Monday afternoon, Ricky P's Orleans Bistro made a bittersweet announcement to its newsletter subscribers.
According to the newsletter, the New Orleans-inspired restaurant will move from St. Petersburg's EDGE District to start a new chapter on Fourth Street, an area it's not unfamiliar with. Ricky P's, which husband-and-wife duo Rick and Lisa Parsons started at the Saturday Morning Market, operated their original po' boy shop on Fourth, as well as a cafe at Bob Lee's Tire Company.
The eatery will remain open inside the historic building at 1113 Central Ave. until July 31, relocating to 11002 Fourth St. N. (the former site of Goodfellas Pizza) with a fresh identity, Ricky P's Creole Kitchen, starting Aug. 1.
Alongside neighbors that include Cody's Original Roadhouse and Skyway Cafe, Ricky P's will serve its Creole and Cajun specialties at affordable prices while focusing on prepared meals to-go, plus items only seen as specials and on the catering menu. The neighborhood restaurant's new digs are smaller than its Central location, but bigger than the po' boy shop.
"Once we realized the upcoming rent increase was too rich for our blood, we decided we'd like to move back to 4th Street... As always, we thank YOU our friends and customers that have supported us over the years," the newsletter read.
The Betty Fox Band will perform at the EDGE District Ricky P's for a final time July 21. Aiming for an early August debut, Ricky P's Creole Kitchen plans to operate seven days a week.
