Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz abruptly closes downtown St. Pete location, owner hints at new concept

The culinary landscape of downtown St. Pete is constantly changing, and one Williams Park-adjacent concept just bid the bustling district farewell.

Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz, a fancy grilled cheese concept at 111 3rd St. N, took to social media earlier this week to announce its immediate closure.

“We have enjoyed being a part of and serving the downtown community and thank you for all of the support,” ownership wrote on Facebook yesterday. “This decision was not made lightly but in doing so we are able to pursue some exciting new ventures we know you will find just as dope.”

Fo’Cheezy made its debut on St. Pete Beach in 2020 and opened its second brick and mortar in downtown St. Pete in 2021. To the delight of the restaurant's regulars, its flagship location on the beach—as well as its OG food truck and newly-opened spot inside Tropicana Field—are not going anywhere. In fact, chef and owner Robert Hesse tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that his Fo’Cheezy brand—which he operates with partners Chris Arnold and Mark Cammilleri —is “not going away, we’re actually growing.”

The future of Fo’Cheezy lies in the pivot to nationwide food truck franchising, a program that Hesse says will be launched soon. Despite having steady business at his downtown St. Pete location for the past two and a half years, Hesse explains that the closure is just one step in the new direction the company is heading towards.

“I want to give more people the opportunity to have a business of their own without having to splurge on a restaurant,” Hesse says. “For now, we’re redirecting our energy to help more people have a Fo’Cheezy in their own city.”

Last year, Hesse made his return to the world of fine dining as the executive chef of South Tampa restaurant 717 South. Unfortunately, an electrical fire devastated the restaurant back in January and it will take several months of renovations to rebuild the popular eatery.

While they wait for the restaurant to reopen, Hesse and 717 South owner Michael Stewart decided to embark on a new journey that was hinted on social media earlier this week.

On his Facebook page, Hesse teased his brand new, rock-themed food truck concept that’s coming “like a bat out of hell.” Hesse describes his latest venture as “bigger, badder and more entertainment-driven” than Fo’Cheezy.

“Folks that liked our grilled cheeses will definitely like what we’re doing with this new concept,” Hesse says. “I see me and my partners as a band—Fo’Cheezy was my debut album and this next business is like I’m branching out to do a solo project.”

After experiencing two heart attacks in 2023, Hesse—who is known for his appearances on seasons five and six of "Hell's Kitchen"— says his medical problems caused him to reevaluate his life, focus on his health, and scale back on the extremely long hours in the kitchen.

Head to @focheezytwistedmeltz on Facebook or Instagram for the latest news on Fo’Cheezy Twisted Meltz and its upcoming franchise expansion.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter