The wait is nearly over. After more than two years of anticipation, Red Mesa Mercado is putting the finishing touches on its second location.

The popular Cali-Mex eatery will officially open in October at 6001 Central Avenue in west St. Pete. The space previously housed Two Graces and, before that, the Reading Room.

The restaurant is part of the Red Mesa Group, which has deep roots in St. Pete. This year, the original Red Mesa on 4th Street is celebrating 30 years in business. Meanwhile, Red Mesa Cantina has been downtown since 2009.

The group expanded again in 2014 with Red Mesa Mercado in the EDGE District at 1100 1st Avenue North. Over the past decade, Mercado has established itself as a regular stop in the neighborhood. Now, the second location is just weeks away from its grand debut.

Permits have been filed for a new Chipotle Mexican Grill in Largo, marking another expansion for the popular fast-casual chain.

Known for its streamlined menu of burritos, tacos, and bowls, the restaurant will open at 13677 Walsingham Road, just five minutes from Indian Rocks Beach, in a former KFC building.

The 2,885-square-foot space is being renovated at a cost of $400,000. Once complete, the restaurant will seat 46 diners inside and another 12 on an outdoor patio.

The project’s architect is Dungan Design Group LLC of Overland Park, Kansas, while Clearwater-based Strategic Commercial Construction is serving as the general contractor.

Farm-to-table fast-casual restaurant Naked Farmer is planting deeper roots in St. Petersburg.

The St. Pete–born brand told St. Pete Rising it will open a second location in the Sunshine City next summer at 2631 4th Street North, a 1,920-square-foot space that previously housed EVOS.

The upcoming location marks another milestone in Naked Farmer’s rapid growth.

Founded in 2020 in downtown St. Pete, the restaurant has grown to eight locations across Florida, including Tampa, Coral Gables, Sunrise, Miami, Sarasota, and Fort Lauderdale.

Expansion outside the state is also underway, with upcoming restaurants in Nashville, TN and Charlotte, NC.

By 2016, they had opened their first Mademoiselle Paris location at the UTC mall in Sarasota. Not long after, the couple debuted locations in downtown Sarasota and Anna Maria Island.

The Gulfport location will be their most ambitious yet.

The 4,000-square-foot space will feature plenty of outdoor seating, a walk-up bakery window for early morning croissants and coffee, live French music on the weekends, and for the first time cocktails in addition to their extensive wine selection.

Guests staying at the Peninsula Inn will find a QR code in each room for easy ordering. And in the future, depending on demand, Mademoiselle may offer direct delivery to hotel rooms.

Why Gulfport? For the Dandonneaus, the decision was serendipitous.

“We’d been looking for a spot in St. Pete for a while. We love it there, it feels more European to us,” Myriam explains. “Then one night we had dinner at Pia’s in downtown Gulfport. The street was alive with music, people were smiling everywhere. We felt something special.”