It's officially official, Tampa Bay.
On Tuesday, acclaimed chef duo Michael Mina and Don Pintabona announced Wednesday, Dec. 17, as the premiere date for their two-story gourmet Locale Market.
The more than 20,000-square-foot market will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 8 Sunday. On opening day, Locale will operate until 9.
Guests may park valet, located adjacent to the market's Second Street North entrance, inside the garage at 117 Second St. N. or along the street. Garage and valet parking are free with validation. There are bike racks available, too.
Housed at downtown St. Pete's Sundial complex, the market plans to be a culinary wonderland, with rotating local and seasonal product.
Locale will be outfitted with 11 kitchens (read: stations) slinging ready-to-eat and take-home grub such as seafood and meat, artisan sandwiches, baked goods, cheeses and house-made pasta, along with upstairs and downstairs seating inside or out, where diners may eat and drink on site.
"We want it to be organic and ever-changing," Pintabona told CL last week. "In a market setting, we can do that. We're specifically not sticking to a formula."
A wide range of retail wines and craft brews, a first-come, first-served wine bar, the reservations-only FarmTable Kitchen (which isn't slated to open until late January) and more will add to the spot's shopping-meets-dining experience.
The wine bar and FarmTable won't serve the same food, though. Farmtable will feature multicourse, farmhouse-inspired meals, while the wine bar offers small-plate entrees and the like.
This article appears in Nov 27 – Dec 3, 2014.