Longtime Tampa sandwich shop Brocato’s files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

We’re still hoping it sticks around for another 76 years, but one of Tampa’s oldest restaurants may be up against a wall.

The Tampa Bay Business Journal reports that Brocato’s Sandwich Shop filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy this week in an effort “to reorganize its debts after falling behind on payments to the Florida Department of Revenue and several vendors.” According to the recent filing, the Tampa restaurant owes about $1.4 million to its creditors and $700,000 to the Department of Revenue.

The federal government says that “a chapter 11 debtor usually proposes a plan of reorganization to keep its business alive and pay creditors over time,” so it doesn’t seem like this week’s filing will immediately affect operations at the beloved Tampa gem.

Brocato’s ownership has not yet commented on its recent filling.

According to its website, Brocato’s debuted in Tampa in 1948 and has experienced many evolutions since its opening, although ownership has remained in the same family over the past seven decades. It was initially a grocery store that became a meat market and eventually reached its final form as a sandwich shop and fast casual restaurant.

While Brocato’s is most known for Cuban-inspired and regional fare like its Best of the Bay-winning devil crabs and stuffed potatoes, it also sells a variety of breakfast items, pressed sandwiches and a few dinner platters loaded with rice and beans.

Brocato’s Sandwich Shop is located at 5021 E Columbus Dr. and is open from 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Fridays, 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Thursdays, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and is closed on Sundays.

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This article appears in May 9-15, 2024.