El Cap, Voodoo Brewing, Herban Flow, BBQ, Crab Event: Restaurant News

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Here's the latest restaurant and bar news in the St. Petersburg area:

Pittsburgh-Area Voodoo Brewing Opening Fourth Street Location

Voodoo Brewing Company, which launched in the Pittsburgh area in 2005, is opening a new brewpub in St. Petersburg soon.

Voodoo is currently hiring for its first-ever Florida location at 220 Fourth Street N.

The brewery has 15 locations either open or coming soon, according to its website. While most are in Pennsylvania, Voodoo also has spots in Nevada and Tennessee.

In a Facebook post, Voodoo said its brewpubs are modeled after European beer halls, rather than “a typical bar with cheap beers, shots and TVs.”

The company added, “Instead, we focused more on delicious, thought-provoking beers, food and cocktails, as well as community and human interaction … We always envisioned our brewery to be larger than the liquid. We wanted to combine beer with art, food, music and community, to create a space for everyone that couldn’t be easily replicated, and we thought Voodoo was a great word to capture that spirit.”

In addition to artisan beer, Voodoo also serves hard seltzers and slushie seltzers.

Part of El Cap Restaurant Sold to New Owners

After the retirement of El Cap restaurant’s operating partner, Tara Mattiacci, earlier this year, she and the restaurant’s remaining co-owner, Cindy Nally, put Matiacci’s half of the business for sale.

Local hospitality group Seed & Feed Hospitality, which also owns Mandarin Hide and Trophy Fish, bought 50 percent of the iconic eatery, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

“After more than 20 years, it is with warm wishes that I have decided to retire as an operating partner of El Cap. The time has come for me to pass the El Cap torch on to another St. Pete native who will carry on the tradition for many years to come,” Mattiacci wrote in a Facebook post. “The new partners are born and raised in St. Pete and have all been coming to El Cap for 40 years+. They have every intention of keeping El Cap operating as it has been for decades and providing more efficiencies for the business and staff. This was a difficult decision. However, after meeting with new partners and learning their long history in St. Pete and the hospitality business, I am more excited than ever for the future of the El Cap!”

Those behind Seed & Feed say they want to see El Cap continue to flourish.

“We see El Cap as an iconic institution,” said Ryan Griffin, of Seed & Feed Hospitality. “I remember going there when I was a kid.”

Non-Alcoholic Shop Herban Flow Opens in St. Pete

Herban Flow, which sells various non-alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, spirits, and those infused with kava, kratom, THC and more has opened in St. Petersburg.

The shop is open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 6848 22nd Ave. N.

Beer, BBQ & Crab Cookoff Planned

The first annual Beer, BBQ & Crab Cookoff & Vendorfest during the Saturday Morning Shoppes takes place Saturday, 2 to 6 p.m., at the Grand Villas, 3600 34th Street.

This free event features food trucks and barbecue, arts and crafts, boutiques, teen and children vendors, line dancing and more.