The eatery will be taking over the booth which previously housed Metropolitan Ministries’ Inside the Box concept.
Co-owners Karyn and Kevin Kruszewski saw the growth and opportunity within the food hall and wanted in.
“We saw what they’re doing out there and it’s really impressive plus it’s been embraced by the community. When Armature Works came along, we thought it would be a great thing to be part of,” Karyn says.
The duo started working on the expansion process last year after Kevin was making a delivery to Armature Works vendor Astro Ice Cream Co.
“I was delivering cookies and brownies when I bumped into Chas and Frank. I told them how impressed I was of their success and they wanted to make something happen,” Kevin explains.
The Kruszewskis worked together with Chas and Taryn Bruck along with Frank Scalfano to create the Pane Rustica Due menu in hopes to complement the other food hall vendors.
The new concept, will sell the same popular baked goods the Kruszewskis are known for like handcrafted artisan sandwiches, cookies, croissants, and pasta plus gluten-free options. For now, menu items will be prepared fresh daily at the original location on MacDill Ave. and taken to Armature Works.
Pane Rustica Due’s compact menu ranges from $3 for baked goods to $10 for sandwiches. Wines like rosé and sauvignon blanc are on tap for $8 per glass.
Kevin says the food hall doesn’t just invite any concept in, and relates the opportunity to the longstanding Pane Rustica brand.
“They wouldn’t just invite anyone in to be in their world and they have the culinary acumen to be successful. We’ve been around for 20 years and our track record shows we can sustain ourselves,” he says.
Karyn says Armature Works is special and the way it’s been embraced by the Tampa community made it an ideal location for another Pane Rustica.
“That place is really pretty special and everything they’re doing out there lends itself to be a great place to expand our concept. They draw so many people out there with their food and events,” she mentions.
The Kruszewski's vision for both Pane Rustica locations is pretty straightforward.
“At the end of the day, I want to serve really good food, give people really good service, and make them happy. That’s our philosophy,” Kevin says.
Pane Rustica Due is set to open in the coming weeks and is currently planning a grand opening day event.
Hours for the food hall are 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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This article appears in Aug 15-22, 2019.