South Tampa Winn-Dixie will be converted into a new Aldi store, permits show
Earlier this year, a massive deal allowing Aldi to purchase hundreds of Florida Winn-Dixies was officially finalized, and now we’re starting to see which stores will be converted into the popular German discount grocer. According to public permits, South Tampa’s Winn Dixie at 2100 W Swann Ave. will soon be turned into a new Aldi. The project, which is valued at $1.75 million, calls for “a retrofit of an existing Winn-Dixie store to sud-divide the space for a new Aldi store,” and will include new interior and exterior walls and fixtures, equipment modification, and more. The new Aldi will be the company’s first location in South Tampa, and is strategically located a few blocks from the nearby Publix at 2401 W Azeele St. No exact opening date is known at this time. Read more.
South Korean fried chicken chain Bonchon is finally coming to Tampa
Bonchon, arguably one of the best South Korean fried chicken chains, is on its way to Tampa. The new Tampa location has been rumored for over a year now, and over the last couple weeks, Bonchon started posting multiple job openings. But according to the company, the new outpost will finally make its debut in the USF area, at 2308 E Fletcher Ave., which shares a plaza with Taco Bus and Domino’s. For the unfamiliar, the chain is a favorite of rapper Action Bronson, who visited the New York location in his “Fuck, That’s Delicious” series for Viceland. Besides double-fried, extra crispy Korean wings, the fast-casual spot features bibimbap bowls, pork belly buns, Korean tacos, bulgogi fries, a full beer and wine menu and more.
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Popular Japanese chain Daiso will open in Tampa next year
A Japanese variety chain will soon provide a less Western shopping alternative to Floridian customers, when a new Daiso location lands in the Northdale Promenade shopping plaza in Tampa next year, according to Business Observer. Customers continue to rave about the store’s buildable bento boxes, vibrant notebooks, and its plethora of Japanese candy, not to mention the wall of plushies. Although the store claims to sell primarily “100-yen” ($0.65) products, many items will be sold for roughly $1.75, while others will be sold for as high as $15.25. Prices will be marked in yen to provide customers with a more immersive Japanese shopping experience.
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Charleston-based company to open sushi and Japanese-Peruvian concepts in South Tampa
Two new restaurants are opening soon in South Tampa, and they both have a focus on fresh seafood and seasonal ingredients. Tampa Bay Business Journal says that Charleston’s Indigo Road Hospitality Group will debut Japanese-Peruvian concept Maru out of Bayshore Gardens’ rooftop space in late 2024. An upscale sushi spot, O-ku, will follow, set to open on the ground floor of the building slated in early-2025. Both of these new-to-Tampa concepts are headed to Bayshore Gardens (formerly known as the Bayshore Center) at 2909 W Bay to Bay Blvd. These two new restaurants will share the South Tampa complex with Counter Culture, Chef Jeannie Pierola’s celebrated restaurant known for its rotating selection of modern plates. Counter Culture has remained open for service during Bayshore Gardens’ extensive renovations, courtesy of the complex’s new owners, real estate investment firm Asana Partners, who purchased and renamed the South Tampa building in 2021. While O-ku boasts several locations throughout the South and up the East Coast, Tampa will be home to Maru’s very first restaurant.
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Lucky Tigre moves to West Tampa with an expanded menu of Filipino-American favorites
A South Tampa favorite has moved a few miles north, but it’s still dishing out the fusion fare that loyal customers love. Lucky Tigre now slings loaded Filipino plates, dumplings, egg rolls, milk teas and more out of a food trailer parked at 1713 N Albany Ave. in West Tampa. The locally-owned eatery served the last customers at its flagship location on South Tampa’s Howard Avenue on July 1, and soft opened a few days later in West Tampa with an expanded food menu. While there’s a few dishes that didn’t make it over to to the new location—like its bola bola dumplings, halang halang na gulay (snow pea tips and green papaya in a savory coconut broth) or chicken adobo bao buns—there are a few newcomers on the Lucky Tigre menu, too.
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EVENTS
Gulfport vegan hotspot Golden Dinosaurs celebrates sixth-anniversary all weekend long
There are still about 90 days until Halloween, and that’s not stopping Golden Dinosaurs from getting in the spirit to celebrate the vegan restaurant’s sixth anniversary. Customers have called for two featured dishes for the weekend (tofu or seitan char siu banh mi, seitan gyro). Friday features a vegan grill and set from DJ Plant Based spinning the late-night patio party, and the Gulfport favorite will spend Saturday serving families with food (free donut holes), fun (splash pad), a bubble zone, trick-or-treating, and more. The weekend wraps with a punk-rock picnic with vendors and brunch, all in celebration ofa concept that’s not only fed the community but supported it via initiatives like its ‘Chick-Fil-Nay’ Pride month fundraiser to support organizations like Metro Inclusive Health.
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Tampa cafe and bar King State turns five years old this weekend
Half-a-decade feels like a lifetime in pandemic years, and the folks at King State have definitely been through it since opening in the summer of 2019. This weekend, Nate Young and Tim McTague—founders of the popular Tampa Heights cafe and bar—bring their team together for three days of celebrations including a straight up kegger, specials, tattoo pop-ups, karaoke and cake. It all culminates with Sunday’s oat latte art throwdown featuring a $1,000 pot. There’s no cover for King State’s Cinco Anniversary Party happening Friday-Sunday, July 26-28 in Tampa.
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This article appears in Aug 1-7, 2024.