Former USF basketball star to open Love Language 727 restaurant and lounge in Grand Central District
/Love Language restaurant and lounge is opening soon at 3063 CEntral Avenue in the Grand Central District | St Pete Rising
A St. Pete native and former USF basketball star is preparing to open what he calls a love letter to his hometown.
Love Language 727 Restaurant & Lounge will open in October at 3063 Central Avenue in the Grand Central District.
The space was previously home to 31 Grand, a sports bar that closed in late 2024 following back-to-back hurricanes. Before that, it housed Punky’s Bar and Grill, an LGBTQ-friendly establishment that closed in 2022 after nearly seven years in business.
Owner Jimmy Devon Baxter is returning to St. Pete after nearly two decades in Atlanta, where he said he was inspired by the city’s experience-driven restaurant and lounge scene.
After graduating from Boca Ciega High School, he played basketball for the University of South Florida from 2000 to 2004.
During his senior year, Baxter received the NCAA Award of Valor for helping rescue two men trapped inside a vehicle following a violent crash. The City of Tampa also presented him with a key to the city for his efforts.
After graduating from USF, Baxter moved to Atlanta, where he was based while playing professional basketball throughout Europe.
He said Love Language will blend restaurant service, a full bar, hookah, and entertainment in a setting that feels more polished than a traditional bar without becoming a nightclub.
“I’m bringing an Atlanta feel to St. Pete,” Baxter said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “Atlanta is known for having restaurants with a sexy, party vibe. We want to create an atmosphere where it’s a step above a bar, but not a club.”
The 2,500-square-foot restaurant will accommodate about 100 guests across its dining room, large bar, and 1,500-square-foot covered patio.
Baxter said the interior will feature low lighting, leather furnishings, red accents, and an elevated lounge atmosphere. Guests will be able to smoke hookah indoors or on the patio, where cigars will also be permitted.
The dinner menu will lean into Southern comfort food, with blackened salmon, baked oysters, seafood mac and cheese, steaks, pasta, and the Love Language burger among the planned offerings.
A quicker lunch menu will include salads, burgers, catfish bites, wings, and Alfredo pasta.
Sunday brunch will feature dishes like chicken and waffles and fish and grits, along with mimosas and a complimentary fresh-fruit bar.
An Atlanta-based mixologist is developing three signature cocktails: a rum punch, margarita, and Long Island iced tea. Additionally, several drinks will be named after Baxter’s children, all of whom are Division I athletes.
Baxter said he wants to keep prices accessible, with drinks generally priced around $10 to $11.
Love Language plans to serve lunch from noon to 3 p.m. and dinner beginning at 3:30 p.m., with the kitchen taking its last orders at 1 a.m. Baxter expects to operate seven days a week.
The restaurant will be family-friendly during the day, while guests must be 25 or older after 6 p.m.
The lounge will also host karaoke, open mic nights, DJs, and occasional performances by local musicians.
Planned recurring events include Wind Down Wednesdays, Karaoke Thursdays, R&B Fridays, Pride Day Saturdays, Jersey Sundays, and a monthly Gospel Sunday.
Baxter said safety will be central to the operation. In addition to the restaurant’s on-site lot, he has arranged evening overflow parking with nearby businesses and plans to offer complimentary valet service for women. Security guards will monitor the restaurant and surrounding parking areas.
“The love language came from my love of being a father, my love for family,” Baxter said. “Now I’m opening my doors to extended family. St. Pete is my extended family.”
