![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Cocos-In-The-Heights-Annalise-Mabe.png\")
Coco\u2019s In the Heights in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 29, 2026. Credit: Annalise Mabe \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\nCoco\u2019s In the Heights in Tampa, Florida on Sept. 29, 2026. Credit: Annalise Mabe \/ Creative Loafing Tampa Bay<\/p>\n
OPENINGS\/CLOSINGS<\/p>\n
New restaurant Coco\u2019s In the Heights plans October opening at Tampa\u2019s old Nebraska Mini-Mart <\/a><\/p>\n On any given weekday morning at 4 a.m., Tampa\u2019s working class queues up at Coco\u2019s Sandwich Shop<\/a> in Palmetto Beach, often decked out in reflective workwear, to fuel up for the day. A ten-minute drive away, more get in line around 6 a.m. at the Coco\u2019s on 40th Street<\/a>. Carlos Carrillo and Adam Hendricks think Seminole Heights could be just as devoted. Last Tuesday morning, Carrillo and Hendricks laid on a few more coats of bright blue paint at their new location, Coco\u2019s In The Heights, located at 4815 N Nebraska Ave.<\/a> The address once belonged to Nebraska Mini-Mart, which closed in March 2025<\/a>. Hot chicken concept King of the Coop has a short run<\/a> at the corner, and an Orlando restaurateur had plans for a food truck park<\/a> that have apparently fallen through. Now the Coco\u2019s team\u2014operating a nearly 40-year-old Tampa food scene staple\u2014is putting on the finishing touches, aiming to fully open by the end of October.\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Annalise Mabe and Ray Roa<\/p>\n Here are renderings of Matilde, a new Mexican steakhouse coming to downtown Tampa<\/a><\/p>\n A few months ago, local restaurant group Next Level Brands<\/a> announced the coming of its latest concept to downtown Tampa, \u201can elevated coastal Mexican steakhouse,\u201d called Matilde<\/a>. This week, the company behind popular local spots like Boulon Brasserie, Forbici Modern Italian, and Union New American, released a few renderings of what guests can expect before Matilde\u2019s spring 2027 debut.\u00a0 Named after co-founder Andrew Wright\u2019s Colombian grandmother, Matilde will be the company\u2019s fifth concept, and is currently under construction in a 7,600 square-foot space on the ground floor of the AER luxury condo building at 300 W Tyler Street, which is adjacent to the Tampa Museum of Art and the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts. Built in collaboration with Atelier Z\u00e9bulon Perron (AZP), the renderings a reveal a contemporary design with 25-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, as well as seating for 195 guests indoors and 92 outdoors, along with a 40-person private dining room and a 50-seat bar. \u2013\u00a0Colin Wolf<\/p>\n Pete\u2019s Bagels will move into former Good Intentions space in St. Pete<\/a><\/p>\n It came as a bit of a shock last summer when St. Pete vegan restaurant Good Intentions announced it was closing<\/a> after four years, but the space will soon have another popular tenant.\u00a0\u00a0On Sunday, Pete\u2019s Bagels said it was clearing out of its current space at 2361 1st Ave. S, and moving four blocks down the street to the old Good Intentions building at 1900 1st Ave. S.\u00a0\u201cWe love our building at 2361 (and have had so many memories there over the last 6 years); however, the building itself has structural damage, and we have been straining to grow in it,\u201d wrote the company on social media<\/a>. \u201cWe need something that allows us to grow over the next decade and allows us to be the true community hub that we want to be.\u201d Good Intentions responded to the post, writing \u201cWe are SO HAPPY that our beloved space is going to be in such good hands. Excited for new Pete\u2019s!\u201d \u2013\u00a0Colin Wolf<\/p>\n FOOD EVENTS<\/p>\n Taste of the Beaches, offering $10 dishes and drinks at Pinellas restaurants, returns this month<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s now a chance to sample the beach restaurant scene, $10 at a time. Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber has announced Taste of the Beaches<\/a> a nine-day event featuring more than 50 restaurants from casual staples like Indian Rocks Beach\u2019s Coco\u2019s Crush Bar (offering crab cake sandwich with a side and the boozy Orange Crush drink) to fancier spots like Clearwater Beach\u2019s Shor (serving its fried conch and snapper tostada). Tickets, which are $10 each, are available at four locations: Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber office in St. Pete Beach, Wyne on Indian Rocks Beach, or and the Smith & Associates and NextHome real estate offices in St. Pete. \u2013 Ray Roa<\/p>\n MORE WEEKEND FOOD EVENTS <\/p>\n Fall Y\u2019all Festival Saturday, Oct. 3. 11 a.m. No cover. Coachman Park, Clearwater. saucyqueen.com<\/a><\/p>\n Freedom Fund Dinner<\/a> Saturday, Oct. 3. 6 p.m. $145. JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, Tampa. naacphillsborough.org<\/a><\/p>\n Piertoberfest: Oktoberfest Celebration Saturday, Oct. 3. 11 a.m. No cover. St. Pete Pier, St. Petersburg<\/p>\n Cars + Coffee + Donuts at Lucky Tigre w\/Spaddy\u2019s Coffee\/Supernatural Donut Factory\/EZ Auto FL Sunday, Oct. 4. 9 a.m. No cover ($5 per raffle entry). The Lucky Tigre, Tampa<\/p>\n Sips, Spirits & Sunday Football<\/a> Sunday, Oct. 4. 12 p.m. $49. Renaissance Tampa International Plaza Hotel, Tampa<\/p>\n See the full list of food events here. <\/a><\/p>\n Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.<\/a><\/p>\n Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us:\u00a0Google News<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0NewsBreak<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Reddit<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Facebook\u00a0<\/a>|\u00a0BlueSky<\/a><\/p>\n This article appears in Oct. 01 \u2013 07, 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n \t