Jerk Hut Archives - Creative Loafing Tampa

A historical monochrome half-length portrait photograph of Marcus Garvey, leader of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and self-proclaimed "Provisional President of Africa," taken by the Keystone View Company. Positioned center frame turned slightly to his right, Garvey looks directly at the camera with a calm expression, featuring short dark hair and a light mustache. He wears a dark three-piece suit over a white collared dress shirt and a dark patterned necktie, with a small round pin attached to his left suit lapel, set against an indoor office background featuring a dark wooden desk.

Jamaican Independence Day is this weekend, and you know Tampa Jerk Hut is celebrating

Have you ever heard of Marcus Garvey?

by Ray Roa July 30, 2026July 30, 2026

Most of Florida’s more than 311,000 Jamaicans live south of the Tampa Bay area, but that’s not stopping locals from celebrating Jamaican Independence Day. Following more than three centuries of British rule—and through hard wars, rebellion and movements led by the likes of Paul Bogle and Marcus Garvey (pictured)—green, gold and black became the Caribbean […]

A smiling man wearing glasses and a white button-up shirt stands next to an open vehicle door and holds a sign that reads: "OUR MOST IMPORTANT TO DO LIST: ENJOY YOUR LIFE, HELP OTHERS" against a city street backdrop.

Andrew Ashmeade built Tampa’s Jerk Hut into a celebration of Caribbean culture—and he’s looking to expand

He opened the first Jerk Hut on N Nebraska Avenue in 1993, and currently operates four locations between South Tampa and the university area hotspot.

by Emily McLaughlin November 5, 2025November 5, 2025

Exterior view of a bright yellow and turquoise restaurant building named "JERK HUT," with tall palm trees lining the front patio and a blue sky overhead.

Owner of Tampa restaurant Jerk Hut is collecting items for hurricane-ravaged Jamaican

Andrew Ashmeade joined forces with CANDU and the Caribbean Cultural Association to accept donations at the Jerk Hut location on E Fowler Avenue.

by Chris Young and WMNF News November 3, 2025November 3, 2025

Tampa Jamaican restaurant Jerk Hut remodels and moves Fowler Avenue location

Right across the damn street.

by Jenna Rimensnyder September 2, 2019August 5, 2025

Weekend Platter: Italian wine sampling, Beginner Pickling Class and more

CL’s weekend food and drink picks include a tap takeover and Italian reds and whites.

by Angelina Bruno August 12, 2016August 3, 2023

Jerk Hut gets cooler with bigger downtown quarters

Tampa’s Jerk Hut Downtown Café will move to its new home on Franklin around early February.

by Meaghan Habuda January 14, 2015July 27, 2025

The Food Issue: Staff tastes too

Not to be left out, CL’s amateur eaters list the dishes they can’t forget.

by CL Staff June 11, 2014December 27, 2023

Downtown Tampa Dining Guide: RNC Edition

So hungry you could eat an elephant? Try one of these restaurants.

by Arielle Stevenson August 22, 2012August 3, 2023

Cheap Eats (College Guide Edition): Ricky P’s Po’ Boys, Tun-Du-Ree and The Jerk Hut

by Brian Ries October 21, 2009July 26, 2022

FROM THE STREET (Mud Wrestling and Cadillacs)

by Tampa Promotions May 27, 2008July 10, 2025