Inside what is now Fortunato’s Italian Kitchen, a new pizza hub will hit downtown St. Pete.
The neighborhood pizzeria that’s been serving St. Pete for more than 15 years at 259 Central Ave. is set to close in the coming months, making way for a fresh concept from Josh Cameron, owner of next-door neighbor The Oyster Bar.
With enthusiasm for the American hospitality industry, Cameron is an Aussie who came to the states back in 2008 with the idea of opening his first restaurant, and purchased what was then called the Central Avenue Oyster Bar. Cameron has since daydreamed of launching other concepts, and when he caught wind of Fortunato’s closing, he seized the opportunity.
“Well, I never ever thought I’d own a pizza restaurant,” Cameron said. “But when the owner of Fortunato’s mentioned he was thinking of selling it, I was like, ‘Wow, what a great location. It has all the great attributes The Oyster Bar has, and it is right in the heart of downtown St. Pete.’”
According to Cameron, The Oyster Bar has outgrown its space, now selling three times as many oysters as it did when he took it over in 2013. He plans to integrate his flagship with the pizza restaurant (which doesn’t have a name yet) through additions like a shared deck, a feature to which both spots will have access.
Though the pizza aspect of Fortunato’s will stick, the menu will be more dinner-friendly and allow customize-your-own pies.
“The plan is to go to a more artisan-style pizza, with a huge emphasis on flatbreads and modern healthy options. We will make pizza fresh on the spot and try to source as many local ingredients as possible,” he said.
Fortunately, Cameron is friends with Tony Mangiafico, executive chef and co-proprietor of Gratzzi Italian Grille, who’s already offered to help develop the bill of fare.
Bar eats like oven-baked wings and ribs, panini and pasta bakes will be featured alongside the gourmet pizzas, and the drinks will be made with equal care behind a bar serving fancy cocktails, as well as craft and imported beer.
At nearly 3,000 square feet with room for about 150 guests, the space will undergo a complete remodel, which includes building a new prep kitchen and customizing every aspect of the restaurant. Cameron said he’s aiming for a very rustic-industrial feel.
“We will have a lot of wood, and we want to give it a bit of that Northern feel,” he said. “There is going to be acid-washed concrete, a lot of metal, and customized artwork and graphics.”
For now, plans have been submitted to the City of St. Petersburg, and Cameron hopes to have renovations underway closer to September. By October, locals should be on the lookout for their latest spot to grab a slice.
