A low-angle outdoor photograph showing the storefront facade of Mercado West in St. Petersburg, Florida. High-mounted on a clean off-white building exterior, large 3D block letters spell out "MERCADO" in bright lime green, casting dark shadows onto the wall face. Below the signage, large glass windows reflect trees under a clear, bright blue sky in natural daylight, with green and yellow decorative balloons visible along the bottom edge of the frame.St. Petersburg’s Mercado West Credit: mercadoeats / Facebook

OPENINGS/CLOSINGS

Pinellas County’s first Shake Shack location will open in Seminole

Despite having locations in Hillsborough and Pasco, Shake Shack has not yet expanded to Pinellas County. That’s set to change soon. The New York City-born chain has plans to add a fourth Bay area location at the Seminole City Center strip mall, according to St. Pete Rising. The Seminole location, at 1165 Park Blvd., joins Tampa’s Shake Shack locations at International Mall, Midtown Tampa, and a drive-thru in Wesley Chapel. – Ray Roa

Red Mesa’s ‘Mercado West’ closes this month in St. Pete, after less than a year in business

Less than two months after Red Mesa Cantina abruptly and dramatically closed in downtown St. Petersburg, another Red Mesa concept is closing its doors. Red Mesa Group announced Wednesday that Mercado West, its Cali-Mex restaurant at 6001 Central Ave., will permanently close later this month, after less than a year in business. Mercado West, which opened last fall two years after it was announced, will remain open through Aug. 16 while the company gives employees notice and works to place staff members at its remaining restaurants. Red Mesa started the year with four St. Pete locations; just two remain as the summer comes to a close. – Liam Oliver

Fabio Viviani’s Taverna Costale lunch in St. Pete among best food & drink events coming to Tampa Bay

Chef Fabio Viviani has been hosting sold-out cooking demonstrations for a few weeks now, and he continues the practice this weekend at the St. Petersburg location of his Taverna Costale concept. Organizers for a weekend lunch at 200 Central Ave. and demo said that guests will get a glass of prosecco and special three-course prix-fixe lunch. While the menu includes a caprese salad, shrimp orecchiette, and tiramisu—all paired with libations—don’t be surprised if a meatball makes an appearance. “There is never an instance that you show up at Costale and you’re not gonna get meatball,” Viviani, a 47-year-old “Top Chef” fan favorite, recently told WTSP’s “Great Day Live.” – Ray Roa

FOOD AND DRINK NEWS

Former owner of Tampa’s shuttered Southern Nights bar sentenced to federal prison after child sex crimes plea

The former owner of two Orlando nightclubs and his husband were sentenced to at least 10 years each in federal prison after pleading guilty to attempted coercion and enticement of a 15-year-old. Husbands Richard Kowalczyck and Eric Patrick have been sentenced to 14 years and 10 years in federal prison, respectively, District Judge Carlos Mendoza announced Friday in federal court in Orlando. Each will serve 10 years of supervised release after their sentences. At the time of their arrest, Kowalczyk owned Orlando nightspots Southern Nights, District Dive and Stiffy’s. He swiftly transferred his ownership over amid his indictment and has had no further involvement with the businesses. Patrick, a former Gotha Middle School teacher, pleaded guilty in an Orlando courtroom Feb. 9 to attempting to entice a 15-year-old, according to his plea agreement. Patrick and Kowalczyk met the teen on Grindr, a dating app geared toward gay men, where the pair exchanged messages with him. – Chloe Greenberg

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