{"id":365700,"date":"2026-08-07T23:00:16","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/365700\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:00:16","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:00:16","slug":"mercado-west-closing-in-st-pete-pinellas-county-gets-a-shake-shack-and-more-in-tampa-bay-food-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/365700\/","title":{"rendered":"Mercado West closing in St. Pete, Pinellas County gets a Shake Shack and more in Tampa Bay food news"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

OPENINGS\/CLOSINGS<\/p>\n

Pinellas County\u2019s first Shake Shack location will open in Seminole<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite having locations in Hillsborough and Pasco,\u00a0Shake Shack<\/a>\u00a0has not yet expanded to Pinellas County. That\u2019s 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\u00a0St. Pete Rising<\/a>. The Seminole location, at 1165 Park Blvd., joins Tampa\u2019s Shake Shack locations at International Mall,\u00a0Midtown Tampa<\/a>, and\u00a0a drive-thru in Wesley Chapel<\/a>. \u2013\u00a0Ray Roa<\/p>\n

Red Mesa\u2019s \u2018Mercado West\u2019 closes this month in St. Pete, after less than a year in business<\/a><\/p>\n

Less than two months after\u00a0Red Mesa Cantina abruptly and dramatically closed<\/a>\u00a0in 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,\u00a0which 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\u2013\u00a0Liam Oliver<\/p>\n

Fabio Viviani\u2019s Taverna Costale lunch in St. Pete among best food & drink events coming to Tampa Bay
<\/a>
<\/a>Chef Fabio Viviani\u00a0<\/a>has been hosting sold-out cooking demonstrations for a few weeks now, and he continues the practice this weekend at the\u00a0St. Petersburg location of his Taverna Costale concept<\/a>. 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\u2014all paired with libations\u2014don\u2019t be surprised if a meatball makes an appearance. \u201cThere is never an instance that you show up at Costale and you\u2019re not gonna get meatball,\u201d Viviani, a 47-year-old \u201cTop Chef\u201d fan favorite, recently told\u00a0WTSP\u2019s \u201cGreat Day Live.\u201d<\/a> \u2013\u00a0Ray Roa<\/p>\n

FOOD AND DRINK NEWS<\/p>\n

Former owner of Tampa\u2019s shuttered Southern Nights bar sentenced to federal prison after child sex crimes plea<\/a><\/p>\n

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<\/a>, Kowalczyk owned Orlando nightspots Southern Nights, District Dive and Stiffy\u2019s. 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,\u00a0pleaded guilty in an Orlando courtroom<\/a>\u00a0Feb. 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. \u2013\u00a0Chloe Greenberg<\/p>\n

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\n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n

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