Lorene's Fish House closes after 32 years in The Deuces, Love22 set to take its place
/Lorene's Fish House has closed after serving St. Petersburg's Deuces corridor for 32 years | st. pete rising
After 32 years serving customers along the Deuces corridor, Lorene's Fish House has closed, with local restaurateur Melissa "Melly" Gardner preparing to reopen the space later this month as a new concept called Love22.
Located at 927 22nd Street South, Lorene's Fish House quietly served its last customers on Saturday, May 30th.
Just days later, Gardner received the keys to the building.
Owner of the Three Generations food truck and Coasis restaurant in Tampa, the St. Pete-based chef and restaurateur is transforming the former Lorene's space into a new concept that will debut in phases over the coming months.
“I am extremely grateful to be entrusted with such a great legacy. Thank You Ms. Lorene for servicing our community for the last 30 years,” Gardner wrote on social media earlier this week. “Welcome Love22 to The Deuces, a new era of food fun and vibes.”
Melissa "Melly" Gardner (left), owner of Love22, with Lorene Office (right), owner of Lorene's Fish House. | Melissa "Melly" Gardner
Gardner tells St. Pete Rising that Lorene's Fish House closed because its owner, Lorene Office, now in her mid-70s, has retired.
Office opened the restaurant on 22nd Street South in 1994 and became known for serving boiled peanuts, fried fish, chicken wings, mac and cheese, and pork chops.
The neighborhood staple grew into one of the longest-running restaurants in south St. Pete.
Last year, Lorene's received the national "Backing Historic Small Restaurants" grant from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, recognizing its longstanding contribution to the neighborhood's history and identity.
While Gardner says she feels a responsibility to honor Lorene's legacy, she's also eager to introduce something new to the corridor.
Love22 will initially open as a daytime counter-service restaurant offering sandwiches, salads, wraps, breakfast items, fresh juices, and a handful of fried seafood dishes as a nod to Lorene's legacy.
aN AI RENDERING OF WHAT THE counter-service portion of love22 will look like | love22
The business is scheduled to begin takeout service on June 12th. It will operate Tuesday through Sunday from 7 a.m. until 4 or 5 p.m.
The menu contains a chicken Caesar wrap, steak sandwich, fresh juices, and breakfast favorites.
Gardner describes the offerings as a middle ground between healthier grab-and-go items and more indulgent comfort food.
Once the daytime concept is open, Gardner plans to introduce a weekend soul food menu.
Her food truck, Three Generations, has built a following for Southern-inspired brunch dishes such as Cajun-seasoned fish over cheesy grits and fried chicken with red velvet waffles.
The daytime restaurant represents only the first phase of Gardner's vision for the property.
Over the next several months, she plans to renovate the remainder of the building and open a full-service restaurant, multiple bars, an upstairs lounge space, and a large outdoor patio with its own bar.
Gardner’s Tampa restaurant coasis specializes in upscale southern food with a twist | coasis
In total, Love22 is expected to accommodate around 250 patrons, with separate entrances for the daytime counter-service eatery and the full-service restaurant.
The full-service concept will feature globally inspired small plates with a strong emphasis on seafood and Caribbean flavors.
Although many residents are sad to see Lorene's close, Gardner says she's been overwhelmed by the support she's received from friends, family, and members of the south St. Pete community.
“The Deuces has always been built on entrepreneurs, dreamers, and community builders who believe in creating spaces where culture, connection, food, and fellowship thrive,” The Deuces district wrote on Facebook while welcoming the new business to the corridor.
For Gardner, opening Love22 in south St. Pete feels like a full-circle moment.
She credits The Brayboys, owners of the now-closed Chief's Creole Cafe, as mentors who helped shape her vision for the corridor.
“They're great mentors of mine, and they're almost like family,” Gardner said. “Once I listened to their vision of what they imagined this corridor to be, I figured I could be the one to help bring that vision to life. I'll provide great music and great food for everyone here.”
Lorene and Arthur Office, owners of Lorene’s Fish House, in the waiting area of the takeout side of their restaurant in 2004 | Cherie Diez
