Datz
The Tampa-based restaurant opened its third location in Riverview on May 14. The restaurant gets its notoriety from classics like The Cheesy Todd and the Havana Hottie at its original Tampa and St. Petersburg locations. The new Riverview location opened at a 25% capacity during the COVID-19 Phase 1 recovery plan.
Asiatic Street Food & Noodle Bar
The Ybor City restaurant has reopened its dining room and added new dishes to its menu, including a slate of vegetarian-friendly options. The additions include fried jumbo tofu with peanut sauce, topped with cilantro and served with bok choy, onion, cabbage, celery, and carrot.
The Florida Aquarium
The institution made history in April when it successfully reproduced ridged cactus coral. This is the first time in history the coral has reproduced in human care. In August of 2019, the aquarium also became the first to spawn a different endangered coral, the Atlantic pillar coral, through lab techniques. The aquarium’s latest accomplishment marks new hope for the restoration of Florida’s coral reefs.
Pickford Sundries
The historic Pickford Sundries building, which has sat vacant on West Hillsborough Avenue for a few years, is scheduled to reopen in mid-July under new management. In its day, the bubblegum pink building sold everyday drugstore items, and it was an epicenter of the Wellswood neighborhood for decades.
New managers Adrianna Siller, David Hansen and Benjamin Pomales will run the storefront, with the same inventory as Urban Bungalow (a Seminole Heights shop that will move to the Pickford building), and a food counter. Called Lesiak’s Counter, the food counter is an homage to the Lesiak family, the building’s longtime owners.
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
The roaster will open a flagship café at Midtown Tampa in early 2021. The specialty coffee roaster, which has been headquartered in Tampa since its founding in 1984, is the official specialty coffee of Walt Disney World, Disneyland and Disney Cruise Line. Joffrey’s new café will be open throughout the day serving coffee and tea beverages, plus wine and beer in the evening. Unique offerings will include a locally brewed beer made with Joffrey’s coffee. A unique printer will create latte art atop coffee drinks using preselected images, selfies and other uploaded designs.
F45 Training
The first of five F45 Training centers opened in late May in New Tampa, spearheaded by professional baseball player Matt Joyce, a Miami Marlins’ outfielder and a former Tampa Bay Ray. F45 creates 45-minute workout classes through combinations of high intensity interval training (HIIT) and functional training. Joyce is planning to open four more locations in Tampa with his wife, Brittany Joyce, and business partner Blair Johnson, including at Sparkman Wharf and in Tampa Heights, South Tampa and Brandon.
