John Paul Gagliano did not go looking for his next restaurant. It came to him through a conversation, a set of renderings, and a feeling he could not shake.
Gagliano, who runs Ecco, Tonica in Midtown and Downtown, and the original Libro inside Novel, will open a new Libro location inside the Memphis Art Museum when the museum opens December 6, 2026. The restaurant is set to welcome its first guests in January 2027.
The connection came through John Vergos, co-owner of Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous, who linked Gagliano with the museum’s executive director, Zoe Kahr. From there, the vision took on a life of its own. The new Libro will occupy 4,595 square feet designed by Nashville-based Dryden Studio, featuring Tennessee pink marble, oak millwork, reclaimed wood, natural stone, and bleached maple. It will face Front Street, with a double-height dining room, a bar, and outdoor seating.
The menu stays true to what Libro has always done: sandwiches, salads, seasonal specials, and handmade pastas with a Mediterranean and Italian influence. A full-service catering kitchen will also be on-site for weddings, private events, and culinary partnerships.
Gagliano employs 81 people across his current restaurants and plans to add 10 to 12 more for the new location. He sees Memphis dining as a puzzle he keeps building, one right relationship at a time.
