Bodega Boyz, 500 Degrees of Venice, Tehillah Coffee and more news
Another week of restaurant news in the books!
Thanks for tuning back into the restaurant round up. We've been busy finding all of the new pubs, cafes, arcades, pizzas shops and food trucks opening throughout the state. This week, we interviewed 16 new business owners. Read more below!
MONROE COUNTY
El Rinconcito Mexican Food
A new Mexican restaurant is in the works for Key West, owner Jose Angel Barrios told FFBW. Barrios reported that the restaurant is about two weeks away from opening.
Expect to enjoy indoor seating, takeout or delivery options from El Rinconcito. Barrios reported that they will have around 28 seats in the dining area.
They will open at: 2804 N Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040. Find them in two weeks or so.
DADE COUNTY
Bodega Boyz
A New York-style food truck is opening soon in Miami, owner Hipolito Rivera told FFBW. Bodega Boyz is planning to travel to various events around town before finding the locations where they want to stake out at permanently.
Bodega Boyz will serve a mixture of sandwiches and fried desserts, Rivera said. More info about the menu is forthcoming.
The truck plans to open as soon as their licensing is complete. Follow them on Instagram.
BROWARD COUNTY
Prime K-BBQ
A sprawling new Korean BBQ restaurant is preparing to open in Plantation this fall, co-owner Julian Min shared with FFBW. Prime K-BBQ is coming to Florida following Julian and Michelle Min's success with their family-owned restaurants in New York and New Jersey.
Prime K-BBQ will have no shortage of space with 152 seats, including the bar. Guests will be able to enjoy preparing their meals on grills embedded in the tables.
Min reported that they hope to begin construction soon with a goal to open in September or October. Find the new restaurant at: 1361 S University Dr, Plantation, FL 33324.
Once opened, the restaurant will likely operate from 10:30 am - 10:30 pm 7 days a week.
To keep up to date with Prime K-BBQ, check out their website.
PALM BEACH COUNTY
Nine Lives Cafe
Inspired by high end Japanese cat cafes, owner Jada Thornton and Razmig Panossian are opening a cafe and non-profit cat adoption service. Thornton shared details about the new business with FFBW.
Nine Lives Cafe will feature a comfortable cafe for guests and cat lovers to relax, enjoy pastries, sandwiches, wraps, smoothies, a custom espresso blend, juices and more. Thornton said that they will primarily serve gluten free pastries.
ORANGE COUNTY
Soulshi Lounge
A new sushi restaurant and lounge is coming to Orlando soon, owner Enrique Mondelo told FFBW. Previously, Mondelo and his wife, Tracy, planned to open Blue Barn Milkshake Bar in the space, but decided to pivot into opening a restaurant and lounge.
Soulshi Lounge is about three months away from opening, Mondelo said. They're readying their space at: 15 S Main St, Winter Garden, FL 34787. Their full-service concept will seat 45-50 people.
Once opened, they will operate seven days a week for lunch and dinner. For beverages, they will serve beer and wine.
Keep and eye out for Soulshi Lounge in July.
Menchie's Frozen Yogurt
An old location of Menchie's Frozen Yogurt is about to return to the Orlando area. Co-franchisee Rakesh Akula told FFBW that he plans to re-open the old location of Menchie's at: 6817 Eagle Watch Dr, Orlando, FL 32822.
The frozen yogurt shop is planning to re-open by June 1st. Once opened, they'll operate seven days a week from 12 pm - 10 pm. Akula plans to open more units after this one. Exact locations are not available as of now.
The frozen yogurt brand is known for offering a wide selection of flavors and toppings to their guests. Read more about them online.
SEMINOLE COUNTY
Hot Asian Buns
A popular central Floridian food truck Hot Asian Buns is preparing to expand into a brick and mortar location soon, co-owner Chau Vo told FFBW. The Hot Asian Buns brand is managed by chef Jimmy Nguyen and Chau Vo.
The new location comes after having gained notoriety for their delicious bao buns. The brand has been featured in local and national media, like the Food Network show Guy's Grocery Games.
The new restaurant is planned to open in June or July, Vo said; however, this is an estimate, she emphasized. They're currently preparing their space at: 204 S Sanford Ave, Sanford, FL 32771.
LEE COUNTY
The Fat Cowboys BBQ
Two new BBQ trailers are making their Florida debut after creating a following in New York state. Owner Garrett Wagner told FFBW that The Fat Cowboys BBQ is coming to the Fort Myers very soon.
Wagner shared that the brand has two popular brick and mortar restaurants in New York. Now, they are bringing a 40' and a 26' trailer to go to the big events in the area.
Expect to enjoy slow cooked BBQ. Wagner shared that their meats usually cook for 15 - 17 hours before being served.
The best way to find The Fat Cowboys BBQ is to follow them on Facebook. They are also available for event catering.
SARASOTA COUNTY
Fat Rabbit Pub
The second location of Tampa's The Fat Rabbit Pub is opening in Sarasota soon, co-owner John Kuemmel told FFBW. The new unit is coming after nearly seven years of operating the Tampa location. The brand is owned by Kuemmel and Shawn Diehl.
The new location will be on the second floor of the downtown building at: 1359 Main St, Sarasota, FL 34236.
500 Degrees of Venice
A classic New York-Italian style restaurant and bakery is coming to Venice soon, owner Salvatore Cararo told FFBW. 500 Degrees of Venice will be a full service restaurant and is planning to open this fall.
Cararo reported that he is waiting to commence construction at: 3469 Precision Dr #104, North Venice, FL 34275. The dining room will have 40 seats. While the menu is still under development, Cararo said to expect New York-style pizza. Additionally, he will serve handmade and fresh Italian baked pastries, cakes and cookies.
500 Degrees of Venice will serve beer and wine as well. They will serve lunch and dinner seven days a week when they open.
Watch out for the new restaurant to open in November of this year.
PINELLAS COUNTY
Pistil House
A new flower shop with a food and beverage program is in the works for Saint Petersburg, owner Anthony Diaz shared with FFBW. Pistil House's focus will be on cut, single stem flowers that allow guests to assemble their own bouquets.
In additional to the floral focus, Diaz revealed that they will serve beer, wine, coffee and small plates to accompany the beverages. In the mornings, they will have pastries, and in the afternoons, expect charcuterie.
The shop is being built out in a bungalow-style house with a front porch and lawn that Diaz intends to utilize. Find them at: 2533 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg, FL 33712.
Diaz has a culinary background, having earned a culinary degree and a brewing arts certificate as well. He has also worked for the Posies Flower Truck in the Tampa area.
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY
Trini Spice
A local Trinidadian cuisine food truck is planning to open in a brick and mortar space very soon, owner Trish Seegobin told FFBW.
Trini Spice is making a transition into a permanent space at: 7819 N 56th St, Tampa, FL 33617. The building will allow for 28 seats inside.
The kitchen for the restaurant will continue to be in the truck, Seegobin said; however, guests will not have access to the truck and the space will operate very similarly to the usual brick and mortar.
In the new building, Seegobin shared that they will be able to offer regular specials and add more items to their menu. For example, Seegobin intends to expand the vegetarian options and include numerous other authentic, scratch-made Trinidadian dishes.
Trini Spice will open as soon as possible. An exact timeline is not available yet. They will operate 7 days a week, Monday - Friday 11 am - 7 pm, Saturday 11 am - 8 pm and Sunday 11 am - 4 pm.
Follow the brand on Instagram for an official grand opening date soon.
Keke's Breakfast Cafe
A new location of Keke's Breakfast Cafe is planning to debut in Odessa via Blue Hart Investments, a group led by Bobbi Schrader.
The new Keke's will debut at: 2310 Gunn Hwy, Odessa, FL 33556. Schrader and her construction manager Rashid Frazier reported to FFBW that the new location is being built out; they plan to open on May 29th if all continues smoothly.
Schrader reported that she used to be the director of operations for Keke's Breakfast Cafe and is now the first employee to transition into franchising. Blue Hart Investments has a location of Keke's that they opened last year in New Port Richey.
Following this location, Schrader plans to continue growing in the Tampa area. The investment group is also planning two locations of Jeremiah's Italian Ice. One will be in the Starkey Ranch development in Odessa, and the other location is pending. They're planned to open in Q4 of this year.
Follow the Blue Hart Investments group online.
MARION COUNTY
Zo's Halal Truck
A new food truck is debuting at the Ocala Food Truck park on Highway 484, owner Zohaib Azam told FFBW. Zo's Halal Truck will be focused on serving halal meals ranging from gyros to Philly cheesesteaks, loaded fries and more.
Azam told FFBW that the truck is nearly ready to go. As of now, he's planning to debut on April 21st at: 2655 SW Hwy 484, Ocala, FL 34473.
Once opened, Azam will operate seven days a week from 11 am - 9 pm. Find the business online for more updates.
COLUMBIA COUNTY
Retro City Arcade and Pizzeria
A new restaurant, arcade and event space is coming to Lake City soon, owner Justin Jotso told FFBW. Retro City Arcade and Pizzeria is planning to debut this summer.
Find the business at: 1780 E Duval St, Lake City, FL 32055. They will be in a 3200 square foot space with roughly 50 seats. When they debut, Retro City will feature 30 different games with the intention to add 20 more.
The kitchen will serve all manner of arcade style food: pizza, wings, churros, hot dogs, sausages and more. Jotso is working on offering beer and wine for the adults as well.
Expect the business to operate 7 days a week from 12 pm - 9 or 10 pm throughout the week. On the weekend, they will potentially stay open as late as midnight. On Saturdays, Jotso is planning to open for Saturday morning cartoons, where he will retro cartoons, serve pancakes, waffles and cereal. For the adults, he will offer mimosas.
They will also have a space for private events; and with enough notice, the whole arcade will be available to rent out. They will offer a full day of free play on most games for $15. Guests will be able to leave and return with their wristband the entire day.
Retro City Arcade and Pizzeria is planning to open in early July. Follow the brand on Instagram for updates.
OKALOOSA COUNTY
Tehillah Coffee
A new coffee shop is coming to the Santa Rosa Beach area in a former mechanic's shop, co-owner Joan Sanchez told FFBW. The business is coming to the area via a partnership between Joan Sanchez and Gabriella Balladares.
Tehillah Coffee will provide a relaxing space for guests to enjoy coffee, pastries and signature food items. An opening timeline is set for about two months, Sanchez said. They are building out their space at: 405 Green Acres Rd, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547.
The business will be charity focused and Christ-centered, Sanchez said. They are still working out the brass tacks of their plan to contribute to charitable causes.
Once opened, they will operate 7 days a week from 7 am - 4 pm Monday - Saturday and 7 am - 11 am on Sundays. These hours are subject to change as they figure out what works best for the area.
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