Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine will open later this summer or early fall at 119 49th Street South | St. pete Rising

Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine, a new restaurant serving fried chicken, smothered pork chops, collard greens, candied yams, and other soul food staples, is preparing to open near the corner of Central Avenue and 49th Street in St. Pete.

The restaurant, located in a 1,200-square-foot space at 119 49th Street South, is expected to debut in late summer or early fall.

St. Pete native Cornicole Rollins-Holt will operate Mrs. Thelma’s with her husband, Melvin. The restaurant is named after Melvin’s late mother, Thelma, an avid home cook who dreamed of opening a restaurant of her own.

The Holts plan to honor her legacy by creating a welcoming neighborhood restaurant centered around homestyle cooking and Southern hospitality.

“Mrs. Thelma’s is one of those places where we want to offer that homey, cozy feel,” Cornicole said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “When we say our motto is ‘Just Like Mom’s,’ I want it to feel like you’re walking into your family’s house when you’re at the restaurant. As soon as you walk in, the smells will take you back.”

The menu will feature fried and baked chicken, smothered pork chops, turkey wings, meatloaf, candied yams, collard greens, cornbread, and black-eyed peas.

The restaurant is named after Melvin’s late mother, Thelma, an avid home cook who dreamed of opening a restaurant of her own | St. Pete Rising

A sign outside the restaurant advertises the “World’s Best Mac and Cheese,” which the Holts describe as an ultra-creamy baked version made with a unique blend of cheeses.

Homemade sweet tea, pineapple lemonade, fruit punch, and sodas will be served alongside desserts such as red velvet cake, sweet potato pie, banana pudding, and fruit cobblers.

The food will be available à la carte or as combination platters priced between $12 and $15, depending on the protein.

Once the restaurant is up and running, the Holts also plan to introduce rotating weekend specials featuring barbecue prepared by Melvin.

The recipes served at Mrs. Thelma’s were passed down from Thelma to her son and will allow Melvin to share the dishes he grew up eating with a new generation.

“Every recipe we serve is inspired by the warmth she shared around the table,” Melvin wrote on social media. “Every plate is made with love, just like she taught us.”

Although the restaurant pays tribute to Melvin’s mother, who was originally from Gainesville, the business also holds personal significance for Cornicole.

Her grandmother operated a successful restaurant in St. Pete’s historic Deuces district during the 1960s and 1970s, giving Cornicole her own familial connection to the city’s culinary history.

The interior of Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine | St. Pete Rising

The space has housed several restaurants over the years, most recently breakfast spot Good Eating, which closed in late 2025. Previous occupants also included 727 Seafood & Grill and Domino’s Pizza.

Mrs. Thelma’s will offer four tables and a long counter for dine-in customers. Vintage vinyl records from the 1970s and 1980s will decorate the walls, while a tribute to Thelma will greet customers as they enter.

Looking ahead, the Holts hope to eventually open a second, larger restaurant elsewhere in St. Pete featuring cafeteria-style dining.

“I just hope we’re able to become a staple in the community that’s around for many years,” Cornicole said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to expand and create jobs for others as well.”

Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine plans to operate from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday after its opening in late summer or early fall.

Be sure to follow Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine on Facebook and Instagram for updates on its anticipated debut.