The restaurant industry has never been easy, but the last couple years created a whole new host of challenges. While plenty of new and exciting concepts popped up in 2021, this past year Tampa Bay also lost a few iconic bars and restaurants. This is by no means a complete list, but here are all the significant closures we know of.—Stephanie Powers

Iberian Rooster 475 N Central Ave., St. Petersburg Iberian Rooster was a staple in downtown St. Pete since it’s opening a little over four years ago thanks to its three-in-one space with a bar, restaurant—which became Avo’s Kitchen in 2020—and SubCentral, the basement event space. “I’m just really happy to give St. Pete a place that was really special,” owner Russell Andrade told CL.
Coney Island Sandwich Shop 250 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N, St. Petersburg We’re still holding on to hope that this iconic restaurant will reopen at some point. It’s hard to imagine a St. Pete without the family-owned hot dog spot run by 85-year-old Hank Barlas—whose father opened what was then-called Coney Island Grill back in 1926.
Brass Tap (Pinellas) 2438 Tyrone Blvd N, St. Petersburg The beer-centric chain closed it’s only Pinellas location, at Tyrone Square Mall, in February. Not to fret; Carrollwood, Wesley Chapel’s Wiregrass, and close-to-Midtown locations are still open.
Grillsmith (Carrollwood) 14303 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa The Carrollwood location of the national chain closed in May because of fire damage. According to the refined-casual restaurant’s Facebook page, remodeling is in the works but no reopening date is listed.
Fermented Reality Biergarten Sparkman Wharf Strategic Property Partners, which operates Sparkman Wharf, chose not to renew the lease of this mainly-beer spot. A relocation is in the works, but in the meantime their second concept is planned for Seventh Avenue in Ybor City.
Tutto Bene 3038 Beach Blvd S, Gulfport Tutto Bene announced its closure on Facebook as owners Allan and Michelle Bishop decided to pack up shop and move back to Canada. Neighboring restaurant Pia’s Trattoria is taking over the spot, creating a new concept called Pia’s Veranda.
Ichicoro Imoto Armature Works, Tampa Heights It’s a mystery why the Armature location of the popular ramen shop closed—after being with the food hall since the beginning—but it did. Luckily for the “Ramen Army”, the Seminole Heights brick and mortar location is still open.
Moon Under Water 332 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg St. Pete’s British pub-style restaurant closed in February with Ceviche taking its place. Caledon Concepts—which owns both spots as well as Rococo Steak—promised a new location, but nothing has been announced as of yet.
WEPA Cocina de Puerto Rico 2149 3rd Ave S, St. Petersburg St.Pete Puerto Rican spot, located in the Warehouse Arts District, serving up mofongo and whole pan fried snapper closed its doors in July.
Nojaks 305 E Polk St., Tampa Vegan burger joint Nojaks closed in February with hopes of relocation. The same owners, but different team, brought in Supernatural Food and Wine with “mean sandwiches” and Best of the Bay-winning vegan donuts.
Red Star Rock Bar 5210 N Florida Ave., Tampa Opened in 2015, the dive bar across from Ichicoro closed in July. The brand’s two other concepts Red Star Live, restaurant and venue behind Brandon Harley-Davidson, and White Lies in Ybor are still open.
Kojak’s House of Ribs 2808 Gandy Blvd., Tampa Staple Kojak’s House of Ribs, opened since 1978, closed it’s South Tampa doors after getting an offer from developers who will tear down the 1927-built bungalow and put up new apartments. A new location in Seffner, at 1809 S Parsons Ave., is set to open at some point.
Lucy’s Vegan Corner 2462 Central Ave., St. Petersburg Quick-service sandwich-focused spot closed its doors in March, breaking local plant-based hearts. Vegan diner Freya’s opened in the Grand Central space in June.
Cider Press Cafe (Central Avenue location) 601 Central Ave., St. Petersburg This favorite serving up “plant-based comfort food” isn’t closing-closing, just moving down Central Avenue—from its downtown St. Pete location to Historic Kenwood at 3118 3rd Avenue North—by the end of the year. There it will take the form of Cider Press Vegan Gastropub and Patio Bar.
Kuba Cocina @ Armature Works Armature Works, Tampa Heights Kuba Cocina (fka Hemingways) left Armature Works for a new location in Tampa—the original Seminole Heights home of The Refinery—which has yet to open. Fans of the Cuban restaurant can visit the St. Pete Beach location, at 7525 Blind Pass Rd., which opened this year.
Side Piece 587 Main Street, Dunedin The Restorative’s literal Side Piece—a small restaurant focused on paninis inside of Caledonia Brewing—closed in April but in went Cameron Capri’s Q Southern Outpost to the 100-square-foot space.
Ballyhoo Grill 7604 Ehrlich Rd., Citrus Park Citrus Park fish camp staple Ballyhoo Grill closed its doors on Sunday, Sept. 26. Some form of the local favorite has sat at the corner of Ehrlich Road and Gunn Highway since the 1910s.
Brew Bus Brewing in Seminole Heights 4101 N Florida Ave., Tampa For now “the production and offerings of Brew Bus beer will relocate to the new Florida Avenue Brewing Co. facility located in Wesley Chapel.” But according to renderings dated May 17 from Tampa’s Accela Citizen Access site, a new “Brew Bus Brewery” designed by Carbon Architectures is proposed for the vacant building 4315 N Florida Ave. just two blocks away.
Sophia’s Cocina + Enoteca 2363 Central Ave., St. Petersburg Owners Alex and Kelly Rodriguez passed the keys to Nando Silvestri—responsible for Tampa’s Matteo Trattoria & Pizzeria—who turned the Central Avenue spot into his own Italian concept, you guessed it, Matteo’s. The Rodriguez’s still have the cat-themed Sammy + Paco’s cafe and Lolita’s catering business humming along.