Citing storm damage, St. Pete Beach’s PJ Oyster Bar is closed after 18 years
After 18 years serving oysters near St. Pete Beach, PJ’s Oyster Bar is closing a locations after its lease was terminated. On a social media, PJ’s owners Bret, Kelli and Madeline Umstead referred to loyal customers as family, and told them after the extensive damage from back-to-back hurricanes, “there isn’t anything else we can do to save the restaurant.” Last year, owners posted pictures after Hurricane Milton, showing the intense damage inside the restaurant at 7490 Gulf Blvd. With the storm surge, most of the ceiling fell and damaged the dining area. The PJ’s location at 415 2nd St. in Indian Rocks Beach remains open, with no plans to close. “…I want you all to know it has been an honor for us to be part of the St. Pete Beach community for the last 18 years. We have celebrated birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and celebrations of life together,” owners wrote about the spot that opened in 2007. – Julia Saad
Specialty coffee and breakfast pop-up Una Más will open West Tampa brick-and-mortar in February Two longtime Tampa hospitality veterans are getting ready to open the doors of their first coffee shop. Una Más’ debut brick-and-mortar resides at 1715 N Howard Ave. Suite B in the heart of West Tampa, adjacent to other concepts like Lucky Tigre, Catrinas Tacos and Tequila Bar and Taqueria El Victor. Owners Paola Chamorro Ward and Curt Hensley tell Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that their first brick and mortar cafe—which specializes in Cuban and Colombian-inspired comfort food and beverages—is slated to open by mid-February. The duo has been hosting regular pop-ups at venues throughout Tampa for the past several months and have been steadily creating a customer base for their specialty coffee and homemade burritos. – Kyla Fields
South Tampa’s new Mad Dogs and Englishmen opens next week
Not the Joe Cocker album, but an old pub with a new spin. The new Mad Dogs and Englishmen pub is set to reopen next week, after closing its original location less than two weeks ago. Before leaving, Mad Dogs founders hosted a memorabilia auction on Jan. 20, where fans could bring home a piece of the pub. The relocation is the end of a 34-year-story at 4115 S MacDill Ave. A new beginning kicks off Wednesday, Jan. 29 inside the new 6,000-square-foot location at 4914 S. MacDill Ave. The new pub, double its original space, includes a dining area, a so-called “Moroccan room,” fireplace lounge, two bars and a pet-friendly patio for your mad, or chill, dog. With weekend brunches and tea service expected, the pub will serve their British-inspired dishes including fish and chips, and bangers and mash. A press release says the menu will have some new additions, if you are tired of the good old Shepherd’s Pie, including stuffed peppadews, aubergine (eggplant) bolognese, and tuna tartare. – Julia Saad
Fast-casual concept Pacific Counter to open second St. Pete brick and mortar this month
A popular local chain is opening another restaurant in its original stomping grounds. Pacific Counter’s newest location will open at 210 37th Ave. N in St. Pete, out of a former Island Fin Poke space around the corner from other popular concepts like Cali, Fresh Kitchen and El Cap. St. Pete Catalyst says that its upcoming, 1,300 square-foot location in the Northeast Shopping Center is slated to open by the end of January. Pacific Counter is known for its customizable, Hawaiian-style poke bowls, hot dogs—with fresh toppings like Vietnamese-style daikon salad, kimchi, Hawaiian salsa and avocado—Spam musubi, and pineapple-flavored soft serve ice cream. For drinks, the fast-casual concept offers freshly-squeezed juices, kombucha, a few different flavors of boba tea, coconut water and other canned beverages. – Kyla Fields
EVENTS
Pinellas TacoFest organizers hope to serve more than 25,000 tacos this weekend
Organizers of Pinellas Taco Fest said that in 2024, attendees consumed 25,000 tacos. A smorgasbord of similar proportions awaits this year, with a rep for the festival saying that it hopes to dish out even more this weekend (with 50 vendors on the agenda, that’s totally doable). There’ll be a 20-chef battle for best taco on day one, with a taco eating competition going down on day two. Live music is on the docket, with a portion of proceeds going to Get Rescued, Inc. And don’t worry, there will be bathrooms. There’s no cover for the Fourth annual Pinellas Taco Fest happening Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 25-26 at England Brothers Park in Pinellas Park. – Ray Roa
Holding strong in Gulfport, The North End Taphouse and Grill celebrates fifth anniversary this month
While we’re still hurting for our friends in Gulfport who lost so much during last year’s hurricane double-feature, The North End Taphouse and Grill continues to hold strong while serving outrageous hot dogs and divine Cuban sammies. The space and its glorious backdrop is a staple spot for musicians to entertain diners almost every day of the week, and in honor of the fifth anniversary of the eatery quietly opening its doors, bassman Chris Sussman (who recently became a grandfather) leads his band in a wooden anniversary set. There’s no cover when Chris Sussman and The Vital Groove plays The Taphouse Turns Five in ‘25 in Gulfport on Thursday, Jan. 30.
– Ray Roa
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This article appears in Jan 23-29, 2025.