Vineapple is back, under new management. After being closed for nearly a year, new owners Aubrie Therrien and Zac Rubin are building out a whole new Vineapple. They will be offering food and wine, in addition to breakfast items and coffee in the morning.
Aubrie and Zac have lived on Pineapple St. for four years and had been daily customers of Vineapple. When it closed with no clear answers to if and when it would open again, they were heart-broken. “We discussed reopening Vineapple ourselves as a fantasy, but Zac ran with the idea and approached the owner,” said Aubrie. After some discussion, the deal was finalized in December 2019 and renovations started, but then Covid hit and paused the plans. But today, there’s a “sidewalk cafe” out front and the coffee will be pouring. Construction of a backyard dining space is also in the works.
Aubrie Therrien and Zac Rubin, new owners of Vineapple
The new Vineapple will be much more food and wine focused than the old Vineapple. Aubrie comes from a family that owned a restaurant in Little Italy in Manhattan for 75 years. So food is in her genes. “We plan on building the menu on fresh local produce with an Italian focus. The menu will have a wine bar feel, with items like paninis, salads, meat and cheese platters, and crostinis,” said Aubrie. Also in the plans are healthy vegetable dishes and pastas of the day, and brunch on the weekends. Aubrie’s mother is a chef and will be coming in to lend a hand and perhaps offer her famous lasagna.
The new Vineapple with interior intact, but with new lighting and more polish.
Jen Sandella, also a Brooklyn Heights resident, will be managing the restaurant. Jen is a cocktail wiz and has won beverage competitions. “She made a cocktail for us called ‘pineapple basil daquiri’ that is amazing and I can’t wait for everyone to try it,” Aubrie said. Just in time for summer, they’ll be serving frozen cocktails, in addition to wine and other cocktails. Aubrie and Zac will be more involved in the beginning, but Aubrie will continue running Epic Players, a non-profit that supports people with autism. Zac will continue managing his soccer gear business, Upper 90, on Atlantic Avenue and in Manhattan.
Vineapple will welcome visitors today and tomorrow for coffee and treats, gratis. Also, check out their new website at www.vineapple.cafe.
