Dutch Bros., coffee chain with famously-friendly service, is now open in South Tampa Last weekend, after first sharing expansion plans two years ago, the popular Oregon coffee chain with famously-friendly service finally opened in Tampa Bay. The Bay area’s first Dutch Bros.—complete with drive-thru and walk-up—is located at 3616 W Ballast Point Blvd., South of Gandy in the Interbay neighborhood.—Jani Burden
Pepe’s Cantina takes over CiderPress space in St. Pete’s Historic Kenwood Pepe’s Cantina opened its doors last month at 3118 3rd Ave. N, taking over the 2,275-square-foot space that once housed the plant-based Cider Press Vegan GastroPub. Before that, the building was home to Georgie’s Alibi, a long time LGBTQ+ landmark in the neighborhood. It’s the Orlando-based concept’s seventh location, but its first on Florida’s West coast. Known for a fast prep time—lunch orders are promised in under seven minutes, dinner in under fifteen—the cantina brings a menu that blends contemporary Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes, including sizzling fajitas, chimichangas, and tacos with a wide range of proteins (including vegetarian-friendly black beans with onions).—Sofía García Vargas
Food & drink events
Roost & Rally bar crawl clucks for a cause through Ybor City this month There’s now a no-cover mother cluckin’ bar crawl dedicated to the chickens of Ybor City. The event, organized by Centro Ybor, invites crawlers to strut their stuff and get drink specials, giveaways and cool pics. Check-in for the Roost & Rally bar crawl happens in Centro Ybor between 5 p.m.-6 p.m. The first 100 people will get a shirt and tote. The first 100 registered participants to show up get free t shirts and totes. Bar maps will be provided, but attendees can visit participating bars at their own pace with no set route or bar leaders. The strut raises funds for Ybor Misfits, a microsanctuary rehabbing injured, sick and lost birds who can no longer fit safely within the city’s historic and protected feral flock. Centro Ybor will match donations up to $500.
Closings
Ducky’s closes Tampa bar after 12 years as co-owner Evan Longoria retires from Rays The Tampa bar co-owned by Rays player Evan Longoria and known for its mini-bowling announced the closure of its flagship location last Tuesday, thanking patrons for 12 years of support. Ducky’s lease on its building at 1719 W Kennedy Blvd. is ending A final day was not announced. Longoria’s retirement from the Rays was also announced last week. Ducky’s spot in Tampa International Airport’s A terminal will still be open.
Twelve years after opening, Cycle Brewing is closing its downtown St. Pete taproom Cycle Brewing is saying goodbye to downtown St. Petersburg after 12 years. The bike-themed beer maker will not renew the lease on its taproom at 534 Central Ave., brewmaster Doug Dozark announced in late-April. Fans of his citra hops Crank IPA will want to grab its very last batch while they can. But Dozark will still be making beer.
ICYMI
In St. Pete, Florida authors Annabelle Tometich and Dalia Colón talked moms, mangoes and memoirs Florida food was the center of attention last Wednesday in downtown St. Pete, when two Florida-based food writers talked about their respective books during “A Feast for the Imagination.” Host of WUSF podcast “The Zest” and “The Florida Vegetarian Cookbook” author Dalia Colón sat down with award-winning writer Annabelle Tometich about her debut book “The Mango Tree.” Both works were among Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s favorite new Florida books of 2024.—Kyla Fields
Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.
Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky
This article appears in May 15-21, 2025.