When restaurateur Matthew Firosz signed the lease for the old Munch's Restaurant and Sundries, Firosz knew he wanted to honor the nostalgic history tied to the space now reopening under a different name.

Longtime owner Larry Munch and his family served breakfast for 70 years at 3920 6th Street South in southeast St. Pete before Munch announced his retirement and closed the restaurant in late 2022.

"We need to embrace what was here. The Munch family has owned this place since 1952 - that's a real testament to this industry," Firosz said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. "We can make new memories in this space while paying tribute to what came before us." 

The family business was listed on the market for $2.7 million in 2022. In February 2023, the five-parcel property sold for $1.6 million to Cato Holdings.

Although the new eatery, named Tchotcke, has held a few private events, Firosz stressed that the restaurant is not open to the public yet and will debut as soon as they’ve hired enough staff and worked out the kinks, likely in a few weeks.

"We will be serving ‘old Florida’ dishes with an international twist, but will still carry ideas and items from Munch's," Firosz said.

"People think of old Florida as the 1950s, but I'd like to take it further back with dishes inspired by New Orleans, Jamaica, Cuba, Africa, the Bahamas, and Spain," Firosz said.

Tchotchke will serve breakfast, lunch, and brunch. It may eventually have an intimate family-style dinner service as well.

Tchotchke will offer Munch's favorites like eggs benedict with fried green tomatoes topped with pimento cheese, ham, and hollandaise, and unique benedicts made with Maryland-style crab cake and Cuban mojo pork.

Other breakfast dishes include shrimp and grits, country fried steak, and chicken and waffles while the lunch spread ranges from beer-battered grouper, Reuben sandwiches, and smash burgers to vegetarian options.

Firosz has years of experience in the restaurant industry and was previously the owner and chef at the NEPO 42 pub in Portland, Oregon. 

Several years ago, he and his wife traded the mountains for the sunshine with plans of running a fishing charter business, but decided not to pursue it.

"Somebody told me that the former Munch’s spot was available, and it was too good to pass up," Firosz said about returning to his restaurant roots.

Tchotchke is set to open in a few weeks at 3920 6th Street South in southeast St. Pete.