The Chattaway, St. Petersburg’s longest-running restaurant, will close this summer after more than 90 years
/The Chattaway, an iconic family-owned restaurant which opened in the 1930s, will close this summer | St. Pete Rising
St. Petersburg’s longest-running restaurant will close its doors this summer.
The Chattaway, a family-owned staple at 358 22nd Avenue South, will serve its last meal in mid-July after more than 90 years serving the community.
The property, which has been owned by the family for decades, is now under contract and expected to transfer to a new owner in early August.
The family plans to host a final “yard sale” in August, offering memorabilia and pieces of the restaurant’s history.
The Chattaway’s story begins in 1922, when a wooden building was constructed on a pie-shaped lot on the corner of 22nd Avenue South and 4th Street South.
The building’s first tenant was Four Corners Grocery, a neighborhood store with a small outdoor counter selling soda, candy, and cigarettes.
A single gas pump stood out front, where fuel once sold for just 22 cents per gallon.
The Chattaway in the 1980s | The Chattaway
Eventually, a screened-in porch was added to the east side of the building, where a dirt floor was often covered with shells from the store’s popular fresh-roasted peanuts.
In 1933, Prohibition was repealed bringing beer and wine to the corner.
Shortly thereafter, the property transitioned into the Chattaway Drive-In, complete with carhops serving customers beneath strings of lights over the parking lot.
In those early years, the setting was far more rural. Bartlett Park across the street was still swampland, and occasional alligator sightings were part of the lore.
The property changed hands several times through the 1940s as food service expanded, but its modern identity began to take shape when Helen Lund purchased the business in 1951.
She was later joined by her son Everett Lund, and eventually his wife Jillian Frers, who became part of the ownership in the 1970s.
The Chattaway’s courtyard | The Chattaway
Frers, now 93 and originally from Blackheath, England, met Everett through local theater before marrying him and joining the business.
Over time, she helped shape the Chattaway’s identity, later introducing afternoon tea service and creating the English-inspired dining room that became a defining feature of the space.
When asked what she will miss most about the Chattaway, Frers said, “I think of the people. There was always a very warm coming together here.”
The restaurant remained a family affair through the decades, with all six of Frers’ children involved in the Chattaway at one time or another.
Frers’ daughter, Debby Kitto, has played a central role as an operator, manager, gardener, and events coordinator, alongside siblings Amanda Kitto, who manages office operations, and Winona Kitto, the bar manager and entertainer.
Jillian Frers, the 93-year-old matriarch of the Chattaway | St. Pete Rising
Greg Kitto, Frers’ son and bartender who has spent roughly 40 years behind the bar, has been tied to the restaurant since childhood.
“I started coming here when I was about 12 years old—burger, chili, and a Coke,” he said. “I fell in love with it right away.”
Even Frer’s grandchildren, Leah Foe, Leri Foe, Annabell Stancil, Danielle Freeman, and Chad Pearson, have all played a role in the business over the years.
Manager Mary Carpenter said that connection between family, staff, and customers is what defined the Chattaway.
“We have really loyal customers,” Carpenter said. “Some come in once or twice a week, and others drive from miles away just to be here.”
Known for its straightforward menu of burgers, fried chicken, seafood baskets, and sandwiches, the restaurant built a reputation on consistency rather than reinvention.
The Chattaway’s courtyard features lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and bright, eclectic colors | St. Pete Rising
“I think one of the things that made this place successful is that it never tried to do too much,” Carpenter said.
That approach extended to the property itself.
The restaurant’s outdoor garden, filled with colorful plantings in brightly colored bathtubs, became one of its most recognizable features and earned Beautification Awards.
Inside, Frers’ English heritage was reflected in the tea room, where afternoon tea was served by reservation.
Over the decades, the Chattaway became a backdrop for everyday routines and major life events alike, from weekly visits to birthday parties, baby showers, and family gatherings.
“Everybody has a story about this place,” Debby Kitto said.
The Chattaway’s tea room hosts a popular afternoon tea service | The Chattaway
The decision to sell and close the restaurant was driven largely by personal factors.
Frers is ready to return home to London, and after decades of daily operations, the family is ready to step away from the demands of running a full-service restaurant.
“It’s a lot of work,” Debby Kitto said. “It never really stops.”
Despite the closure, the transition is happening on the family’s own terms after decades of ownership and operation.
In the coming weeks, longtime patrons are expected to return for final visits to the Chattaway.
Before the property changes hands, the planned yard sale will give the community a chance to take home small pieces of the restaurant’s history.
The entrance to the Chattaway | St Pete Rising
For Greg Kitto, the meaning of the Chattaway comes down to the people who passed through it.
“It’s always been a family place,” he said. “Not just for us, but for everyone who came here.”
When the doors close in July, the Chattaway will leave behind more than a long operating history. It will leave behind a place where generations gathered, worked, and built lasting connections in St. Petersburg.
