026
Third restaurant at zoo location closes it's doors
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (GSN) — The culinary landscape at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo has shifted once again. Safari & Vine, the dining destination located on the zoo grounds in Gulf Shores, has officially closed its doors as of July 9, 2026.
The sudden closure is particularly notable given the timing. In the hospitality industry, shuttering a business in the middle of the summer season—typically a period of peak tourism and high foot traffic for the Gulf Coast—is an unusual and difficult step.
The space at 20499 Oak Rd. E. has proven to be a difficult location to sustain. Safari & Vine represented the third attempt to establish a long-term, successful restaurant concept at the zoo.
The site originally began operations as the Safari Club, known for its focus on sustainability and international flavors. Following its tenure, the space became Savanna, a restaurant that operated until May 2025. Safari & Vine, operated by Pam and Chef Rich Lee, opened in March 2026, offering a "global-inspired menu" that included everything from Peri-Peri wings to hand-crafted cocktails. Despite the restaurant's unique design—which allowed for public access without the requirement of a zoo admission ticket—the business ultimately faced insurmountable financial pressures.
Owners Pam and Chef Rich Lee, who also owned Portabella’s in Foley, announced the difficult decision on social media, citing that they simply ran out of runway to make the business viable.
In a statement posted to the Safari & Vine Facebook page, the owners expressed their gratitude to the community and their staff:> “We are heartbroken to say that we have to close Portabellas and Safari & Vine. We were hoping that things would turn around soon, but unfortunately, we ran out of time and money.
It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Safari & Vine has permanently closed.
Despite our passion, hard work, and the incredible support we received from so many of you, we simply ran out of the financial resources needed to continue operating.
To every guest who dined with us, shared a meal with family and friends, celebrated special occasions, or simply stopped in to say hello—thank you. Your encouragement, kind words, and support meant more to us than you know.
We are especially grateful to our dedicated team, who poured their hearts into creating memorable experiences every day. We couldn’t have asked for a better group of people.
While this chapter has come to an end, we are proud of what we built and the memories we created together.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of the Safari & Vine family.
With sincere gratitude,
Pam & Chef Rich Lee
As of now, the future of the restaurant space at the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo remains to be seen. The closure leaves locals and visitors alike wondering what, if anything, will take the place of the latest concept to depart the property.
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