As Tampa Bay grows, so does the dining scene, and it’s no secret that our local restaurants have grown up quite a bit.
In just the last 15 years, neighborhoods that typically had one or two places to grab a bite, now have entire dining districts. What used to be a vacant warehouse or gas station is now a bustling food halls or coffee shop. For better and for worse, things are changing.
Last year, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay published a series of before-and-after photos using Google Maps to show how much the entire metro has changed, covering everything from opportunity zones to stadiums. The response was huge, and many readers asked if we would do one specifically focused on restaurants, so here it is.
What follows is a collection of some of Tampa Bay’s favorite dining spots, and what that same space looked like as far back as 15 years ago.
Then – 2008
Former city councilperson Darden Rice’s campaign headquarters
2710 Central Ave, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Wild Child
2710 Central Ave, St. PetersburgThen – 2011
Vacant building
1606 W Snow Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Meat Market
1606 W Snow Ave, TampaThen – 2008
Malindy Elene
1180 Central Ave, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Bodega on Central
1180 Central Ave, St. PetersburgThen – 2009
SoHo Tavern
2221 W Platt St, TampaNow – 2022
Taco Dirty
2221 W Platt St, TampaThen – 2008
Pop ‘N Sons Diner
4812 N Dale Mabry Hwy, TampaNow – 2022
Hales Black Brick Chinese
4812 N Dale Mabry Hwy, TampaThen – 2007
Vitale Bros art storage warehouse
1900 1st Ave S, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Good Intentions
1900 1st Ave S, St. PetersburgThen – 2007
Lee Garden Chinese Buffet
4447 4th St N, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
On The Fly Food Hall
4447 4th St N, St. PetersburgThen – 2008
Jensen’s Custom Cabinetry
1700 W Fig St, TampaNow – 2022
Willa’s
1700 W Fig St, TampaThen – 2011
The Lime
915 S Howard Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Green Lemon
915 S Howard Ave, TampaThen – 2007
Traditional Cuts Barber Shop
2923 N 12th St, TampaNow – 2022
Black Radish Grocer
2923 N 12th St, TampaThen – 2008
Loomis
702 N Ashley Dr, TampaNow – 2022
Four Green Fields
702 N Ashley Dr, TampaThen – 2008
Cast Steel Products
1101 1st Ave S, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Dr. BBQ
1101 1st Ave S, St. PetersburgThen – 2007
K&R Automative
6618 N Nebraska Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Ganchu
6618 N Nebraska Ave, TampaThen – 2007
J.D. Smith Termite Pest Control
5229 N Florida Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Ichicoro Ramen
5229 N Florida Ave, TampaThen – 2011
Vacant service station
520 E Floribraska Ave, TampaNow – 2022
King State
520 E Floribraska Ave, TampaThen – 2007
Niko’s
4603 N Florida Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Chanko
4603 N Florida Ave, TampaThen – 2008
Citgo
2801 22nd Ave N, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Chile Verde Restaurant
2801 22nd Ave N, St. PetersburgThen – 2011
Crimson Moon
400 2nd St N, Safety HarborNow – 2022
Pizzeria Gregario
400 2nd St N, Safety HarborThen – 2015
Vacant shed
1101 S Howard Ave Suite B, TampaNow – 2022
Lucky Tigre
1101 S Howard Ave Suite B, TampaThen – 2008
Bajareke Cuban Sandwich Shop
2005 N Tampa St (Palm St), TampaNow – 2022
Parking lot
2005 N Tampa St (Palm St), TampaThen – 2008
Empty lot
2620 E Hillsborough Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Yummy House
2620 E Hillsborough Ave, TampaThen – 2013
Grooms Appliances
5609 N Nebraska Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Xtreme Tacos
5609 N Nebraska Ave, TampaThen – 2007
The Chambers
1701 N Franklin St, TampaThen – 2022
Vacant building
1701 N Franklin St, TampaThen – 2007
SAI Gift Shop
381 Mandalay Ave, ClearwaterNow – 2022
Hooters
381 Mandalay Ave, ClearwaterThen – 2007
Father & Sons AC and Heating
2245 Central Ave, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Zoie’s
2245 Central Ave, St. PetersburgThen- 2007
Porter Paints
2662 Central Ave, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Bandit Coffee Co.
2662 Central Ave, St. PetersburgThen – 2007
Duckweed Urban Market
305 E Polk St, TampaNow – 2022
SuperNatural Food & Wine
305 E Polk St, TampaThen – 2011
Mug Motorsports
1133 Baum Ave N, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Green Bench Brewing Company
1133 Baum Ave N, St. PetersburgThen – 2007
Zio’s
4843 W Kennedy Blvd, TampaNow – 2022
Curry Leaves
4843 W Kennedy Blvd, TampaThen – 2007
Empty lot
5119 N Nebraska Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Ellaโs Americana Folk Art Cafe
5119 N Nebraska Ave, TampaThen – 2007
Pittsburgh Paints
6109 N Florida Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Harvest Bowl Eatery And Market
6109 N Florida Ave, TampaThen – 2007
Driveway
2639 Central Ave, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Twisted Indian
2639 Central Ave, St. PetersburgThen – 2011
Terra Nova
2927 Central Ave, St. PetersburgThen – 2011
Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe
2927 Central Ave, St. Petersburg Credit: Photo via Google MapsThen – 2007
Gerard’s Fine Food
201 Main St Suite 101, Safety HarborNow – 2022
The Tiki Tavern
201 Main St Suite 101, Safety HarborThen – 2007
Quality Discount
5910 N Florida Ave, TampaNow – 2022
FLocalรฉ
5910 N Florida Ave, TampaThen – 2007
Twila’s
3405 34th St N, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Roam Restaurant and Bar
3405 34th St N, St. PetersburgThen – 2007
Chateau Soho
516 S Howard Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Luv Child
516 S Howard Ave, TampaThen – 2008
Crest Business Center
3601 W Swann Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Olivia
3601 W Swann Ave, TampaThen – 2007
Side Bern’s
2208 W Morrison Ave, TampaNow – 2022
Haven
2208 W Morrison Ave, TampaThen – 2008
Vacant building
100 4th St S, St. PetersburgNow – 2022
Park & Rec DTSP
100 4th St S, St. PetersburgThen – 2008
Wachovia Securities
1501 W Swann Ave, TampaNow – 2022
On Swann
1501 W Swann Ave, TampaOn Swann.