St. Petersburg

New Full-Service Gastropub Opening in St. Petersburg

Jackson’s will be a full-service gastropub with Southern and Cajun influences in South St. Petersburg.

1700 34th St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711 | Image from Google Earth Pro

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Jackson’s, a new full-service gastropub from longtime local restaurateur Dan Soronen, is targeting a February opening at 1700 34th St. S, St. Petersburg, FL 33711, located in the well-known "purple building" on the city’s south side. Soronen is opening the restaurant alongside his wife, Aisha Jackson, with Chef Sean Ford serving as executive chef.

The restaurant is currently finalizing permits with the city of St. Petersburg and is aiming to open in February once that process is complete, Soronen told Business Debut.

What to Expect

Jackson’s is designed as a full-service gastropub with a full bar, offering dinner service daily along with weekend brunch. The restaurant will seat approximately 120 guests indoors across a roughly 4,000-square-foot space.

Service is expected to begin daily around 4:30 p.m., with extended hours and earlier openings on weekends to accommodate brunch and sporting events.

The menu is being developed by executive chef Sean Ford, formerly of Tryst, and will focus on American regional cooking. Guests can expect a mix of Southern soul food, Cajun-inspired dishes, and familiar gastropub fare.

Aisha Jackson, who is from the Baton Rouge area, played a key role in shaping the restaurant’s culinary direction, particularly when it comes to Southern and Louisiana influences.

Soronen said the decision to open Jackson’s was driven by a lack of full-service dining options in South St. Petersburg, particularly between Central Avenue and the Skyway Marina District. The space already included a commercial hood, helping streamline the buildout process.

Soronen brings more than 30 years of experience to the project and has previously operated several St. Petersburg restaurants, including Old Northeast Tavern, Shackleton’s Folly, and Brew Burgers.

Opening Timeline

Jackson’s is targeting a February opening, pending final permit approvals.

Hours

Planned hours are daily beginning at 4:30 p.m., with weekend brunch service starting around noon. Final closing times are expected to range between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.