{"id":365331,"date":"2026-08-07T14:24:08","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T14:24:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/365331\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T14:24:08","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T14:24:08","slug":"red-mesas-mercado-west-closes-this-month-in-st-pete-after-less-than-a-year-in-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/365331\/","title":{"rendered":"Red Mesa\u2019s \u2018Mercado West\u2019 closes this month in St. Pete, after less than a year in business"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"ASt. Petersburg\u2019s Mercado West Credit: mercadoeats \/ Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Less than two months after Red Mesa Cantina abruptly and dramatically closed<\/a> in downtown St. Petersburg, another Red Mesa concept is closing its doors.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter much thought\u2014and ultimately a very sudden and difficult decision\u2014we have made the decision to permanently close Mercado West.\u201d The company wrote in a statement<\/a> posted to social media.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe worked hard to adapt the concept, but after months of trying, it was no longer sustainable,\u201d the statement reads. \u201cWhile economic challenges certainly played a role, we recognize that those challenges and our own economic risks are part of being business owners. We gave it everything we had, but unfortunately, it wasn\u2019t enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mercado West, which opened last fall two years after it was announced<\/a>, 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite Mercado West\u2019s closure, Red Mesa Group said its remaining restaurants, Mercado in the Edge District and the original Red Mesa Restaurant on 4th Street N, will continue operating.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope you\u2019ll continue supporting them and the many locally owned businesses that make our community special,\u201d the company wrote.<\/p>\n

To mark its final days, Mercado West announced a farewell \u201cliquid-ation sale\u201d featuring discounted drinks through its final day of service.<\/p>\n

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This article appears in Aug. 06-12, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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