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. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Wild Child 2710 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Then – 2011 Vacant building 1606 W Snow Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Meat Market 1606 W Snow Ave, Tampa
Then – 2008 Malindy Elene 1180 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Bodega on Central 1180 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Then – 2009 SoHo Tavern 2221 W Platt St, Tampa
Now – 2022 Taco Dirty 2221 W Platt St, Tampa
Then – 2008 Pop ‘N Sons Diner 4812 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa
Now – 2022 Hales Black Brick Chinese 4812 N Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa
Then – 2007 Vitale Bros art storage warehouse 1900 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Good Intentions 1900 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg
Then – 2007 Lee Garden Chinese Buffet 4447 4th St N, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 On The Fly Food Hall 4447 4th St N, St. Petersburg
Then – 2008 Jensen’s Custom Cabinetry 1700 W Fig St, Tampa
Now – 2022 Willa’s 1700 W Fig St, Tampa
Then – 2011 The Lime 915 S Howard Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Green Lemon 915 S Howard Ave, Tampa
Then – 2007 Traditional Cuts Barber Shop 2923 N 12th St, Tampa
Now – 2022 Black Radish Grocer 2923 N 12th St, Tampa
Then – 2008 Loomis 702 N Ashley Dr, Tampa
Now – 2022 Four Green Fields 702 N Ashley Dr, Tampa
Then – 2008 Cast Steel Products 1101 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Dr. BBQ 1101 1st Ave S, St. Petersburg
Then – 2007 K&R Automative 6618 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Ganchu 6618 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa
Then – 2007 J.D. Smith Termite Pest Control 5229 N Florida Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Ichicoro Ramen 5229 N Florida Ave, Tampa
Then – 2011 Vacant service station 520 E Floribraska Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 King State 520 E Floribraska Ave, Tampa
Then – 2007 Niko’s 4603 N Florida Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Chanko 4603 N Florida Ave, Tampa
Then – 2008 Citgo 2801 22nd Ave N, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Chile Verde Restaurant 2801 22nd Ave N, St. Petersburg
Then – 2011 Crimson Moon 400 2nd St N, Safety Harbor
Now – 2022 Pizzeria Gregario 400 2nd St N, Safety Harbor
Then – 2015 Vacant shed 1101 S Howard Ave Suite B, Tampa
Now – 2022 Lucky Tigre 1101 S Howard Ave Suite B, Tampa
Then – 2008 Bajareke Cuban Sandwich Shop 2005 N Tampa St (Palm St), Tampa
Now – 2022 Parking lot 2005 N Tampa St (Palm St), Tampa
Then – 2008 Empty lot 2620 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Yummy House 2620 E Hillsborough Ave, Tampa
Then – 2013 Grooms Appliances 5609 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Xtreme Tacos 5609 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa
Then – 2007 The Chambers 1701 N Franklin St, Tampa
Then – 2022 Vacant building 1701 N Franklin St, Tampa
Then – 2007 SAI Gift Shop 381 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater
Now – 2022 Hooters 381 Mandalay Ave, Clearwater
Then – 2007 Father & Sons AC and Heating 2245 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Zoie’s 2245 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Then- 2007 Porter Paints 2662 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Bandit Coffee Co. 2662 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Then – 2007 Duckweed Urban Market 305 E Polk St, Tampa
Now – 2022 SuperNatural Food & Wine 305 E Polk St, Tampa
Then – 2011 Mug Motorsports 1133 Baum Ave N, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Green Bench Brewing Company 1133 Baum Ave N, St. Petersburg
Then – 2007 Zio’s 4843 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa
Now – 2022 Curry Leaves 4843 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa
Then – 2007 Empty lot 5119 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Ellaโ€™s Americana Folk Art Cafe 5119 N Nebraska Ave, Tampa
Then – 2007 Pittsburgh Paints 6109 N Florida Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Harvest Bowl Eatery And Market 6109 N Florida Ave, Tampa
Then – 2007 Driveway 2639 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Twisted Indian 2639 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Then – 2011 Terra Nova 2927 Central Ave, St. Petersburg
Then – 2011 Hawthorne Bottle Shoppe 2927 Central Ave, St. Petersburg Credit: Photo via Google Maps
Then – 2007 Gerard’s Fine Food 201 Main St Suite 101, Safety Harbor
Now – 2022 The Tiki Tavern 201 Main St Suite 101, Safety Harbor
Then – 2007 Quality Discount 5910 N Florida Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 FLocalรฉ 5910 N Florida Ave, Tampa
Then – 2007 Twila’s 3405 34th St N, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Roam Restaurant and Bar 3405 34th St N, St. Petersburg
Then – 2007 Chateau Soho 516 S Howard Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Luv Child 516 S Howard Ave, Tampa
Then – 2008 Crest Business Center 3601 W Swann Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Olivia 3601 W Swann Ave, Tampa
Then – 2007 Side Bern’s 2208 W Morrison Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 Haven 2208 W Morrison Ave, Tampa
Then – 2008 Vacant building 100 4th St S, St. Petersburg
Now – 2022 Park & Rec DTSP 100 4th St S, St. Petersburg
Then – 2008 Wachovia Securities 1501 W Swann Ave, Tampa
Now – 2022 On Swann 1501 W Swann Ave, Tampa
On Swann.