Cheesesteak Company to open brick and mortar restaurant on 4th Street in St. Pete this fall
/the cheesesteak truck is parked outside of its future restaurant at 6835 4th Street North | the cheesesteak company
North St. Pete is getting a taste of Philadelphia this fall, courtesy of a local couple who have spent years perfecting the cheesesteak.
Cheesesteak Company will open this fall at 6835 4th Street North, around the corner from the new Detroit-style pizzeria SoDough Square.
Originally from South Jersey, owners Lori and Tom Bradley moved to Pinellas County in 1988 and launched their first business, The Cheesesteak Truck, in 2012.
After successfully operating the food truck for several years, they started serving cheesesteaks out of a small kitchen in Brewers Tasting Room from 2017 until the beer bar's closure in 2023.
Following that closure, the Bradleys decided it was time to open a brick-and-mortar of their own and spent about two years finding the perfect location.
Another popular item on the menu are its loaded cheesesteak fries | cheesesteak company
"We definitely preferred a location on 4th Street, because we like the northeast St. Pete area," Lori says, noting that they wanted to stay in the same neighborhood as Brewers Tasting Room.
Their food truck is currently parked outside the new 1,288-square-foot restaurant, serving beef and chicken cheesesteaks on rolls from Philadelphia's renowned Amoroso Bakery.
Customers can customize their sandwiches with toppings such as onions, peppers, and mushrooms.
While the classic Philly cheesesteak is known to come with Cheez Whiz, the Bradleys have developed their own fondue-style cheese recipe to mimic its melty texture while delivering a better flavor.
The couple, with the help of their children and other family members, will run the restaurant and sports bar, which will offer a variety of cheesesteaks, burgers, chicken wings, sandwiches, loaded fries, and other regional dishes.
"There's definitely going to be an expansion on the menu. We can only do so much on the food truck...that's why we wanted a bigger kitchen, so that we could serve more than just cheesesteaks," Lori tells St. Pete Rising. "We'll always be known for our cheesesteaks, but we're also going to sell some other products that are popular in the greater Philadelphia area."
The Cheesesteak Company's menu will also include roasted pork sandwiches topped with broccoli rabe and Cooper Sharp cheese, which is a tangy, creamy cheese that is a staple on sandwiches throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
the owners of the popular Cheesesteak truck will open a brick and mortar in st. pete this fall | Cheesesteak company
Lori also plans to sell panzerottis, or small pockets of fried dough typically stuffed with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, a common sight at pizzerias throughout South Jersey.
The soon-to-open restaurant will also serve beer and wine.
Cheesesteak Company's dining room and bar will seat only about 30, but Lori says its large kitchen is designed to handle a high volume of takeout and delivery orders as well.
Several TVs throughout the space will show professional sports, with a focus on Philadelphia teams like the Eagles and the Phillies.
For dessert, the restaurant may offer pre-packaged Tastykakes and water ice, a frozen treat similar to Italian ice, both longtime favorites in the greater Philadelphia area.
The lease for the new restaurant was signed last summer, but the Bradleys have spent the past year navigating the permitting process and building out the space's new kitchen.
After its fall debut, Lori expects Cheesesteak Company to be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week, with late-night service on weekends.
Follow the restaurant and food truck on Facebook for the latest updates on the brick-and-mortar's opening timeline.
The Cheesesteak Company food truck operates in front of its future restaurant space from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
