TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Roberto's Becomes Veggie Depot

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARK HOLAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 11, 2008

TAMPA - The former Roberto's Latin Cafe, 5232 S. MacDill Ave., is being remodeled and transformed into Veggie Depot Cafe.

Owner Jerry Fulton said his concept is to mix a high-end lunch and dinner restaurant and smoothie bar with a fresh produce stand.

"It's Hyde Park meets farmers market," he said.

About 75 percent of the 2,000-square-foot building will be dedicated to fresh fruits and vegetables. Customers will be able to pick ingredients for smoothies and salads. Two hot-meal specials will be featured daily for $7, including a beverage.

Fulton said he hopes to open this month.

"We are going to try for July 1; we don't want to miss that July 4 weekend," he said. "We are going to have some type of special to honor the military."

A telephone number for the business hasn't been established.

Summer House Offers Country French Furniture
The Summer House, 3620 S. Manhattan Ave., brings a touch of Provence to South Tampa.

"This is the style furniture you'd see in a summer vacation home in Provence in the French countryside," owner Bonnie Wright said. "It's casual and comfortable."

Wright and her husband, Russ, previously owned the Summer House and the Wee Nooke in Dunedin.

The new store, next to the French Bee, will offer grand opening discounts of 10 to 20 percent Friday through Sunday, along with food and beverages.

Wright said she buys many of her pieces from decorating magazines and from trips throughout the Southeast. She said a casual or rustic piece of furniture can complement formal settings.

"It makes the room very comfortable," she said. "It's a nice mix; it's a balance."

The Summer House also offers upholstery and slipcover services.

Store hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For information, call (813) 831-4740.

Upscale Lounge Opens At SkyPoint

Taps Wine and Beer Merchants, an upscale lounge, opened this week at SkyPoint condominiums, 777 N. Ashley Drive.

"It's something Tampa hasn't seen," said James Pellizzi, co-owner with his New York friend James DeVito. "It's something the city is missing."

Taps has 57 wines on tap by the ounce, the half-glass or the glass. An additional 100 wines are available by the bottle.

Twenty-five beers are on tap, and 275 are available by the bottle.

Don't ask for a Bud; all the beers are imported.

The lounge also features a lunch, dinner and late-night menu, including a lot of sharing plates.

Patrice Knezebic, formerly of SideBern's and Michael's Cafe, is the chef.

Hours will be from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. weekdays and 3 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. For information, call (813) 463-1968.

Opening a new business? Expanding or relocating? Contact reporter Mark Holan at

mholan@tampatrib.com or (813) 835-2102.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT