Pom Pom's St Pete

*Photo via Pom Pom's

If you've been following them on Facebook then you've surely fallen into the lure of Pom Pom's artisan sandwiches. Slated for an opening in early August, owner Tom Woodard brings the nationally lauded Pom Pom's concept to the Burg.

*Photo via Pom Pom's 

Woodard fell in love with the food and energy that Pom Pom's Teahouse brought to the city of Orlando and sees an excellent opportunity in the booming culinary culture of St. Pete. Pom Pom's will be located at 2950 Central Ave. 

If you want to whet your appetite further check out this feature USA Today wrote about the Florida favorite. 

Locale Market & Farmtable Kitchen

The Sundial has caused quite an uproar in the Burg. With several high profile businesses set to cause a surge in the St. Pete economy, it seems no spot in the luxury shopping center has received more press than the soon to open Locale Market and Farmtable Kitchen.

Chef's Michael Mina and Don Pintabona bring decades of culinary expertise to their endeavor. Mina owns restaurants all over the U.S. from Southern California to Miami and Pintabona is a former executive Chef for Robert DeNiro's restaurant in New York. The farm-to-fork concept will take up 20,000 square feet of space and cover two floors in the northwest corner of the Sundial.

Expect fresh, locally-sourced ingredients with a decadent bakery and chocolate shop complementing the market seeking to provide healthy and savory options for the St.Pete population yearning for dishes with transparent origins.

The Market is slated to open in early Fall. For the most recent and accurate updates regarding the restaurant, stay tuned to the Sundial's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds. 

Dog Bar St. Pete

*Photo via Dog Bar

The Grand Central District is going to the dogs. Dog Bar is slated to open this Fall, offering a casual spot to enjoy cocktails with your friends while the pups play and blow off steam. With local colleges like Eckerd College providing Pet Graduation for students who brought their furry, feathered and/or scaled partners to school with them, it seems the need for more pet accommodating restaurants has exponentially grown.

From what we've seen thus far, we imagine it will get the Stonewall stamp of approval. Dog Bar is located at 2300 Central Ave. Sit. Stay. Drink.

St. Petersburg Distillery

*Photo via St. Pete Distillery 

St. Petersburg Distillery will be a small batch distillery. Their mission is to craft high-quality spirits with their expertise acquired through generations of dedicated St. Pete artisans.

It's no secret that the craft community in St. Pete is blossoming and the world is taking notice. Master distillers Ted and Henry Kasprow hail from Poland and represent the 3rd and 4th generations of their family to distill quality spirits.

Their website promises their first batch of four craft spirits with vodka. This initial offering will be followed by rum, whiskey and gin. Stay tuned for more information so you know when to look for their handcrafted products on Burg shelves.

Bodega On Central Expands 

*Photo via Bodega

If you're hungry in the Burg, Bodega is the place to go. Just ask Forbes and The Huffington Post. They've been serving fresh Cuban delights and unique soda frescas for a little while in St. Pete now and their burgeoning popularity has warranted an expansion right next door in the spot formerly housing Creative Clay.

The Bodega expansion will feature a soda, smoothie and fresh popsicle bar that will provide the fresh zest that is a requisite requirement for hot summer days in St. Pete. The expansion is set to be ready by early to mid-August. Bodega is located at 1120 Central Ave.  

Banyan Cafe To Open 2nd Location

*Photo via Banyan Cafe

Banyan Cafe & Catering plans to expand its St. Pete reach by setting up shop inside the Morean Arts Center, located at 719 Central Ave. Banyan was founded several years ago and since its inception into the community has provided fresh, made to order breakfast, brunch and lunch delights for the hungry residents of the Sunshine City. 

Banyan hopes to open their second location in early November.

Red Mesa Mercado

*Photo via Red Mesa

If you live in St. Pete then you are familiar with the culinary insignia of Red Mesa. Their restaurants offer the kind of Mexican flavors you can't get anywhere else. The Mercado looks to continue Red Mesa's ingenuity by adding a market and gourmet grab-and-go dining experience to its roster. 

The Mercado will function like a side-street California grab-and-go Mexican restuarant and market. Some of your favorite ingrediants that have zested the Cantina's plates for years will now be available for commercial purchase. The Mercado has been patient in regards to announcing an opening date but tentative plans call for an opening sometime in the Fall. The Mercado is located at 1100 1st Ave N. 

Win Tickets to the Opening of Miracle on South Division Street! 

Miracle On South Division Street will make its St. Pete debut this Thursday night at Bininger Theater at Eckerd College, the Burg's waterfront libral arts school. The play tells "the story of the Nowak family, living amidst the urban rubble of Buffalo, NY’s East Side."

Miracle on South Division Street is put together by A Simple Theatre, the professional theatre company in residence at Eckerd College. The play runs from July 31-August 17. A Simple Theatre is offering one lucky winner 2 tickets to opening night, Thursday, July 31, at 8pm. To enter for you chance to win simply fill out the short form below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow morning.