Pacific Wave closes its doors in St. Petersburg

For eight years its been one of downtown St. Petersburg's most beloved fine-dining restaurants. Owned for six years by Peter Tanhnavong and then the past couple by Dan Smith, Pacific Wave ceased operation on Saturday night.

"This has always been a tough spot, but it's a couple of blocks from BayWalk. With BayWalk's troubles, it's now a couple blocks from nothing. Obviously, the economy has taken a huge toll. This has been an absolute tailspin summer," says Smith. "We were down 30 percent this September from last September."

Twenty-three people are out of jobs, including Smith: "I have no idea what I'm going to do."

For years, Pacific Wave's proximity to American Stage and its menu of sophisticated but traditional sushi and sashimi, as well as Japanese- and Pacific Rim-inspired cooked dishes, made it a local favorite for a date-night outing. With polished service, elegantly presented dishes and suave cocktails, it was also a reliable destination for office parties and special events.

With more than 70 percent of consumers saying they have changed their dining-out habits in light of protracted economic woes, it's inevitable that some restaurants will feel the pinch. It's a shame that downtown St. Petersburg has lost this venerable and stylish dining destination at 211 Second St. S.

For Smith's part, he'll miss his regular patrons.

"I had the absolute best customers in the world. I really did."

La Maison Gourmet in Dunedin to close Saturday

After 12 years, chef John will be closing shop at La Maison Gourmet (471 Main St., Dunedin). He says: "To blame it on the economy would be only partially true. To blame it on my health would also be only partially true. To blame it on the slowest time of the year would also be only partially true. However, all these factors combined to make it impossible to continue without additional capital."

He's going to be open the rest of the week trying to sell as much food, wine, fixtures, furniture, patio furniture and stuff as possible. So head over (cash purchases appreciated) and have a little nosh this week to help him out (and to get some good bargains).

John, good luck in your next venture!

Zurritos in St. Petersburg closes tomorrow

Zack Gross, chef/owner of Z Grille, will fold his Zurritos concept (affordable tacos, burritos and such) into his Z Grille menu. Bottom line: The rent at 269 Central Ave. was too high. According to Gross, at $4,200 for 1,200 feet, it just meant selling too many tacos to stay in the black. He's been losing money the past six months and the landlord was unwilling to renegotiate the lease to reflect current economic conditions.

Gross has been considering taking a space in BayWalk, and in fact had signed a letter of intent recently on one of the vacant spaces, but rumors about another imminent closure at BayWalk (in addition to the Gratzzi closure last week), caused him to reconsider, despite a promising deal with the management of the dining/entertainment complex.

"I'd been in the Central Avenue space for 4 1/2 years. My rent started at $2,600 and increased to $4,200 over the course of time. My lunch business recently at Zurritos has never been better--the problem is dinner. In the past year and a half it's gotten worse and worse, to the point that the only busy evening is First Friday. That part of Central Avenue is a nightmare."

At his 150-seat Z Grille (104 2nd St S), he will add the more casual Mexican dishes at Zurritos prices. In fact, Gross just Tweeted: "New menu Monday. The return of tacos and burritos for lunch and steak and goat cheese enchiladas, also chicken and bacon waffles."

So what does this mean for BayWalk if in fact another restaurant pulls out? The complex will be left with only two restaurants and a whole lot of empties. According to Amy Engster who does public relations for BayWalk, there may be help on the horizon. In addition to Gross's letter of intent, two other vacant properties have had parties express interest recently. Word is, one of the Tampa Bay area's most established restaurateurs is considering setting up shop.

Still, many restaurateurs are hesitant to consider taking on a huge BayWalk space until the mayoral election--downtown and BayWalk restaurants' future will surely be impacted one way or another by the city's next mayor.

Gratzzi in St. Petersburg to close Sept. 12

It looks like BayWalk will lose another restaurant on Saturday. According to manager Aaron Van Dora, director Dominic D’Angelo has said that "if nothing shy of a miracle" happens, Gratzzi will close its doors on Sept. 12. D'Angelo is not available for comment today, but I hope to talk to him about what the future holds for the space and the 20-25 employees.

Still, it's not all doom and gloom for BayWalk. I've been hearing some rumblings about a couple new restaurant projects gearing up for the complex. More on that as soon as I'm able to wrangle anything on the record.

Restaurant openings and closings

A couple closures:

Pastinos at 1750 Clearwater Largo Road in Largo closed Sunday after 13 years in business. Also, Water’s Edge Fine Dining in Spring Hill on Cortez Blvd has closed.

Opening:

The Living Room restaurant is open at the former location of the Deli News Café at 680 Main St., Dunedin in a setting that used to be a gas station. 

On the horizon:

A hibachi-style restaurant is supposed to be going into what was to have been the Hip Hop Soda Shop location on 4th Street in St. Petersburg.
  
The owners of Bellini restaurant in downtown Dunedin are opening a second location on Cleveland Street near Myrtle in the former home of Fiore’s Gourmet deli. It is to be called Casanovas.
 
Looks like there's movement at the Shells location on Clearwater beach by Sand Key bridge. Will let you know when I know more.

Buffalo Steakhouse may reopen near Pinellas Park not far from Quaker Steak and Lube at 10525 U.S. 19 N. The original concept at one time had 250+ locations in Europe.  
 

Fred Fleming's closes

Both Fred Fleming's locations (4351 4th St N, St. Petersburg and 1111 N West Shore Blvd # 200A, Tampa) have disconnected phones and there's a sign at the St. Pete location saying the business has closed. Grillmarks Bistro at 607 Clearwater-Largo Rd. in Largo, on the other hand, has a disconnected phone but their website says they will reopen in October.

St. Petersburg restaurant comings and goings

There's a lot of action right now (some good, some less so: see here).

YOGURT SPOT: I spoke with a nice young guy named Steve Schuler yesterday. He's coming from Washington, D.C. soon to open a third location of something called Mr. Yogato. It's a fun-loving hangout (board games, a vintage Nintendo) for the newfangled super-healthy, super-tart yogurt. They have two basic flavors and rotate out other stuff, from hazelnut-chocolate to strawberry. He's not saying exactly where they're going, but it will be downtown in St. Petersburg.

PASSAGE TO INDIA: Green Chili Indian Bistro (310 Central Ave.) started doing a traditional all-you-can-eat buffet on July 24, in addition to the Bombay-style menu it has been doing since its opening. But get this: A sign just went up in the space that was Leafy Greens and The Kitchen before that at 409 Central Ave. It seems India Grill, which had been dark for a while, is coming back to downtown St. Petersburg. So there will be an Indian food smorgasbord.

NEW ON 4TH STREET: Judy Stark reports that the people who used to run the Brown Dog have opened a new restaurant: L'Moe's, on Fourth Street N next to Pepin's. (is that pronounced Elmo's?) She says good things about the chicken and dumplings.

SAD NEWS: City Cafe & Marketplace seems to have bitten the dust at 3238 4th St N, St Petersburg. No one there and no answer at the phone number.

Romano's Cafe opens, Alberto's closes

I just learned about a new Greek restaurant in New Tampa just south of County Line Road. Welcome Romano's Cafe (20685 Bruce B. Downs), owned by Kostas Vretas, a longtime Temple Terrace restaurateur. Affordably priced gyros, pitas and more substantial entrees; lunch and dinner six days a week; and a complimentary glass of wine. 

After 14 years of business in Oldsmar, Alberto's Restaurant has closed its doors, disconnected the phone and put up a note to loyal customers on its website. It will be missed.

Wild Shrimp closing Saturday

I'm sad. Wild Shrimp Company owner James Walton called me today to say that the little stand near Haslam's will be shuttered on Saturday. Business just dropped off, which is a shame (just read what was good about it here). Creative Loafing had a hilarious farewell blog post here about the closure. It seems Wild Shrimp staff sent CL staff a love-ya gift basket. Fine, whatevs, I didn't get a basket, but even more miff-inizing is the fact that, after my singing Wild Shrimp's praises, Mr. Walton did not say this to me at the end of his call: "PS. We love you guys. Please schedule an orgy with our two staffs. Sincerely, J.W."

Fine, I know the features staff at the St. Pete Times is probably a little droopier and sturdier around the middle than that at Creative Loafing, but that doesn't mean we're not orgy-worthy. Heck, there could be a Hotties of the St. Petersburg Times calendar. Well, it might have to skip the months that don't end in "y."

Whataburger closes 14 stores in Central Florida

I just read on our very own business blog that 400 Whataburger employees will lose their jobs as Whataburger pulls out of Central Florida. Too bad for Sean Daly, as Whataburger came up No 5. on his top five fast food joints here. It seems he's a gentleman of many culinary obsessions and fears (don't get him started on the evils of celery--it's at least an hour-long harangue, I tell you).

Anyway, back to Whataburger. It was founded in 1950 as roadside stand selling 25 cent burgers out of signature orange and white wood A-frame restaurants. I've got to admit it right here and now, never had a Whataburger. But it got our office talking about the relative merits of In-N-Out Burgers, Five Guys and Fat Burger. I guess I'd take Five Guys' fries, but In-N-Out's burger.