Datz Introduces CBD Doughnuts; Prepares For St. Pete Opening

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Soon, Pinellas County residents won't have to travel across the bay to get their Datz fix.

Restaurant owners Suzanne and Roger Perry say the new St. Pete Datz at 180 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg, is preparing to open its door "very soon." While an official opening date hasn't been announced, Datz held open interviews last week for restaurant staff members, indicating the opening is imminent.

The St. Pete eatery, to be located next to the year-old James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, will feature the same menu as its flagship location at 2616 S. MacDill Ave. in South Tampa which routinely has lines of hungry customers waiting outside the door.

This isn't the Perrys first foray into St. Pete.

Last October, the couple opened upscale smokehouse, Dr. BBQ, in the trendy Edge District, 1101 1st Ave. S ., with the doctor himself, Ray Lampe, award-winning barbecue pit master, television personality and former executive chef at Justin Timberlake's Southern Hospitality restaurant in New York City.

Suzanne and Roger Perry also own the made-from-scratch bakery Dough at 2602 S. MacDill Ave. and the New Orleans-style Cajun and Creole restaurant Roux at 4205 S. MacDill Ave.

The Perrys took Tampa's food scene by storm in 2009 when they opened their South Tampa Datz restaurant featuring larger-than-life gourmet sandwiches and burgers like Roger’s Rockin’ Reuben and the Cedar Plank Shimburger, artisanal cocktails and an extensive craft beer menu.

Since opening, the award-winning Datz has been featured on Good Morning America, Travel Channel, Food Network and The Cooking Channel.