Intermezzo will open 'Bar Mezzo' cocktail lounge out of St. Pete’s former Independent Bar
A downtown St. Pete favorite is expanding its footprint in the Edge District this year. Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails (1111 Central Ave.) took to social media last week to announce the debut of its sister concept Bar Mezzo, which will boost the cafe’s already-stellar reputation for cocktails and spirits up a notch. While Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails operates as a coffee shop during the day and laid-back lounge with simple beverages at night, the upcoming bar across Central Avenue will focus on upscale spirits, seasonal drinks, housemade syrups, infusions and cocktails on tap. Bar Mezzo will open at 1049 Central Ave. out of the former St. Pete location of Independent Bar, which closed its doors in late 2022.
St. Pete speakeasy The Saint will close, and reopen as new concept
Popular St. Petersburg speakeasy The Saint will be resurrected as something new this fall. "After four years of incredible success and demand, The Saint will be going dark sometime in November," said Pour Behavior Hospitality owner David Fischer in a press release. Fischer, who also owns the Cocktail St. Pete nightclub and The Wet Spot, said the decision did not come easy, and added that the company will be rebranding the space at 49 24th St. N "within weeks of the concept's closure." "Themed bars have become the norm in St. Petersburg and we wanted to make sure The Saint went out on top. The Saint is a completely unique place and the first speakeasy of its kind in St. Pete; we have so many amazing memories and moving on is bittersweet," said Fischer. "With weekends still seeing a packed, sold-out speakeasy, most owners wouldn’t make this bold move, but we believe that Pour Behavior is known for pushing the envelope and innovating new experiences." Fisher also stated that no employees will be laid off, and additional staff will likely need to be hired for the next concept. As of now, no details about the next iteration of the space have been released, other than the new bar will be "immersive."
Whataburger is coming back to Tampa Bay
It's been decades since a Whataburger has set foot in the Tampa Bay region, but the Texas-based burger chain is ready to give it another shot. This morning, at a food truck event to downtown Tampa, the company announced plans to open multiple locations in the area by 2026. No exact opening dates or locations were disclosed, but the company promises that the the "new locations will bring the classic Whataburger menu to Florida while creating job opportunities and partnerships within the community." The chain is known for staying open 24 hours, and features everything from its signature "Whataburger" to chicken strip sandwiches, milkshakes, breakfast items and even salads. Tampa Bay once had multiple (at least 8) Whataburger locations in the late 90s and early 2000s, however they've all since closed. The chain currently has over1,030 locations across 16 states, including Florida.
Dead Bob’s, popular St. Pete bar and no-frills restaurant, will move to a bigger location next year
Fresh off of its 10th anniversary celebration, a West St. Petersburg gem just announced its relocation to a much larger space—with a bigger parking lot, too. Dead Bob's future home at 6475 Central Ave. is less than a mile from the flagship at 6716 Central Ave. Opening out of the former, 2,030 square-foot home of Kay’s Family Restaurant, Dead Bob’s 2.0 will offer more seating and parking than its flagship plaza location, although its affordable selection of beer, wine, cocktails and classic bar fare isn’t going anywhere. According to its Facebook page, Kay’s Family Restaurant served its last customers on June 23, after 28 years of dishing out American diner classics in St. Pete. In addition to its straightforward selection of beer, wine and cocktails, Dead Bob’s is also known for its stacked food menu of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads and full-on entrees like smothered chicken, blackened scallops, pastas and pot roast.
Seminole Heights Korean restaurant Gangchu reopens under new ownership this weekend
Four months after going on the market, Gangchu has new owners who’ll reopen the Seminole Heights restaurant on Saturday. “We signed about two weeks ago,” Josh Kang told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay last Friday, about the deal that gives him and his wife Jeanie control of the building and business. The couple has owned and operated Brandon’s Bom Oriental Market for about four years. Josh also runs five franchise locations of Charleys Cheesesteaks between the Bay area, Georgia and Ohio. Jeanie is a lawyer by trade, and a great cook, too. The couple wanted to run an independent Korean food restaurant before opening any of the Charleys locations. “We love to have fun, so this concept is a really perfect fit for us,” Josh added about the decision to move in. He’s excited to use his management skills, his wife’s food knowledge, and more help from Jeanie’s brother Sam who is also a great cook, to serve customers who’re already used to having Korean food at 6618 N Nebraska Ave.
After closing 14 locations, Tampa-based World of Beer files for bankruptcy
After shuttering at least 14 locations in the last 12 months, Tampa-based World of Beer Bar & Kitchen filed for bankruptcy last week. WOB is reorganizing through Chapter 11 bankruptcy to eliminate outstanding debts, and to end leases at underperforming locations, the company said in a press release. Court records show that the company filed the bankruptcy petition last Friday, Aug. 2, in the Tampa division of U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Florida. The beer-focused brand blamed the filing on "growing market pressures, including rising interest rates, inflation, increased operating costs and a slow return to pre-pandemic dining habits by consumers."
The most-anticipated new restaurants coming to Tampa Bay this fall
It's time to fall into some restaurant openings, Tampa Bay. While predicting a restaurant grand opening is about as accurate as a hurricane spaghetti model, we're feeling pretty confident that most of these spots will debut before the year is over. For those who love food halls, Asian-fusion and beer—this is gonna be a great fall for you.
EVENTS
Bolts Brew Fest returns to Tampa this weekend, with nearly 200 beers to sample
During the hot, wet, summer, there are fewer better feelings than walking into a huge, air-conditioned building that normally hosts a hockey rink. Bolts Brew Fest lets you do that, with multiple beers in your hand. More than 135 beers—including close to two dozen exclusively in VIP—are available for sampling in the Tampa Bay Lightning’s annual tradition which marries the craft beer scene with the local, three-time world champ, ice hockey club. Big ass games will be on hand at Amalie Arena along with photo opportunities, and a chance to try Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and JDubs’ new collaborative “Beer Can Building Beer” guava wheat ale. VIP entry starts at 6 p.m. Tickets to Bolts Brew Fest on Friday, Aug. 9 at Tampa's Amalie Arena are still available and start at $45.
Revered Tampa dive bar The Hub celebrates milestone anniversary with three-week party
These days, it’s pretty rare for a bar to make it to its 75th anniversary, so staff at The Hub is going all out to throw one of Tampa’s oldest dives a hell of a party. The iconic watering hole has been located at 719 N Franklin St. in between the Tampa Theatre and downtown’s Kress Block since 2002, but its history may go all the way back to 1933 when a “Hub Hotel” was at 212 1/2 Franklin St., according to a city directory. A Hub Saloon lived at 801 Tampa St.. in the mid-1930s, according to Paul Guzzo, who added that there was another at 904 1/2 E. Broadway Ave. in the 1940s. But most people who talk about “the old Hub” are referencing the iteration at 701 N Florida Ave., just a block away from the current location where it first opened as a cigar store in 1949 before eventually adopting dive vibes in the ‘80s. The 700 block of downtown Tampa has been more-or-less razed, but the horseshoe bar from that location of The Hub still lives at the current spot where a roughly three-week celebration happens this month. Commemorative anniversary merch will be available, and the locally famous, Best of the Bay-winning, jukebox, was recently refurbished and is ready to party. The entertainment lineup is stacked, with a plethora of local acts from various genres performing and an anniversary edition of the monthly DJ night dance party, Rock n’ Soul.
Chef Mario Brugnoli honors his late mother at a five-course dinner in St. Pete this month
One of The ‘Burg’s newer breakfast spots is keeping its doors open a little longer for a very special tribute to the Executive Chef’s late mother. Chef Mario Brugnoli of The Warehouse District’s Eat Art Love (2209 6th Ave. S) hosts a five-course dinner this month, featuring both niche, childhood favorites and classic Italian recipes passed down from his grandparents. While Eat Art Love typically dishes out breakfast fare like poached egg dip and sweet and sour pancakes, guests at this intimate event can expect slow-cooked ragus and rice pilaf instead.
OTHER NEWS
Pasadena Bar and Grill says it lost its roof during Tropical Storm Debby
Hurricane Debby made landfall early Monday in Florida’s Big Bend region, but not before doing damage in Tampa Bay. Flooding and rain have impacted parts of the Bay area, and thousand of people lost power overnight. The wind has also made an impact on homes and businesses like Pasadena Bar and Grill in Pinellas County. On Monday morning, management at the neighborhood staple told social media followers that they “lost” the roof of the building and will be closed until further notice. At this time, the phone line for the business appears to be inactive. Reactions to the post were mostly people offering condolences and expressing concern, with a few suggesting the business start a GoFundMe to help with the cost of repairs that'll be needed at 796 Pasadena Ave.S in St. Petersburg.
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