Openings/Closings
Edison Food + Drink Lab closes temporarily
Jeannie Pierola’s 14-year-old South Tampa restaurant is taking a break. Edison Food + Drink Lab is closing for the summer, the restaurant announced this week. Owner and chef Pierola—a five-time James Beard Award semifinalist—told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that the break will allow for deep cleaning during slower summer months. “And Edison’s looking for a brand refresh, ” Pierola said. “Currently, we’re not at any stage to release information for a reopening date, but reopening isn’t too far out.”
Downtown Tampa’s Bodega Bus is open, now serving chopped cheese, smashburgers, hot dogs and more
Chopped cheese has finally arrived in downtown Tampa. Bodega Bus, the new late night mini-mart and smoke shop with vape, hookah and legal hemp products, has soft-opened at 505 N Franklin St. and is serving a limited menu that includes chopped cheese, smashburgers, chicken and steak over rice, and loaded hot dogs. The halal beef is a 81-19 sirloin-chuck mix, Zatar Shukri told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay as he worked on sandwiches from a kitchen awaiting its finishing touches. Business hours and menu prices have yet to be finalized, but last Tuesday we paid $16.38 before taxes for a chopped cheese sub with onions, green peppers, and jalepeños all served with hand-cut fries cooked in beef tallow.
Events
There’s still time to enjoy Tampa Bay Restaurant Month, with special prix-fixe menus at nearly 60 restaurants and cafes across Pinellas and Hillsborough counties through June 30.
See below for lots more food events, all at community.cltampa.com unless noted otherwise. Head there for more and list your own.
Sip & Stroll Every last Friday. 5 p.m. No cover. Corey Avenue, St. Petersburg
Bonsai & Brews Friday, June 26. 7 p.m. $75. Bonsai Beverage Co., Clearwater. thunderstruckbonsai.com
Clearwater Wine & Cheese Pairing Friday, June 26. 7 p.m. $55. Aspirations Winery, Clearwater. aspirationswinery.com
5th Annual St. Pete Pride Brunch & Bar Crawl Saturday, June 27. 11 a.m. $16.05. Thirsty First, St. Petersburg
Christy’s Thirsty Mural, Brewery & Pizza Ride Saturday, June 27. 2 p.m. $30. Christy’s Thirsty Beer Rides, St. Petersburg
Cold Tub Coffee Club 2 Year Anniversary Sunday, June 28. 10 a.m. $30 & up. Caddy’s, Treasure Island
Funky Brunch Sundays. 11 a.m. No cover to RSVP. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg. bayborobrewing.com
Gulfport Fresh Market Tuesdays. 9 a.m. No cover. Beach Blvd., Gulfport. visitstpeteclearwater.com
Hamachi & Spirits Omakase Dinner Tuesday, June 30. 5:30 p.m. $195. Ro, Hyde Park
Mayor’s Food Truck Fiesta Every first Wednesday. 11 a.m. No cover. Lykes Gaslight Square Park, Tampa. tampasdowntown.com
Sip & Shake (Hands-on cocktail class) Every first Thursday through Oct. 1. 6 p.m. $75. St. Petersburg Distillery, St. Petersburg
The Art of Coffee: A Tasting Journey Featuring Mission Grounds Coffee Friday, July 3. 10 a.m. $7.18 & up. Imagine Museum, St. Petersburg. imaginemuseum.com
July 4th Hot Dog Eating Contest Saturday, July 4. 12:30 p.m. No cover. Gigglewaters, Safety Harbor. gigglewaters.com
4th Of July Neighborhood Picnic Saturday, July 4. 4 p.m. No cover. Shuffle, Tampa
Red, White & Bayboro: 4th of July Celebration Saturday, July 4. 11 a.m. No cover. Bayboro Brewing, St. Petersburg
Cameras and Coffee Monday, July 6. 5 p.m. No cover. Palm Harbor Library, Palm Harbor. palmharborlibrary.org
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This article appears in June 25 – July 01, 2026.
