Mrs. Thelma’s Southern Cuisine, a new restaurant serving fried chicken, smothered pork chops, collard greens, candied yams, and other soul food staples, is preparing to open near the corner of Central Avenue and 49th Street in St. Pete.
The restaurant, located in a 1,200-square-foot space at 119 49th Street South, is expected to debut in late summer or early fall.
St. Pete native Cornicole Rollins-Holt will operate Mrs. Thelma’s with her husband, Melvin. The restaurant is named after Melvin’s late mother, Thelma, an avid home cook who dreamed of opening a restaurant of her own.
The Holts plan to honor her legacy by creating a welcoming neighborhood restaurant centered around homestyle cooking and Southern hospitality.
“Mrs. Thelma’s is one of those places where we want to offer that homey, cozy feel,” Cornicole said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “When we say our motto is ‘Just Like Mom’s,’ I want it to feel like you’re walking into your family’s house when you’re at the restaurant. As soon as you walk in, the smells will take you back.”
The menu will feature fried and baked chicken, smothered pork chops, turkey wings, meatloaf, candied yams, collard greens, cornbread, and black-eyed peas.