One of St. Pete’s most beloved restaurants, Lolita’s Wine Market, has announced via Instagram their plans to move to the Warehouse Arts District in June.

After six successful years in their current building, the popular eatery, known for its create-your-own charcuterie boards and small plates, will relocate to a space inside the Morean Center for Clay at 420 22nd Street South.

The new building has a storied history. It was originally built as a freight depot in 1926 and is the only substantially unaltered example of railroad architecture left in St. Petersburg. According to the Morean’s website, the building, “houses 60 artists at any given time and includes a retail space, galleries, private artist studios, and a nationally renowned artist-in-residence program.”

We could not be happier to hear that Lolita’s has found a new home and will be a fixture in St. Pete’s dining scene for years to come. Nine months ago, its fate was uncertain.

In August 2022, St. Pete Rising announced plans for a seven-story mixed-use development that, if built, will replace the entire 1700 block of Central Avenue, including Lolita’s current building at 16 18th Street South.

The developer, Dallas-based Trammell Crow, has yet to close on the properties and is still under contract on the block, which is home to a collection of small residential and commercial buildings occupied by various local businesses, in addition to Lolita’s Wine Market, such as The Burg Bar and Grill, Dirty Laundry, Avid Brew Company, Fraze Design, FRSTeam by Rogers, and Hamm Signs.

The new space at the Morean Center for Clay is approximately the same size as their current digs but includes an expansive outdoor patio. 

“The menu is going to largely remain the same, but I will update it with a few new dishes,” said Alex Rodriguez, who owns Lolita’s with his wife Kelly Rodriguez. “We are thinking offering lunch with salads, paninis, sangrias and brunch on Sundays with some live music on the patio.”

If you’ve never dined at Lolita’s, you owe it to yourself to give it a try.

Start with the Ricotta Jar, which consists of ricotta whipped with a honey-lavender and kale pesto, heirloom tomatoes, balsamic pearls, and rosemary extra virgin olive oil. Other great options are the Patatas Bravas and the Dates, which are stuffed with Spanish chorizo and blue cheese.

Arguably one of the best charcuterie boards in town, Lolita’s offers over fifteen different kinds of cheeses, from the hard, savory Grano Padano to the soft, creamy Caraway Havarti. Ten different types of meat are also available, such as chorizo, soppressata, black peppered salami, and za’atar smoked salmon.

Accompanying the meats and cheeses are a selection of over 20 accoutrements including paprika Marcona almonds, balsamic fig jam, dried apricots, golden beets, and truffled goat cheese peppadews.

Of course, your meal would not be complete without a bottle of wine. Lolita’s specializes in wines from all over the globe, not just American or regional wines. The focus is on boutique wines and interesting blends and varietals. Kelly, who oversees the wine program, has curated a selection of wine that includes everyday drinking wines, mid-tier wines, and some pinnacle wines.

Lolita’s Wine Market plans to make the big move this June to the Morean Center for Clay at 420 22nd Street South. Be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on grand opening plans.