Rreal Tacos acquires former Red Mesa Cantina building in downtown St. Pete

/
Rreal Tacos acquires former Red Mesa Cantina building in downtown St. Pete

One of downtown St. Pete's most recognizable restaurant properties has a new owner.

Atlanta-based Rreal Tacos has purchased the former Red Mesa Cantina building at 128 3rd Street South, where it plans to open three restaurant and bar concepts under the Rreal Tacos brand.

The ground-floor restaurant is expected to open in early 2027, with the remaining concepts opening in phases.

Founded in Atlanta in 2015, Rreal Tacos is known for Mexican street food inspired by Mexico City, with a menu centered around tacos served on handmade tortillas pressed to order.

Guests can also expect burritos, quesabirria tacos, tortas, enchiladas, fajitas, ceviche, street corn, loaded fries, and house-made salsas, along with an extensive selection of tequila, mezcal, and craft margaritas.

The more than century-old building was originally constructed as St. Petersburg's first fire station and most recently housed Red Mesa Cantina for 16 years before the restaurant closed in June.

Read More

Owners of Malio’s Prime Steakhouse to open coastal seafood restaurant Moon by Malio’s in Pass-a-Grille

/
Owners of Malio’s Prime Steakhouse to open coastal seafood restaurant Moon by Malio’s in Pass-a-Grille

A fine dining restaurant focused on wild-caught seafood will take over a prized location in St. Pete Beach's Pass-a-Grille.

Moon by Malio's will open at 109 8th Avenue on the ground floor of the boutique Berkeley Beach Club hotel.

The space was formerly home to The Dewey, which suffered damage from the back-to-back hurricanes in 2024 and never reopened.

Moon by Malio's owners Derek and Jen Iavarone describe their newest concept as the "playful little sister" of their other two restaurants, Malio's Prime Steakhouse in downtown Tampa and Malio's Beach House on St. Pete Beach.

Their newest restaurant is expected to open in September.

Moon by Malio's will occupy roughly 4,000 square feet of the Berkeley Beach Club across its dining room, patio, and rooftop, seating about 200 guests total.

Read More

Cheesesteak Company to open brick and mortar restaurant on 4th Street in St. Pete this fall

/
Cheesesteak Company to open brick and mortar restaurant on 4th Street in St. Pete this fall

North St. Pete is getting a taste of Philadelphia this fall, courtesy of a local food truck couple who have spent years perfecting the cheesesteak.

Cheesesteak Company will open this fall at 6835 4th Street North, around the corner from the new Detroit-style pizzeria SoDough Square.

Originally from South Jersey, owners Lori and Tom Bradley moved to Pinellas County in 1988 and launched their first business, The Cheesesteak Truck, in 2012.

After successfully operating the food truck for several years, they started serving cheesesteaks out of a small kitchen in Brewers Tasting Room from 2017 until the beer bar's closure in 2023.

Following that closure, the Bradleys decided it was time to open a brick-and-mortar of their own and spent about two years finding their ideal location.

Read More

Construction begins on Naked Farmer's second St. Pete location

/
Construction begins on Naked Farmer's second St. Pete location

Farm-to-table restaurant Naked Farmer has begun renovations on a second St. Pete location.

The fast-casual restaurant is slated to open in November at 2631 4th Street North, the former home of EVOS, a health-conscious fast-food chain that operated at the site for 22 years before closing last spring.

Renovations to the existing 1,920-square-foot building are being led by general contractor Fox Building Group.

"This is the first standalone restaurant we've built entirely as our own, from the ground up," CEO Jordan Johnson told St. Pete Rising. "Every detail — the space, the light, the way the kitchen flows — is designed to honor the food and the farmers behind it. We want guests to walk in and feel the care that goes into every plate."

Founded in 2020, Naked Farmer is known for serving scratch-made meals featuring ingredients sourced from small and medium-sized farms across the southeastern United States.

All menu items are prepared without seed oils, using avocado oil and extra virgin olive oil instead.

Read More

Baba and Barbouni to close in Grand Central District, making way for Barra Barra and Kaixo

/
Baba and Barbouni to close in Grand Central District, making way for Barra Barra and Kaixo

After seven years, Baba and Barbouni are preparing to close, but the future of the Grand Central District property will remain in familiar hands.

Owners George and Debbie Sayegh announced Thursday that longtime team members Andrew Duncan and Danielle McCoy will take over the restaurant space at 2701 Central Avenue with two new concepts: Barra Barra and Kaixo.

The pair have spent the past year working alongside the Sayeghs developing the concepts, which will replace Baba and Barbouni following their final service on July 3rd.

“For Debbie and I, one of the greatest privileges of Baba has been watching talented people grow within these walls,” George Sayegh wrote in a social media post announcing the transition.

“And for the past year we've been working closely with two of those people, Chef Andrew Duncan and Sommelier Danielle McCoy, to develop a new restaurant that reflects their creativity, energy, and vision,” he added.

Read More

Former Times building, historic Tramor property in downtown St. Pete sold for $32.5 million

/
Former Times building, historic Tramor property in downtown St. Pete sold for $32.5 million

Two prominent properties in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg have sold for a combined $32.5 million, with plans for a high-rise condominium tower on the site.

Naples-based Stock Development, a family-owned luxury real estate development and homebuilding company, has purchased the 490 First Avenue South tower, formerly home to the Tampa Bay Times, and the historic Tramor Cafeteria building at 123 4th Street South, most recently occupied by Hofbräuhaus St. Petersburg.

The two properties together comprise 1.8 acres.

"We're excited to continue expanding our brand and remain confident in St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay region," Keith Gelder, president of Stock Development, said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. "We look forward to bringing a signature project to the market."

Read More

Sarasota-based European bistro Marcel taking over former Left Bank Bistro space in St. Pete

/
Sarasota-based European bistro Marcel taking over former Left Bank Bistro space in St. Pete

A well-known local restaurateur is bringing French food back to St. Pete's Historic Uptown neighborhood.

Chef Jeremy Duclut is opening a second location of Marcel, his Sarasota-based European bistro with a French influence, at 1225 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North.

The restaurant will take over the former Left Bank Bistro space, which closed last fall after seven years in operation.

Unlike his other restaurant ventures, Duclut purchased the property rather than leasing it.

"This is the first restaurant I've owned the building for," Duclut said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. "Everything else, I'm a tenant."

Read More

Southie Coffee expands in Seminole, adds Latin-themed evening speakeasy

/
Southie Coffee expands in Seminole, adds Latin-themed evening speakeasy

A new speakeasy and lounge is getting ready to open out of a popular, locally owned coffee shop in Seminole.

Seminole residents Bella Rincon and Steven Gonzalez opened the first location of Southie Coffee in Clearwater in 2018, with a second location debuting a year later in Seminole.

Last month, its Seminole shop moved to a larger, 2,000-square-foot space in the same plaza at 13017 Park Boulevard.

The relocation not only provides customers with a larger café, but also allows the business to expand its menu and operating hours.

In the evenings, the space will transition into an entirely different concept called The Hideout, a stylish, low-lit speakeasy.

Read More

Tampa's Southern Luv BBQ expanding to downtown St. Pete

/
Tampa's Southern Luv BBQ expanding to downtown St. Pete

Grab a bib and a handful of napkins, because a new barbecue spot is headed to downtown St. Pete.

Southern Luv BBQ, a fast-casual concept that debuted its first location in Tampa two years ago, is coming soon to the EDGE District.

Chef Essi Tadrus and a local franchisee have signed a lease for a 1,256-square-foot space at 900 Central Avenue that was formerly part of Anytime Fitness.

The restaurant will have seating for approximately 20 guests indoors, with additional outdoor seating along Central Avenue.

The local franchisee, a St. Pete resident with more than 30 years of restaurant experience, has committed to opening 13 locations throughout Florida, including Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Lakeland, and South Florida.

The St. Pete location is expected to open later this year.

Read More

The Chattaway will stay open as Ferg's owner joins new ownership group

/
The Chattaway will stay open as Ferg's owner joins new ownership group

The Chattaway will remain open after all.

In March, St. Pete Rising reported that The Chattaway property at 358 22nd Avenue South was under contract and that St. Petersburg's longest-running restaurant was expected to close after the sale.

While the sale remains on track, the purchasing group has decided to continue operating the restaurant rather than shutter it.

The south St. Pete institution will be acquired by a local ownership group led by real estate investor Cullen Mahoney, who recently brought on Ferg's Sports Bar owner Mark Ferguson and Shrimpy's Waterfront owner John John Delladonna to keep the 75-year-old restaurant alive.

The sale is expected to be finalized in August, but according to Ferguson, customers should not expect any interruption to The Chattaway's operations.

Read More