It’s hard to realize just how many restaurants will not make it into the New Year. A recent story in the St Pete Patch from Tiffany Razzano had a list of closings and openings, but two that were just announced are not on the list. Today’s Tampa Bay Times story from Helen Freund announced the closing of Dr. BBQ in the downtown St Petersburg Edge District. That was a bit of a shock. Ray Lampe, otherwise know as Dr. BBQ is a friend, and I was excited for this new venture that opened in 2018 with the backing of the Datz Restaurant Group’s Suzanne and Roger Perry. But it is now closed, sold to PTM Partners for $4.5 million according to Helen’s story. The good doctor will continue to be a solid presence on the food scene, but the succulent offerings at Dr. BBQ will be missed. If you also check the Times Food Section, you’ll find more closings that include mainstays like Munches and the Chatterbox in Dunedin.
Another closing appeared in my Facebook feed, posted earlier today from The Corner Store in Plant City. It reads: Thank you Plant City for 15 years! It has been our pleasure to feed you during holidays, birthdays, weddings, funerals, dates and every day lunches! We thank everyone who worked for us and supported us along the way! We couldn’t have done it without you all!!! We are forever grateful for all the memories and friends we made along the way!!! Thank you Jesus for this opportunities we had and the ones to come we could not be more excited!!! The reaction from their fans and supporters are a mixture of sadness, along with hope for the future. I’ve enjoyed a lunch there, and hope they can reemerge some day.
I spent my vacation here in Tampa Bay. Yes, another victim of the Southwest Airlines debacle. I made sure to spend my dollars locally and enjoy some meals out and will share that with you in another blog. But today I’m hoping you’ll also spend your dollars locally and support the ones just trying to keep their heads above water. If you’d like to show your support and let me know who could use a helping hand, just reach at at ann.kelly@cmg.com.
My wish for us all are a New Year that brings prosperity, strength and the support we all need as everyone tries to navigate the new normal and that challenges it has brought us.
WORDS OF WISDOM FROM ANN KELLY’S KITCHEN
Life comes from physical survival; but the good life comes from what we care about - Rollo May
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