An Italian bakery is making its way to Tampa's Hyde Park Village. Sometime in fall, the shopping and dining destination will see the opening of Sorrento Sweets, which plans to take over the building where Florist Fire previously operated at 716 S. Village Circle.
The new Sorrento Sweets is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Joseph Kelly and his business partners, Peter Provenzano and Nicholas Montefusco. For more than six years, the trio have been a part of Sorrento's, the popular Pasco County-based bakery brand that master baker and fellow partner Salvatore Paturzo has operated with his wife, Rose, for 16-plus years. And good thing, too, considering Kelly and Provenzano have wanted to expand a sweets business since they were teenagers.
Sorrento Sweets allows the pair of lifelong friends to fulfill their vision, alongside Montefusco.
Using recipes that date back to the 1960s, Sorrento's is known for its house-made cookies, pastries and cakes — and, well, deservedly so. Sal, who now has 55 years of experience in the baking industry, took over his father's bake shop in Sorrento, Italy, at age 10, after all. When stopping by Sorrento Sweets in Tampa, customers can expect the aforementioned specialties, sourced from the Pasco manufacturing facility, as well as gelato shakes and floats, espresso drinks and other beverage options.
According to the Sorrento Sweets website, the partners' investment firm is dedicated to growing the bakery brand — which is "long over due (sic) for the surrounding community of Hyde Park Village" — throughout the state.
