TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Alabama Barbecue Is Back

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARK HOLAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

TAMPA - A family barbecue tradition is returning to South Tampa.

BJ's Alabama Barbecue plans to open by mid-June at 3307 S. Dale Mabry Highway, a site formerly occupied by Florida Shed.

The initials are for "Big John" Stephens, the late founder of Big John's Alabama Barbecue on 40th Street, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The new restaurant will be operated by Stephens' daughter April Moreno and granddaughter LaMaria Mathis. Both were involved with Mrs. Campbell's Original Alabama Bar-B-Q, which closed on Gandy Boulevard in 1999 and on North Howard Avenue in 2001.

"I've seen so many of my old customers saying, 'We miss you guys. Come back to South Tampa,'" Mathis said.

BJ's will have some indoor seating and probably a few outdoor tables, Mathis said.

"We will definitely have takeout," she said.

The restaurant will specialize in ribs, chicken, sausage, chopped pork and chopped beef, with an assortment of sides such as barbecue baked beans, potato salad, slaw, macaroni salad, yellow rice, green beans and collard greens.

Prices will range from $6.50 for one meat and two sides to $11.75 for four meats and two sides.

The menu also will include sandwiches, desserts, soda and sweet tea.

There's No Doubt, Bookstore Grows

Just For Heaven's Sake, the Christian bookstore at 4135 Henderson Blvd., has expanded and changed its name to St. Thomas Cafe.

The store's new slogan, "Don't Doubt, Come and See," is a riff on the cafe's namesake, best known for his unwillingness to believe in Jesus' resurrection.

To accommodate the cafe, owner Darlene Yetta added about 350 square feet to the 700-square-foot store she opened in 1996.

The cafe offers coffee, espresso, cappuccino, and lattes, including such drinks as Benedictine mocha (banana and chocolate) and Augustine mocha (almond and chocolate). Prices range from $1.70 to $4.

Sixteen-ounce smoothies are $3.50. Pastries are for sale, and the cafe offers free Wi-Fi.

The store continues to sell Christian-themed books and gifts, including scented candles, crosses and crucifixes.

"We are always adding different and unique products," Yetta said.

The cafe is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For information, call (813) 207-0202.

Latin Flowers On Bay To Bay

Latin Flowers has opened at 3312 W. Bay to Bay Blvd., former home of Town Toiles.

Genevieve Perez and Libia Mahe promise to bring a Latin flair to their floral designs, in part by importing most of their flowers from their native Colombia.

"The idea is also to sell a little Latino-American art," Perez said. "We will share our culture."

The store also sells houseplants. Bouquets start at $8. Delivery costs $5 to $10.

Hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For information, call (813) 835-0252.

Odds And Ends

•The Waterfield Design Group, a planning, landscape architecture and engineering company, has settled into new offices at 4340 S. Manhattan Ave., moving from Bayshore Boulevard. The number is (813) 839-5700.

•La Casa Dolce Cafe, 406 S. Howard Ave., has closed after 21/2 years. "We plan to open additional stores in the future," the owners said in a news release.

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