A new meat and seafood market offering over 700 products is coming to St. Pete in 2022. 

Wild Fork Meat and Seafood Market will be located at 2801 4th Street North on the site of the former Alcove Senior Living. Notably, the market will be directly across the street from The Fresh Market and Trader Joes as well as a short five minute drive from downtown St. Pete.

“We’re excited to bring Wild Fork to St. Pete in 2022,” said CEO Vincent Trius. “Wild Fork can provide the centerpiece dish to every home-prepared meal – from weeknight dinners to special occasion dinner parties.”

The property was purchased by Belleair Development Group in April for $3.25 million. Once the existing structures are demolished, a new 4,950 square foot building will be constructed for Wild Fork.q

Wild Fork is based out of South Florida and currently operates 14 brick-and-mortar stores. Although most of their stores are in Florida, the market also has outposts in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Dallas. In June, Wild Fork opened their first Tampa Bay store in Westchase.

When Wild Fork opens in St. Pete, they’ll offer over 450 varieties of meat and seafood making it a one-stop-shop for all your carnivorous needs. Not only will the market carry a range of grades, from entry-level USDA Choice to 100% Japanese A5 Wagyu, but Wild Fork also sells unique meats not found anywhere else in the city, such as alligator tenderloins, venison rib rack, and ostrich fillets.

How is Wild Fork able to carry such a wide selection of meat? I’m glad you asked! It’s all frozen. But before writing off their meat as being lesser, know that Wild Fork claims frozen is fresher.

According to a Wild Fork promotional video, “We blast freeze at -40 degrees maintaining peak freshness and sealing in all vitamins and minerals. This process is ten times faster than normal freezing and results in less crystallization, more juiciness, better flavor, higher quality, and tenderness.”

Wild Fork also carries vegetarian-friendly options, such as plant-based ground turkey, sausages, and burgers from brands like Beyond Meat, Ozo, and Amy’s.

And although the focus is on meat and seafood, Wild Fork also sells breads, desserts, appetizers, and ready to heat and eat items.

As you browse the store, you might have questions, like “How do I even cook an ostrich fillet?” or “Why is the 100% Wagyu A5 beef $129 per pound?” Just ask a sales associate. All employees go through six weeks of culinary training so they can answer any question you might have. If you want to cook something new, want to try a new item, they can not only point it out to you, but give you suggestions on how to cook it.

If you don’t feel like leaving the house, Wild Fork will deliver. Customers can sign up for unlimited next-day delivery for $30 per year or pay $4.95 for a single delivery.

Wild Fork is planning to open in the second half of 2022 at 2801 4th Street North. Hours of operation will be from 8 am to 9 pm seven days a week. Be sure to check out their website for more information.