Ringside, Pesky Pelican, J. Fiore’s, Glamper: St. Pete Restaurant News

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

Ringside Cafe Closes Its Doors

Ringside Cafe, a music venue in downtown St. Pete, has closed its doors for good after 35 years, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Initially located on Fourth Street, it initially closed in 2013 so Trader Joe’s could move into the space. It later moved to Second Street N., not far from Jannus Live, in 2021, and relocated once again in July 2022 to its most recent space at 350 First Ave. N.

“I don’t have anything bad to say. There’s nothing anybody did,” owner Greg Pugh told the Times. “I had a great long time and I’m feeling good about it and moving on. I played with the toy long enough.”

Valhalla Bakery Consolidating with Vegan Donut Shop

Valhalla Bakery is closing its Grand Central District location and consolidating with its donut shop, Valkyrie Doughnuts, just a few storefronts down Central Avenue, the vegan bakery wrote in an Instagram post.

The space at 2462 Central Ave. will move into the donut shop after Feb. 14.

The two businesses will operate “as one unit” and reduce hours of operation to four days a week, owners said.

“Taking this step has been a hard pill for all of us to swallow but it’s no secret that small business is struggling like we’ve never seen before. Post COVID supply issues, ingredients and packaging costs doubling, plus the economy wrecking everybody’s pocket books all play into this,” they wrote.

Upscale Steakhouse Planned for Historic Bank Building

St. Pete Rising offered readers a first look at J. Fiore’s Contemporary Steakhouse, an upscale steak and seafood restaurant, planned to open in mid-2024 at 895 Central Ave., the historic Union Trust bank building.

Fire at Bagel Shop’s Largo Location

There was a fire Wednesday at the St. Pete Bagel Co.’s Largo location, the company wrote on its Facebook page.

The location will be temporarily closed, which means donuts won’t be available at the other shops.

“Everyone is safe and we hope to be back up and running soon,” the company wrote.

Pesky Pelican Closes

The Pesky Pelican Brew Pub in West St. Petersburg closed its doors for good at the end of 2023.

The popular bar closed after falling behind on Small Business Administration and Economic Injury Disaster loans borrowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, owner Dan Pemberton told St. Pete Catalyst.

Owing about $540,000, he used the funds to open a successful catering and banquet business. Thinking he had a buyer lined up, he closed the second company and when the deal fell through, found himself in debt and unable to keep up.

Camping-Inspired Bar to Open Downtown

The owners of Goodnight John Boy are opening a camping-inspired bar, Glamper, at 217 Central Ave., according to St. Pete Rising.

The space, formerly the home of Caddy’s on Central, was slated to become a nautical-themed bar, Nauti Duchess, which has fallen through.