Allelo ($75/person; dine-in). 300 Beach Dr. NE No. 128, St. Petersburg Credit: Allelo / Facebook

After endless months of construction and brand development, comes a new concept opening out of two familiar spaces.

Allelo, an upscale Mediterranean restaurant, will open out of the former Annata and Alto Mare locations at 300 Beach Dr. NE in downtown St. Petersburg. The concept is a joint effort from Pinellas-based philanthropists Sean and Jeanna Damkoehler and Volet Hospitality Group—which also operates Allelo’s future neighbors 400 Beach Seafood & Tap House—as the Tampa Bay Time reports.

Together, they purchased both Annata and its neighbor Alto Mare from Kurt and Mary Cuccaro—the folks that own popular Italian market Mazzarro’s—in late-2020, and have been working on the joint space since.
If all goes well, Beach Drive’s newest restaurant will be open as early as Saturday, Sept. 17, although that grand opening date isn’t set in stone. Allelo’s team took its newly-formed Facebook to explain the name change, stating that the space evolved so much that it took on a brand new identity, completely separate from its predecessors. Both Annata and Alto Mare have been closed for about a year and have undergone major renovations.
“Allelo’s meaning is rooted in the word Allelomimesis which is all about the phenomenon of gathering together and we are confident this captures the history and essence of the location,” the restaurant’s owners posted on social media earlier today. Annata was known for its vast selection of wines and charcuterie boards, while Alto Mare made waves with its seafood towers and raw bar—aspects that Allelo will pay homage to with its Mediterranean-themed cuisine. The Times previews Allelo’s eclectic menu from its Executive Chef Alex Pyser, which includes dishes like grilled octopus, East Coast oysters, smoked fish spread, build-your-own charcuterie spreads, snapper crudo and a variety of savory flatbreads. Whether they’re small plates or larger entrees, Allelo’s offerings are meant to be shared—a nod to Annata’s tapas-style menu.

In another nod to Annata, Allelo will also offer a variety of wines from both the U.S. and beyond, in addition to all of the expected craft cocktails.

Allelo is currently hiring servers, bartenders, food runners, chefs and other positions. Folks interested in working at the new downtown hotspot can send emails to heartbeat@volethospitality.com.