King State, The Mill, Sonata, Dairy Inn: Restaurant News

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

King State Opening Soon

King State — a coffee roastery, brewer and restaurant that originated in Tampa — will open its new location in St. Petersburg’s historic Harlan Hotel at 15 8th Street N. on Dec. 12, according to St. Pete Rising.

The company’s founders, Anberlin drummer Nate Young and Underoath lead guitarist Tim McTague, launched King State in 2019 and signed the lease for the St. Petersburg location during the COVID-19 quarantine nearly three years ago.

The downtown St. Pete location, which is neighbors of the new COhatch co-working space in the same building, has a kitchen six times the size of its Tampa counterpart and will offer a larger menu.

A grand opening party, taking place at the same time as COHatch’s grand opening, takes place Friday from 4 p.m. to “late,” according to the King State Instagram page. No food will be served that evening, only alcohol. DJ Justin Depth will play music from 4 to 7 p.m. with Alien House going on at 8 p.m.

Restaurant at Mahaffey Theater Opens

Sonata, a new restaurant celebrating coastal cuisine and Southern hospitality, opened Dec. 1 at the Mahaffey Theater.

The new eatery offers “a harmonious blend of the three arts — theater, culinary and visual,” according to a news release.

The elegant dining space has a sense of theatrical ambiance and features artwork from Trish Duggan of Imagine Museum and other local artists.

Sonata is open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday, 4 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m.

Lawsuit Filed Against The Mill

The Mill and its owner, Jason Griffin, are being sued by Synovus Bank for defaulting on a loan for the restaurant, according to the Tampa Bay Business Journal.

The bank filed the lawsuit on Nov. 29 and is suing for more than $75,000, which the restaurant allegedly owes on the loan.

The original loan, acquired in February 2020, was for $145,930, reports said.

The restaurant at 200 Central Ave. closed in January because of damage to the building from ongoing construction.

Iconic Dairy Inn Closes After More Than 7 Decades

After 76 years in business, the Dairy Inn at 1201 Dr MLK Jr. Street N. has closed.

Though the iconic ice cream shop is listed as “permanently closed” on Google, its Instagram page bio said, “Relocating. Look forward to updates.”

Wicked Cantina Expands into St. Petersburg

Wicked Cantina is expanding north into St. Petersburg, according to St. Pete Rising.

The local Mexican chain opened its first restaurant on Anna Maria Island in Bradenton Beach in 2014 and later opened a Sarasota location just outside downtown in 2017.

The new St. Pete restaurant will open at 3650 Tyrone Blvd. N., which previously housed a Sonny’s BBQ, in January.