Golden Dinosaurs Credit: Photo via Golden Dinosaurs

OPENINGS/CLOSINGS

After 12 years, Tampa Bay’s Squeeze Juice Works is closing
The Bay area is going to have one less place to get cleansed. After a dozen years in the community, award-winning Squeeze Juice Works has announced its closure. Founder Kelly Lessem shared the news on social media on Jan. 15. A pioneer in Tampa Bay’s small batch, handcrafted juice scene, Squeeze launched in 2012. The St. Petersburg once had three locations and a cafe—including a shop in South Tampa. Lessem, who lives with the rare neurological autoimmune condition Myasthenia Gravis, founded the shop after she started juicing for own health. Squeeze served juice, shots, food and recently started a juice cleanse subscription service. Squeeze Juice Works’ last day in business at 675 30th Ave. N is Monday, Jan. 20 and will wrap its final press this Friday. The goods will also be available at Saturday’s Mezzo Market on St. Petersburg’s Baum Avenue. In her message, Lessem thanked the many employees who helped Squeeze Juice Works run over the year, and expressed gratitude for all the lessons she learned. “Thank you all for trusting us and to support your health. Over the last decade, we saw pregnant mothers, children who have been drinking our juice since they were very small, people working through a variety of illnesses, and then just you folks in the community are curious about your health,” Lessem added.–Ray Roa

P.F. Chang’s will open new fast casual concept, Pagoda Asian Grill, in St. Pete
Popular Asian-fusion chain P.F. Chang’s is ready to debut a faster, more efficient way to get beef and broccoli into your circumference. Pagoda Asian Grill, a new fast casual concept from P.F. Chang’s, opened in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Jan. 15, according to an event listing from the company. Located in the former Rib City building, at 1550 66th St. N, the new outpost is the company’s second Florida-based Pagoda Asian Grill. The first Pagoda opened in Orlando, but closed last fall. Pagoda Asian Grill’s menu features a lot of familiar protein and noodle dishes from its big brother, but served in $11 to-go bowls. There’s other portable grub options like wraps, pork egg rolls, shrimp dumplings, wonton chips and more. The Pagoda Asian Grill is open daily from 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

St. Pete’s new Olivia location will debut next week
Last March, celebrated local chef Chris Ponte shared plans to open a new St. Pete version of his popular South Tampa Italian restaurant Olivia, and now it’s ready to debut. The new 5,600 square-foot Olivia St. Pete will officially open to the public on Tuesday, Jan. 21, on the ground floor of the 36-story Ascent building at 225 1st Ave. N. Like the original Tampa location, Olivia St. Pete (stylized “OLIVIA”), centers around the James Beard semifinalist’s selection of house-made pastas, craft cocktails and decadent entrees, like pizzas, squid ink pasta and porcini mushroom-rubbed filet mignons, to name a few. Besides the two Olivias, Ponte also owns a few other local favorites, including Ponte in Midtown, On Swann and Bare Naked Kitchen. He’s also currently working on a new waterfront restaurant in Tampa with Bob Bashman, known for founding Outback Steakhouse and PDQ.

Gulfport vegan scene staple Golden Dinosaurs closes this weekend
Gulfport’s Golden Dinosaurs will become extinct this weekend. Owners of the beloved vegan deli announced the closure of their nearly-seven-year-old concept last week. The meteor that killed these dinos? Financial burden. “This past fiscal year combined with back to back hurricanes was the final nail in the coffin, and we’ve had to make the extremely difficult decision to shut her down,” Golden Dinosaurs wrote on social media. Whether your thing was the rubens or donuts, you are able to grab your last Dino treat this week since the last day of operation is Sunday, Jan. 19.
Owners, husband and wife, Brian and Audrey Dingeman created a deli-inspired vegan menu, serving sweets and sauerkraut pastrami sandwiches, everyday except Wednesdays, at 2930 Beach Blvd. The space is informal, with less seating inside than outside. When creating the space, Brian told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay he decorated the space with thrifted mid-century decor, bringing even more character to the deli. Since 2018, the deli has gathered a passionate following on Instagram, where it asked customers to share their favorite memories at Golden Dinos as the deli reaches its final days. In the same post, the Dingemans wrote they will focus on their other vegan restaurant, Good Intentions in St. Petersburg, but they are already grieving their “little corner of the world” in Gulfport. Golden Dinosaurs closure comes less than a month after Tampa said goodbye to vegan scene staple 3 Dot Dash.–Julia Saad

Tampa’s wildly-popular Cousin Vinny’s Sandwich Co. opens first storefront this week
Cousin Vinny is officially offline. After two years trying to hop off the hashtags and have a storefront with a name tag, Cousin Vinny’s Sandwich Co. opened in Tampa last Tuesday. Executive Chef and co-owner Vincent “Vinny” Andriotti and co-owner Russell Leone first opened a to-go sandwich shop out of a small kitchen on Nebraska Avenue in 2023, operating for pickup only on Saturday and Sunday. Andriotti told CL he noticed customers driving from places outside of the Bay area, just to try one of the sandwiches. The online shop featured chicken cutlet and shredded beef sandwiches with a variety of sauces, in a grab-and-go-style. Vinny’s is saying goodbye to its ghost kitchen pick-up days and hello to its storefront. In 2024, the duo, along with other partners, were preparing for a soft launch after signing a new lease on West Cass Street. As previously reported, Zoning and other paperwork on the deli space delayed plans. The current online menu includes cutlet and meatball sandos, wraps and Schiacciata bread sandwiches. Diners can also order a little something on the side with their meals. Promos and exclusive offers for the openings will be published on their social media. The New York inspired deli Cousin Vinny’s Sandwich Co. is at 1331 W Cass St and will open its doors on Jan. 14. Operating hours, for now, are Tuesday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.—Julia Saad

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