King of the Coop’s “It’s a Wrap,” part of the new menu at its Seminole Heights location that opened in April, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. Credit: Courtesy of King of the Coop

Seminole Heights is once again home to hot chicken.

King of the Coop officially reopened in the neighborhood last Wednesday, taking over the former Nebraska Mini-Mart space at 4815 N Nebraska Ave.

The menu still has its classic chicken sandwiches, but now there are some healthier choices like Coop’s Cobb salad and “It’s a Wrap,” which swaps its potato bread buns for a tortilla filled with chopped tenders and bacon, lettuce, onion, tomato and blue cheese crumbles tossed in dill ranch. You can also get your chicken tenders grilled instead of fried. For vegetarians, there are plant-based tenders and a veggie sandwich patty.

The chicken is made with a mix of starches instead of flour, so it’s considered “gluten friendly,” but the veggie options aren’t. Switching out fries and bread with slaw will make a whole meal gluten friendly, according to Dodd.

Chef and founder Joe Dodd brought the Nashville-style hot chicken concept back to its original stomping grounds, as he launched King of the Coop in Seminole Heights in 2019. King of the Coop also operates locations in South Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

Dodd told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that when Proper House Group reached out about the Mini-Mart’s closure, he jumped at the chance to return to the neighborhood where his brand took off.

The transition from burger-centric Mini-Mart to Coop was a smooth one as Dodd said he bought nearly everything from the outgoing restaurant, including kitchen equipment and outdoor games, which will help preserve a welcoming atmosphere, with a focus on being both family and pet friendly.

King of the Coop is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is closed Mondays. Dodd said the restaurant aims to open seven days a week once it hires additional staff.