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There have been a lot of changes in the Fairhope food scene lately with openings, closings and relocations. When Ox Kitchen Fairhope teased a big announcement on Facebook April 8, the speculation quickly began in the comments.

There's no need to worry because the news is good. Ox Kitchen Fairhope is expanding to open a second location at The Garden Pensacola.

Founder, owner and head chef Bo Hamilton opened Ox Kitchen Fairhope in what was then known as the Windmill Market seven years ago. The restaurant's menu features burgers, salads, pecan smoked wings, hand-cut fries and a selection of non-burger sandwiches like the Gulf shrimp po-boy and Ox chicken sandwich.

After thriving at The Windmill Market and then The Mill, the restaurant moved to the former Market By the Bay Fairhope location on Hwy. 98. The restaurant got a much-needed interior and exterior makeover. Hamilton is quick to credit his wife Molly for the restaurant's fresh and modern aesthetic.

The expansion to Pensacola is something Hamilton has been looking to do for a few years but was just waiting for the right opportunity. When a food trailer became available at The Garden, he jumped at the opportunity.

"We have just been looking for a chance to grow," Hamilton said.

The Garden at Palafox and Main is an open-air food hall. It started as a handful of Airstream food trailers around a small courtyard and has evolved to be a completely covered open-air food hall with four Airstreams, five kiosks, a bar and restaurant.

The Pensacola menu will feature items that are on the main Ox Kitchen menu, but it will be even more simple. Hamilton said he is looking forward to reaching a demographic in Pensacola that doesn't exist in Fairhope, the college students and military.

While he doesn't spend much time in the kitchen any more thanks to the dedicated team he has assembled in Fairhope, Hamilton knows he will need to spend some time in Pensacola.

"This location (Fairhope) pretty much runs itself. We have really good people here. We are just going to staff up with people here and then find the right people in Pensacola," Hamilton said. "I have people that can spend time over there (Pensacola) and help get things open and running correctly. Hopefully, it won't be too much of a headache."

With a three-year lease signed for the Pensacola location, Hamilton is planning to be there for the long haul. If all goes well, he has plans for more. He said there are a lot of good markets out there.

Hamilton and his family as well as Ox Kitchen Fairhope have embedded into the community in the seven years, they have been here by organically building the customer base.

"We organically built our customer base, not by giving stuff away or throwing advertising everywhere, but by doing a good job and connecting with our customers. It is more of a relationship," Hamilton said. "We donate to the schools. I have three kids in school here and this is our community."

While Ox Kitchen Fairhope is part of the community, the community will enjoy saying we had it first. Keep an eye on Hamilton and Ox Kitchen as it grows.
Ox Kitchen Fairhope is at 365 S Greeno Rd, Fairhope. The Garden at Palafox + Main is at 501 S. Palafox St., Pensacola, Florida.