Tampa Bay restaurants and bars that have closed so far in 2024

The Chelsea

2462 5th Ave. S, St. Petersburg
Nearly four years after arriving at St. Petersburg’s Warehouse Arts District, a beloved cafe said goodbye in early June. Owner Teresa Vidal Chalkley opened The Chelsea in 2021 to pay homage to her experience as a student working in New York’s bustling Chelsea district and exploring Manhattan’s boutiques, galleries, cafes and bistros.
Photo via thechelseastpete/Facebook

Bacon Bitch

1122 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
Bacon Bitch, a popular brunch restaurant in downtown St. Petersburg (with a somewhat contentious reputation) closed its doors in May. “Sad to inform you that this location has closed. Bacon Bitch locations continue in Orlando (UCF), South Beach (Miami Beach) and Bayside (downtown Miami),” a sign on Bacon Bitch’s closed doors read. “We are sorry about the short notice and we will miss St. Pete. Best Wishes!” St. Pete’s Bacon Bitch location made its debut in the fall of 2020. It was known for its menu of breakfast sandwiches, avocado toasts, salads, burgers, BLTs, plus champagne, beer, wine, daytime cocktails and sangrias for its “thirsty bitches.”
Photo via Bacon Bitch St. Pete/Facebook

Stone Soup Company

1919 E 7th Ave., Ybor City
One of the more seasoned businesses along Ybor City's bustling 7th Avenue took to social media to announce its abrupt closure in late April. “Effective immediately, The Stone Soup Company will cease operations. We would like to thank all the current and past employees, the Ybor and Tampa community, and our guests who have supported us over the last 13 years,” ownership wrote on the restaurant’s Facebook today. “We appreciated the opportunity to serve you all! Thank you!” The casual restaurant was known for its menu of Cuban sandwiches, empanadas, burgers, salads and of course, soup—which ranged from lobster bisque and chicken noodle to tomato basil and Spanish black bean. Beer, wine, and cocktails were offered, too. The Stone Soup Company’s original owner Ilya Benjamin Goldberg opened his Ybor City restaurant in 2009 and its reputation for tasty Cuban sammies and quick service grew over the years, as well as its sizable "Best of the Bay" award collection.
Photo via StoneSoupCompany/Facebook

Ciro's

2109 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa
A longtime South Tampa mainstay officially closed its doors in April, although its ownership is "actively seeking other locations." Ciro’s parent company Three Oaks Hospitality announced the permanent closure of the high-end cocktail bar, citing ongoing structural issues within the Bayshore Royal building. “Since 2009, Ciro’s has been a cherished spot for locals and visitors alike,” the bar wrote on social media. “Thank you to our loyal guests, staff and the Tampa community for your support and memories shared over the years. As they say, this isn’t a goodbye, it’s a see you later.”
Photo via Google Maps

Crisp & Green Water Street

1055 E Cumberland Ave., Tampa
After a year at its Water Street location Crisp & Green quietly shuttered its doors last April. Representatives from the company shared the following statement with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay: "After thoughtful consideration, we have decided to close our Tampa location. We’re so thankful for the hard work and dedication of the team to bring the Crisp & Green brand and for the opportunity to serve our amazing customers in Tampa. Thank you for being a part of our journey and we hope to be back in Tampa soon." Crisp & Green’s mission is to “offer chef-crafted nutritious foods to fit conveniently into a modern, wellness-driven lifestyle,” boasting menu items like its signature salads, grain bowls, smoothies, aguas frescas, acai bowls and build-your-own options.
Photo c/o Martins Communciations

Lingr

400 6th St S., St. Petersburg
After three years of dishing out exciting fusion cuisine and picture-perfect cocktails, a mainstay in St. Pete's dining scene closed in ate April. “After almost 3 years of Lingr serving the St. Petersburg community and its visitors, I have made the difficult decision to close. During illness and family emergencies, I have always counseled my employees that their health and family are more important than Lingr,” Chef and owner Jeffrey Jew writes on Lingr’s Instagram. “Now, I am in the position that I must take my own advice and spend time with my Mother as we navigate her Lewy body dementia." Chef Jew encourages his customers to donate to the Alzheimer's Association as an act of support for him and his family during this difficult time. Lingr made its highly-anticipated debut in the spring of 2021 showcasing a contemporary blend of Jew’s Nordic and Asian heritage with unique dishes like pumpkin and mushroom dumplings, smoked lions mane and trumpet mushrooms with Brunost cheese, and fried fish with fermented black beans and chili oil.
Photo via LingrRestaurant/Facebook

Oronzo Midtown

1120 Gramercy Ln. D-200, Tampa
Fast-casual Italian chain Oronzo closed its location in Midtown last March. A collaboration between Dan Bavaro, owner of Bavaro’s Pizza, and Bob Johnston, CEO of Front Burner Brands, the company told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that the location has struggled since launching during the COVID-9 pandemic. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closure of Oronzo,” the letter states. “Since our opening in 2020, during the unprecedented challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have strived to bring you an uncommon Italian culinary experience and a welcoming atmosphere. However, despite our best efforts and the unwavering support of our local community and dedicated team, we find ourselves facing the difficult decision to close our doors.”
Photo via Oronzo/Instagram

Hao Wah

1713 S Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa
After nearly-half-a-century, South Tampa staple Hoa Wah closed last March. Hao Wah was one of Tampa’s institutional Chinese buffets. The restaurant—well loved by locals and a popular gathering spot for families and students of the nearby Plant High School—opened doors on April 1, 1980. It started as a humble spot, but doubled in size during an expansion in the early-2000s. For a long time Hao Wah was known for its all-you-can-eat buffet including dishes ranging from sushi to pho to Szechuan–nearly any Asian dish you could think of. Like most others, the buffet shut down during the pandemic but it's since returned to all its glory. An employee at Hao Wah's Pinellas Park location said that the Pinellas Park location (10454 66th St. N) will remain open and the restaurant's famed catering service will also continue.
Photo via Google Maps

Big Storm Brewing

Multiple Locations
So far, 2024 has been a rough year for Big Storm Brewing Co. In May, its owner, L.J. Govoni was slapped with a lawsuit over ties to a troubled non-profit. Then in mid June, Big Storm was evicted from its Ybor City location. This year the company has also closed locations in Odessa and Cape Coral, and Orlando.
Photo via Big Storm Brewing

Fo Cheezy Twisted Meltz

111 3rd St. N, St. Petersburg
Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz, a fancy grilled cheese concept, took to social media earlier last March to announce its immediate closure. “We have enjoyed being a part of and serving the downtown community and thank you for all of the support,” ownership wrote on Facebook yesterday. “This decision was not made lightly but in doing so we are able to pursue some exciting new ventures we know you will find just as dope.” Fo’Cheezy made its debut on St. Pete Beach in 2020 and opened its second brick and mortar in downtown St. Pete in 2021. To the delight of the restaurant's regulars, its flagship location on the beach—as well as its OG food truck and newly-opened spot inside Tropicana Field—are not going anywhere.
Photo via focheezytwistedmeltz/Facebook

Taco Baby

235 Main St., Dunedin
Taco Baby, a charming 51 square-foot taqueria inside a former ATM, closed its doors—or singular pick-up window, last March. “After much consideration, we’ve made the decision to close Taco Baby permanently. While we’re sad to say goodbye, we cherish the memories we’ve created together and the joy that Taco Baby has brought to our community,” the restaurant wrote on social media last month. “Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for being a part of our Taco Baby family.” Chef Traci Bryant and Shane Bittaker of Nina Hospitality Group opened Taco Baby out of a former ATM stand in the spring of 2019. Its understandably small menu consisted of street tacos with proteins like chicken tinga, al pastor, jackfruit, and pork carnitas, chips and queso, loaded nachos and a variety of bottled sodas.
Photo via tacobabydunedin/Facebook

Mott & Hester Deli

1155 S Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa
Mott & Hester Deli, a sandwich hotspot with a popular catering service has closed its doors in late-February after almost 42 years at its original location. While the deli didn’t explain why it chose to close its doors for good, comments under the announcement allude to the well-deserved retirement of owners Ted and Gina Kelly, who opened the deli in December of 1982. The popular, no frills deli with under a dozen seats offered a menu of loaded turkey, meatball, Italian and ham sandwiches, New Orleans-style fare like po’boys and muffulettas, hearty pasta dishes, salads, soups and entrees like spinach artichoke casseroles and Sicilian-style roasted chicken. Its Wild Turkey sammy with sautéed mushrooms, melted pepper jack cheese, and mayo on toasted white bread was a particularly popular menu item—and even made Creative Loafing Tampa Bay's 50 Best Sandwiches list in 2017.
Photo via mottandhesterdeli/Facebook

Zydeco Brew Werks Ybor

1902 E 7th Ave.,Ybor City
After five years of redefining the corner of 7th Avenue and 19th Street in Ybor City, Zydeco Brew Werks said “a bientôt” last January. Not getting to be with regulars and staff on a daily basis is one of the hardest parts of the closure, Zydeco brewer and co-founder Paul Rutherford told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “We’re definitely going to celebrate,” Rutherford said about the brewery’s final weeks in Ybor City. The 45-year-old who moved to Tampa from the northeast to open the brewery, brought Zydeco three medals at the World Beer Championship, including a gold for his American brett saison. He said that he even found a cask barrel of his infamous Butchy scotch ale, named for Colorado outdoorsman and salsa maker Butchy Craft. Its location at Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry will stay open.
Photo via zydecobrewwerks/Facebook

Florida Cane Distillery Tasting Room

1820 N 15th St.,Ybor City
Florida Cane Distillery’s tasting room and bar located inside Ybor City's historic El Encanto building quietly closed its doors in mid-January. The constant decline in Florida Tourism, coupled with the closing of so many other Ybor music venues/bars/restaurants and the recent shootings have pushed us to this decision,” the owners of The Florida Cane Distillery wrote on social media last week. “Although we are saddened by having to close to the public it’s been such a great joy to host all of you in our tasting room, on our behind-the-scenes tours, and hands-on whiskey classes—this was only possible because of your loyal support.” The Tampa-based spirits distributor debuted its Ybor City location—which it boasted as “Florida’s first vodka tasting room”—in 2012, mere months after launching its production space in Brandon. Although its tasting room closed its doors last weekend, its variety of Florida-made rums, gins and moonshines can be directly purchased from its website or from local retailers like Luekens Liquors and B21 Fine Wine and Spirits.
Photo via canevodka/Facebook

Tijuana Flats

Multiple Locations
On April 19, Tijuana Flats announced that it has closed 11 stores in the past week, including four Tampa Bay locations. The company chose which stores would be shuttered based on financial performance, occupancy costs and market conditions, according to a press release. Four stores in Jacksonville were also closed in February prior to an ownership change this month that saw the Central Florida-based company switch hands from TJF USA, LLC to Flatheads, LLC. he release said Tijuana Flats has also filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Tampa Bay is still home to at least a dozen Tijuana Flats that are still open.
Photo via tijuanaflats/Twitter

Yum Yum Hot Pot

11301 N 56th St. Suite 6, Temple Terrace
Temple Terrace all-you-can-eat hot pot restaurant Yum Yum Hot Pot quietly opened on Christmas day in 2019. The popular spot featured a unique conveyer belt system that ushered ingredients to hungry patrons in their booths. However, earlier this summer Yum Yum closed without warning. A sign on the front door said the establishment was closed for renovations. However, the phone is currently disconnected, the website is deactivated and the Instagram page says it's "closed." Let's hope it does re-open in the future.
Photo via Google Maps

Rollbotto Sushi

221 1st St. N, St. Petersburg
Last May, Rollbotto Sushi closed unexpectedly after 12 years of serving up rolls near the Sundial. According to the Tampa Bay Times, employees were given zero notice and were informed of the closure via text message. A GoFundMe was also launched to help employees recoup lost wages.
Photo via Rollbotto Sushi/Instagram

Tropez St. Pete

437 Central Ave., St. Petersburg
In late May, Tropez took to social media to announce it was closing for good, citing rising supply cost, competitive wages, and ongoing construction on Central Ave. “It is with a heavy heart that we have to confirm the rumors you have heard about us closing. This was a very difficult decision that came about due to the constant rise in supply cost, competitive wages, the loss of foot traffic on Central Ave , the construction, while paired with minimal parking. We want to thank all of you for the memories over the years and look forward to seeing you when you stop in for a visit at Little Philly in Grand Central.”
Photo via Tropez St. Pete/Facebook

White Lie

1710 E 7th Ave., Ybor City
Ybor is going through changes, and White Lie could be considered another casualty of the rapidly changing neighborhood. The bar and nightclub celebrated its last night on NYE, after owner Mo Pickering claimed the landlord wouldn't renew her lease. The spot was formerly home to businesses like Green Iguana, Kelly Days Firehouse Tavern and Red Star Rock Bar.
Photo via White Lie/Google Maps

Nana’s Restaurant & Juice Bar

1601 E 4th Ave., Ybor City
Last summer, the team at Nana’s Restaurant & Juice Bar was all smiles celebrating the plant-based concept’s first birthday. Seven months later, the once-bustling little green building on Ybor City’s Fourth Avenue was forced to temporarily shuttered due to code complaints. filed with the City of Tampa’s Code Enforcement department. One complaint mentions a “change of use without permit,” since the property is not zoned for a restaurant—something Mejia assumed wasn’t a problem since the building was once a barbecue restaurant. Nana’s received a stop work order on Wednesday, April 10 while the enforcement complaints are under investigation; Mejia has since started the change of use application process in order to reopen as soon as possible. She’s also working with a lawyer to help her with these rezoning issues.
Photo by Dave Decker