Inside the Gonzmarts’ Plan to Carry Columbia Forward Ahead
A look back at our June 2023 cover story, revisiting the Gonzmart family and the legacy that helped define Tampa’s dining scene.
Restaurants
Melting Pot Social opens this week in downtown Tampa (PHOTOS)
Melting Pot Social, or MeltSO, opened its doors in the Ave Tampa Riverwalk apartment building, at 105 West Tyler Street. The menu is New American food and modern fondue, in addition to flambéed flatbreads, melted raclette and fondue burgers, handhelds, chef-curated entrées, and more, according to a statement. The menu also has create-your-own cheese and … Read more
One Liners Pinellas: Chris Ponte, Tampa Bay Wave, Power Design and more
► Chef Chris Ponte’s modern Italian restaurant Olivia will open, at 225 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg, on the ground floor of the Ascent apartment and hotel tower. (Pictured above) ► Cultösaurus, a gift retail shop, will relocate from 269 16th St. N. to 529 Central Ave., the former location of RockShop. ► Modera St. Petersburg, … Read more
The Helm: Provisions and coastal fare (PHOTOS)
Heidi Butler’s childhood dream of becoming the cruise director for the Love Boat played out in real life when she and her husband, Michael Butler opened The Helm: Provisions & Coastal Fare on February 22, 2022. The original meaning of helm is associated with the equipment used for steering a ship or boat. Now taking … Read more
Allelo: The place to flock to on Beach Drive (PHOTOS)
The restaurant industry is challenging and establishments change hands, bringing variety to the ever-growing food scene, in the Tampa Bay area. A welcome addition to St. Petersburg is Allelo, a Mediterranean-influenced restaurant on Beach Drive. Shawn and Jeanna Damkoehler combined forces with Volet Hospitality and the innovativeness of Chef Alex Pyser to bring a remarkable … Read more
Bern’s Steak House Valentine’s Day reservations open on Dec. 16
It’s true, we have a few more holidays to get through before we focus on the day of all things love-related, but if you want to treat your someone special to Bern’s Steak House in 2023, the day to make that happen is December 16. Reservations open at 12 a.m., midnight, on December 16, for … Read more
One Liners Sarasota and Manatee: Ballard Partners, Sage Restaurant and more
► Sarasota County’s Child Protection Center’s Personal Safety and Community Awareness Program celebrated its 30th anniversary of educating the community on reducing child abuse. (Pictured above) ► All Faiths Food Bank in Sarasota has named Timothy Taylor chief financial officer. ► MSD Engineering, an engineer-owned structural and forensic engineering company located in Manatee County, announced … Read more
WOB Bar & Kitchen adds Tampa Bay Lightning cocktail and burger to menu
WOB Bar & Kitchen, in honor of Tampa Bay’s “hometown hockey heroes” has added a Tampa Bay Lightning-inspired cocktail, the Thunderita, to its menu, as well as bringing back the 2021 championship-inspired Bolts Burger. WOB Bar & Kitchen will launch its blue-themed specialty cocktail, the Thunderita, which includes Espolon Blanco, Blue Curacao, lime juice, agave … Read more
One Liners Hillsborough: Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Seminole Hard Rock and more
► Play Ball Florida, owner and franchisee of Glory Days Grill restaurants in Florida and Georgia, will acquire Glory Days, the corporate entity that owns 22 corporate restaurant locations in Virginia and Maryland. ► The National Science Foundation awarded a $20 million grant to a University of South Florida-led team of researchers to develop a … Read more
One Liners Pinellas: The Florida Orchestra, MarineMax and more
► The University of South Florida St. Petersburg is planning to build the Center of Excellence Environmental & Oceanographic Sciences, a research center to be located at the College of Marine Science, at 830 First St. S. (Rendering above) ► Tesla Motors proposed an expansive sales, service and delivery center in at 4601 34th St. … Read more