Transitioning restaurant space from one Italian restaurant to another can require more than just swapping signage and spaghetti recipes.
That was the case for the space at 1652 S. Padre Island Drive in Corpus Christi, Texas. The site in the South Coast Plaza shopping center previously housed a Johnny Carino’s eatery that closed in early 2024 after operating for over 20 years. Olive Garden leased the space last year, and despite serving up similar cuisine, the site was so specialized for Johnny Carino’s that Olive Garden couldn't cook up its famous breadsticks in the space.
So, Olive Garden decided to redevelop the site. The national food chain saw the space as a chance to meet a rising need in the growing West Corpus Christi region and relieve congestion at its first location within the city that ranks among the highest-performing Olive Gardens in Texas.
The lease earned a 2025 CoStar Impact Award, as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the Corpus Christi market.
The Olive Garden deal is a sign of “confidence in the long-term strength of South Coast Plaza," said Lynann Pinkham with Cravey Real Estate Services, who represented the landlord in the deal, in a press release from last year.
About the project: The landlord agreed to help cover some construction costs as part of Olive Garden's lease, allowing the chain to build a new restaurant with improved kitchen systems, upgraded finishes and dedicated areas for pickup and to-go parking. Pinkham confirmed via email that the new Olive Garden is expected to open in August.
What the judges said: The deal takes "a current structure in a location which has historically struggled with growth" to help revive it "in hopes to bring other retail back to this area," said Cherylyn Boyd, a portfolio manager for Stonewater Properties.
They made it happen: Lynann Pinkham, broker associate for Cravey Real Estate Services, represented the landlord in the lease. Traci Holman of Baker Katz represented the tenant.