Zoie’s 2245 Central Ave., St. Petersburg Last summer pwner and operator Jeff Baker disclosed that a recent cancer diagnosis lead him to close the restaurant he spent endless months building out.”This unexpected turn of events has lead me to reassess what’s most important in life, and prompted me to make the difficult decision to close our beloved Zoie’s for the sake of my health and well being,” Baker wrote on Facebook. “It’s been an honor and pleasure to provide you with a place to gather, enjoy good food and create lasting memories. Our loyal guests, you have turned this restaurant from a dream into a reality.” Photo zoiesfl/Facebook Credit: zoiesfl / Facebook
Earlier today, the owner of restaurant and event venue Zoie’s took to social media to deliver some bad news.

Effective immediately, Zoie’s—located in St. Pete’s Grand Central District at 2245 Central Ave.—is now closed.

Owner and operator Jeff Baker disclosed that a recent cancer diagnosis lead him to close the restaurant he spent endless months building out.

“This unexpected turn of events has lead me to reassess what’s most important in life, and prompted me to make the difficult decision to close our beloved Zoie’s for the sake of my health and well being,” Baker wrote on Facebook. “It’s been an honor and pleasure to provide you with a place to gather, enjoy good food and create lasting memories. Our loyal guests, you have turned this restaurant from a dream into a reality.”

The restaurant is already listed as “permanently closed” on Google.

Zoie’s made its long-awaited debut on Central Avenue in the fall of 2022, after a full year of construction and permitting-related delays. 

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In addition to its brunch, lunch and dinner menus loaded with comforting Southern dishes, the 3,000 square-foot restaurant was also known for hosting regular entertainment, drag shows, karaoke nights and live piano performances.

Baker named his debut restaurant after his beloved Chihuahua Zoie, who can usually be found in his arms or following closely behind him.

While Zoie’s was an LGBTQ-friendly space that featured different types of queer performances, Baker insisted it was a restaurant for all walks of life, coining its motto “A place for everyone.”

Last fall, Baker told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that both Zoie’s decor and menu were inspired by the concept of Southern hospitality, since a majority of his family hails from Tennessee and North Carolina.

“Zoie’s has always been more than a restaurant. It’s a brand that stands for community and goodwill,” Baker explained in his farewell announcement. “We’ve had the privilege of partnering with numerous local organizations, contributing towards making our community a better place, and this is something that I will always be proud of.”

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This article appears in Jun 22-28, 2023.

Kyla Fields is the food critic and former managing editor of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay who started their journey at CL as summer 2019 intern. They are the proud owner of a charming, sausage-shaped, eight-year-old...