A pair of lifelong friends from Italy are bringing a fast-casual Italian pasta concept to St. Pete’s EDGE District early next year.

Fusillo Italian Pasta, named after the spiral-shaped pasta, will take over a roughly 700-square-foot space at 905 Central Avenue, which has sat vacant for nearly two years following the closure of Nash’s Hot Chicken.

The restaurant is expected to open by late February or early March 2026, after a full interior renovation and obtaining a beer and wine license.

The concept, according to co-owner Alessandro Casali, is built around handmade pasta served in a modern, approachable format.

Fusillo will offer both dine-in service and grab-and-go options geared toward nearby residents, office workers, and late-night foot traffic along Central Avenue.

“Fusillo is designed to be simple, authentic, and flexible,” Casali said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “We’ll have a main counter where people can order fresh pasta to eat inside or take back to the office or home. All of our pasta will be handmade every day.”

The smallest wine bar in St. Pete is now also the tiniest coffee shop in town.

The 18-seat Bar Chinchilla recently expanded with the launch of Cafe ‘Chilla, a morning coffee bar tucked inside its intimate space at 439 1st Avenue North.

Cafe ‘Chilla offers a menu of espresso drinks, cold brew, matcha, and specialty lattes from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.

Bar Manager Lynsey Carlson shared with St. Pete Rising that the idea stemmed from a desire to create a separate cafe-like experience during the morning when the wine bar is typically closed.

“We wanted to offer something for the morning crowd, especially those attending farmers markets and local events,” Carlson said.