Restaurant Recap of Past Year
For those who haven't followed the original blog string on Ybor Pizza, it has indeed changed into the Copa Cabana Cafe. That makes 2 locations within blocks of each other, as the other one is located at Florida Ave. and Osbourne Ave.
I personally have never eaten there, so I can not attest to the food. I have gone in the orginal location, but opted not to dine there do to a large parrot cage they had by the front door; complete with large parrot and a mound of it's splattered droppings underneath it. The "Monk" in me questioned the place's cleanliness, so I moved on.
I think the parrot is gone, as I don't see it on my daily drive-by on the way to my house. Perhaps other's were saying what I thought on my visit.
I do wonder how a place like that, which rarely opens at the 7am opening time that's posted -- and rarely seems to have customers inside -- has been successful enough to expand to 2 locations. It's a very unusual model for business success.
Is there any other restaurant news in the last year to add to the following recap?
1) Coffee Bean Cafe now Copa Cabana Cafe
2) Viva la Frida's now Rincon Catracho
3) Ybor Pizza now Copa Cabana Cafe
4) Empty building now Cappy's Pizzeria
5) Stephano's Pizzeria now closed
6) Empty lot now Starbuck's
7) Part of auto repair shop now Merino's Italian Deli
8) Martha's Kitchen is up for sale.
9) Seminole Heights Bakery now Seminole Heights Bakery and Café
10) Panera Bread rumor still an unconfirmed rumor
11) 6401 Nebraska Ave. rumored to soon be a Sports Bar similar to Hooters
12) Warners is rumored to be turning into a Sandwich Shop and Liquor Store
13) Bahia Cafe has expanded into an adjoining storefront (according to 1 blogger)
14) Forever Beautiful's adjoining restaurant is still being built with no set timeline for opening
61 comments:
Stephanno's Pizzaria and Italian Eatery will reopen at the end of April. Please watch for our grand opening.
We are looking for three to four people that our dependable and take pride in their appearance and their work. Come have fun working with our team at Stephanno's. Please call 813-232-9486 or John Butler at 813-846-6417.
Have you ever been to South America? If you had, you would understand the "business model" the owners of the Copa Cabana Cafe are using.
Stephanno's Pizzaria and Italian Eatery will reopen at the end of April. Please watch for our grand opening.
We are looking for three to four people that our dependable and take pride in their appearance and their work. Come have fun working with our team at Stephanno's. Please call 813-232-9486 or John Butler at 813-846-6417.
We ate at the Copa Cabana at Florida and Osbourne yesterday before the home tour. I have to say the experience was not stellar. First, the waitress told us there were no menus. She pointed to a board on the wall with a small breakfast menu, and said the rest of the food was in the buffet style cases on the side. We just wanted a sandwich. Scott spotted a worn paper menu and looked at it. He asked the waitress if they had the cuban sandwiches which were listed on the front. She said they did, indeed have that, but nothing else on the menu, as they had decided to change the food they offer. So, we ordered one cuban to split, and our friend ordered breakfast. No napkins or silverware appeared. There was a napkin dispenser on the table that held those tiny little thin napkins that you have to use ten of to accomplsih the task. After our food arrived, Scott had to get up and get a fork, so our friend could eat. The food was good and the portions adequate. The price was fair, but they'd be better off making it a self service place.
THey are following the Hops on Dale Mabry model. One across the street from the other.
Ah the Copa, another player in the mediocre to poor world of Seminole Height restaurants.
Let's dance in celebration!
Strike up the band Barry!
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl
With yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there
She would merengue and do the cha-cha
And while she tried to be a star, Tony always tended bar
Across a crowded floor, they worked from 8 till 4
They were young and they had each other
Who could ask for more?
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....they fell in love
(Copa Copacabana)
His name was Rico, he wore a diamond
He was escorted to his chair, he saw Lola dancin' there
And when she finished, he called her over
But Rico went a bit too far, Tony sailed across the bar
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
There was blood and a single gun shot
But just who shot who?
continued below...
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At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....she lost her love
(Copa. . Copacabana)
(Copa Copacabana) (Copacabana, ahh ahh ahh ahh)
(Ahh ahh ahh ahh Copa Copacabana)
(Talking Havana have a banana)
(Music and passion...always the fash--shun)
Her name is Lola, she was a showgirl
But that was 30 years ago, when they used to have a show
Now it's a disco, but not for Lola
Still in the dress she used to wear, faded feathers in her hair
She sits there so refined, and drinks herself half-blind
She lost her youth and she lost her Tony
Now she's lost her mind!
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana (Copacabana)
The hottest spot north of Havana (here)
At the Copa (CO!), Copacabana
Music and passion were always the fashion
At the Copa....don't fall in love
(Copa) don't fall in love
Copacabana
Copacabana
Ella's,,,,,,,,,,,,(not named after our host's dog) has cleared their lot at the SE corner of Nebraska and Shadowlawn. Ground should be breaking in six weeks!
I know the coffee bean is now the copa,,,,,,,,,,,Ybor is the same?
#9 Seminole Heights Bakery.
The restaurant part of it is actually called "Estrella's". Great little family-owned business. Food good, portions plentiful, great prices, really good pastries and really close to the BEST deviled crab this side of Havana! Not to mention they keep regular business hours and the place is spic & span!!!!
#12 Warner's Building.
There is a big sign that says BUILDING FOR AUCTION March 27th. The date has passed, but the sign remains. Did the building sell, or what?
I would say that plans for that sandwich shop and liquor store have been scrapped. No tears shed here ... Estrella's is across the street!
We were at Warner's on Saturday and the man there told us the people who bought their building and intended to put in a bar, weren't able to follow through with their plans. I believe code intervened. They did auction the place off last week, at a great loss, but no word on who the new owners are.
There can be no new stand-alone bars in Seminole Heights. The code requirements for distance from residences, churches, and parks eliminates every single lot in the area.
A restaraunt/bar -- yes. Pure bar, no. (and that's a shame) Add that to the list of blue laws protecting our good, God-fearing (or else!) citizens.
What about the old Spinaker Pub, which looks like it used to be a Pizza Hut but is now just a (latin) bar and package store on Florida Ave.?
Grandfathered in?
God how I would love to have a nice bar in the area to go to and belly up.
"God how I would love to have a nice bar in the area to go to and belly up."
Agreed!
I'm with you on that!
What about the Blue Seas seafood - north of Sligh on Nebraska?
Does anyone know what is being built on the west side of Fl. Av., one block north of Osborne?
Devil Crabs are NOT Cuban. They are very unique to Tampa!!
Anon 9:50
That is the A/c repair that was there in the old tin building -building a new shop location.
anon 10:23
Could you back that up with some references.
Anywhere there's a coastline is going to have crabs and the spanish have great seafood dishes.
I can't belive no one did a devil crab before someone in tampa thought it up.
The bar is Recuerdo's at the corner of North and Florida. The owner, Juan Carlos, is a really cool guy and I've tried to convince him he should target Anglos as well as Hispanics.
He does good business on the weekends but he could do so much more if he put in some pool tables and made the bar more appealing to a broad cross section of people. He sounds interested when I give him the pitch, but it never happens.
I think it is ridiculous more restaurants/bars haven't opened in the hood, especially on the heels of Starbuck's success. There is lots of disposable income waiting to be spent.
Very strange.
Strange indeed. And the fact that 3 run down latin places -- Rincon and 2 Coppa Cabana's -- have taken over Viva's (latin, but not run down), Coffee Bean/Rigos and Ybor Pizza makes me worry we're in line to be a suburb of Armenia Ave.
Not to mention the two remaining nice sit down restaurants, Cappy's and Front Porch Grill, have among the worse service in Tampa Bay. (How is it that S.H. restaurants can't draw good wait staff????)
Somehow, it feels S.H. is losing ground in the battle for community serving businesses.
Even in this so called "down market" there are at least four bungalow renovations going on within a 1/4 mile radius of my house.
The money continues to come in on the residential side, what in hell is wrong with the commercial/service side?
Is it b/c there is no available land/buildings. At some point the market has to override that right?
I'd say it's part zoning and the nearly impossible code requirements triggered when use changes, part lack of commercial pioneers(with the exceptions of current entrepreneurs) who are willing to come into the relatively blighted commercial corridors we have, and part unrealistic valuations from the current commercial property owners. I forget what they were asking for Sunny Days but it was ungodly high. There is also resistance to chains(which I am glad of) and many mom-and-pops just don't have the capital to start up in this market.
Quick!! Someone complain about the amount of Latin restaurants in a predominately Latin community! You know you want to!
I don't think latin restaurants are the problem. I'll take a Columbia, Estella's,
Ceviche's or even a Pipo's in our neighborhood any day. I think it's the cleanliness and even the service (which is often not only poor - which IS in line with the rest of SH's non-latin restaurants - it's sometimes borderline hostile to gringos).
As for SH being a predominantly populated by latins, census stats I've sound seem to contradict that:
RACE
White 64.31%
Black 28.10%
Asian 0.80%
American Indian 0.44%
Other 6.35%
Hispanic 30.75%
Anon@9:52 Please cite your references. According to census data neither Seminole Heights nor Tampa in general is Predominantly Latin, in fact far from it. While the percentages have certainly increased since the data was collected, 2005 estimates have Hillsborough county @ 21.2% Latino or Hispanic origin. 2003 estimates for Tampa indicate 19.3% Scott did a more detailed analysis of this topic back in Dec 2005.
The more you know.
Anon@10:14 Those percentages add up to well over 100. Do you have the link from where you pulled the data?
You're right -- my stats don't add up. I guess I'm just a victim of the Pasco County school system.
Mine are obviously wrong. Your's seem more correct, however all you have to do is use your eyes and you'll notice more blacks and whites in SH than any other race.
Here's the link I found my incorrect stats: http://www.bestplaces.net/zip-code/default.aspx?cat=PEOPLE&zip=33603&city=Tampa_FL
Just noticed the problem. The stats from that website said that people could declare themselves Hispanic AND any other race, too. That's why the number's are >100%.
If that's the case though, I would imagine "Hispanic" is skewed even higher than actual goverment figures would indicate.
"hispanics" often also consider themselves "white". It's not uncommon to see statistics gathered for "white, non-hispanic".
IFly did a great job of summing up the major reasons why new businesses don't move in. He left off "lot sizes" though. Chains usually build in a big-box manner which requires lots of up-front parking. (ugh). Though up-front parking isn't much different than the gazillion used car lots we already have, except perhaps the chain link comes down. (hurray).
Oh, and he also forgot zip code. We have a very rotten zip code for attracting businesses that decide based on statstics organized around that measure of geography. This is why Starbucks didn't locate in Seminole Heights until they changed their focus to freeway-offramp traffic. 33604 = Sulfur Springs. We're lumped in with some of the poorest areas of the city and we average out poorly as a result. But again, that mostly affects chains.
Speaking for myself only, the difference between Ceviche and Copas is that Ceviche was built to offer fine tapas to paying customers while Copas was built to offer latin food to latin customers. Both are acceptable business models. One includes me and the other does not. (no yo hablo espanol.) I have experience ordering food in many non-english-speaking countries. I've never been made to feel unwelcome anywhere but here in Tampa in primarily cuban restaraunts. I don't know why, other than my race or my lack of spanish skills.
what is up with all the cuban/spanish/latin "hating" latley?
as for demographics - what is the breakdown of born and raised Tampa vs. moved here from - say another state?
and as for the deviled crab question - deviled crabs are in fact a Tampa invention. If you ask a cuban in Miami what a deviled crab is they have no idea. Do some reading about Tampa history.
I don't care about Miami, post something to back up your claim that deviled crabs are a Tampa invention.
A quick google turned up recipes from Louisiana, Maine, Mass. and I'm sure a longer look would find many others.
There could be two sides to this, but I'm not really taking most of the comments as anti-hispanic. Some are - although somewhat veiled - but definitely not the majority. I'm reading a sentiment that is pretty close to what I feel; I'd like to see a better class of restaurant moving in that would help build the commercial district.
I'm not taking a "not in my hood" stance here, so understand that from the gitgo, but if the area is to come up in the commercial corridors, then the businesses must be a destination. Simple neighborhood support won't do it. I'm disappointed to see more food establishments opening that only maintain status quo.
The obligatory "then why don't you open a place" is soon to follow. I've tried, and for the exact reasons that ifly and others have pointed out, quickly realized that my entire startup and operating budget for the first 6 months would be eaten up in just obtaining property that would be suitable, before taking any construction costs into consideration. $800k just doesn't go as far as it used to.
I've got new plans and will be bringing food to the heights soon and in order to survive I will make it a destination from all points of Tampa.
Until then, I can only shake my head and wish for better.
WOW! You people crack me up!!!
Yesterday I made a comment about Estrella's having one of the best deviled crabs this side of Havana, and now we are having an arguement over where the deviled crab originated. Holy cow, er, rather CRAB, I never meant to assume that deviled crabs came from Havana (or anywhere in Cuba, for that matter) but merely, that about the only places that serve deviled crabs around here predominantly serve CUBAN food.
Lighten up people! Go get yourselves a cup of cafe con leche and a deviled crab and RELAX!!!
Mal
If you build it, we will come.
And I ain't kidding!!!
Dear all of the xenophobic MORONS that post on this blog. 1) The croquette-style devil crabs that you get here are native to TAMPA. They are an invention that came from Ybor City where there was a fusion of the Italian and Cuban cuisine. The blue crabs were caught off of one of the Causeways (anyone who is from Tampa will remember the flock of Tampa latinos to the bay's shore at night with their nets), the meat was mixed with Spaghetti sause. The breading was made from old, stale bread and also mixed with the spaghetti sause. The wonderful product is Tampa's Devil Crab Croquette. If you order a Devil Crab anywhere else in the country you will learn something. 2) Hispanic is NOT a race designation, but rather that of either language, national or cultural IDENTIFICATION. If your last name is Smith, but you come from Mexico, you may identify yourself as HISPANIC. If your last name is Martinez, but you were born here and don't speak any Spanish, you may(or may not) identify yourelf as Hispanic. If you were born in Paraguay, but are of German descent, you may identify yourself as HISPANIC. GET IT?? That's why the race percentages add up to 100% not including the HISPANIC category. Because hispanics can be of ANY RACE. GET IT??
And for all of us "xenophobic MORONS", what race do you consider yourself? We all wanna be like you.
We morons aspire to be condescending elitists like yourself.
Oh, by the way, it's SAUCE, not sause.
Well, at least that's how we white people spell it.
And sorry if we're not all native Tampans. We'll be sure the last one of us non-Tampans to leave turns out the light.
I have driven past a little bar on 15th and somewhere around Sligh or Hanna-- can't remember the name-- something like clubhouse maybe? Has anyone been in this bar? What's it like? I would love to have a neighborhood bar to visit and have some cocktails with friends.
15th and Sligh is the Corner Club. Great place, well it was till all the obnixious new world croud took it over.
......and before that it was a bar where all the neighborhood alcoholics and white trash/rednecks hung out.
Anon@10:01 What part of that conversation implies xenophobia? Why do you feel necessary to use disparaging names instead of just presenting your position calmly? For the percentage part the data to which you refer was presented together, and that is why the source was sought. All too often people throw out phrases like "predominantly Latin" or some statistics without sources and the discussion takes a turn for the worst, because people are arguing over something other than facts. Resulting to name-calling overshadows any relevant contribution you might have to the conversation, which is sad because you appear to have some insight into the issues at hand.
US Census has two distinct questions that capture race and Hispanic origin independently, and usually data is presented accordingly. Most people including Hispanics do make the mistake of confusing the two. The cultural identity and ties to heritage are so strong that it often overshadows national origin, which is somewhat distinct from other groups of immigrants in the country's history. As for the discussion of restaurants, if there were burger joints popping up all over the neighborhood, the discussion would be complaining about them as well. It is not that they're Latin, it's that, of the limited choices of food in Seminole Heights, Latin happens to be the type of food the neighborhood has an overwhelming abundance of locally and would prefer some variety.
The "Corn R Club" is (or was several years ago when I was there last) a beer and wine bar. No booze. It's a relatively easy license to acquire. However, the majority of bar profit is in the harder alcohols.
The Corn R Club is (was?) a pretty filthy place with decades old cobwebs weighed down by coatings of airborne tar and nicotine hanging from the ceiling. It has that "hole in the wall" charm, though, and the people in there are generally nice, even to gayfolk.
They sold the cheapest beer and wine you could buy with MGD being their "hoity toity" selection.
If you bring your party with you, it can be a great place to hang.
White guilt at work.
Latino businesses discriminate against white people and white people are "racist" for mentioning it.
The Corner Club is cool for what it is; a dive. It sortta reminds me of the Tiny Tap circa 1991. I've only been there a few times, but it's definitely a diverse crowd.
Saturday afternoons can be spent rubbing elbows with NASCAR fans, and at the other end of the spectrum there's a semi monthly punk rock night.
Don't expect anything fancy or remotely approaching tasteful, just take it for what it's worth.
If you truly want a dive bar, try the American Legion just north of Sligh on Florida. Enter from the back. It is open to the public. Cheap cold beer, pool table, pretty decent jukebox. The regulars are relatively entertaining. Last time I was there you needed goggles to cut through the smoke. Food consists of microwaved corndogs and white castle burgers. Did I mention it was cheap??
Hey "4/04/2007 7:39 AM" are these "neighborhood alcoholics and white trash/rednecks" the people that were here before you even dared step foot in this "hood"?
Hey "4/04/2007 7:39 AM" are these "neighborhood alcoholics and white trash/rednecks" the people that were here before you even dared step foot in this "hood"?
Anon 3:53 -- that's a tired old cannard.
Before the "neighborhood alcoholics and white trash" were here, there were young, uppwardly mobile families here--just like what you see moving into the area now.
This whole "who was here first" thing is tiresome. Being here first or second or third gives no one any more claim on legitimacy.
ifly: I'll tell you why the disparaging remarks...Because the ignorant remarks that people put on this blog (or anywhere else for that matter) just infuriate me. Especially, when it deals with matters of the world. For someone, in this day and age, to actually not understand that there is not such this as "HISPANIC RACE" is just beyond comprehension. It is not hard to be intelligent in this world given the overwhelming number of information outlets we have. The only reason a human being would not be knowledged sufficiently in today's world is because of ignorance and laziness. And those two things really get on my nerves!
I still would like for someone to explain to me how it was that the owners of the future "Ellas" were able to tear down a wood-framed, bungalow structure in our neighborhood without getting some sort of permission from the City or a variance of some kind. If there was a variance granted, I would like to know how it got passed the Board of Directors of SESH. Does anyone have any answer???????
Hey anon 9:19. I would just LOVE to hear your story of how "latinos" have discriminated against the "whitefolk". Do tell.....
Anon@6:46 Unfortunately the anonymous medium of the blog allows people to behave in ways that they'd be much too ashamed to in person or even if they were just accountable for their words(or at least one would hope.) However, allowing emotions to get the better of you, it comes across as sinking to the level of the ignorant when the attempt should be to rise above it. I'm pretty sure that for the forseeable future, there will always be racists and classists and sexists and "you name it"-ists. The best we can hope for is to educate, inform, and effect positive influence where we can. No one of us knows it all(though some of us might think we do), but we can all learn from each other if we put forth a bit of effort, and respect each other and our differences.
Anon@6:51 I don't know what 9:19's story is, but I'll relate to you an example that is similar to others mentioned on this and other blogs. When Abuela's first opened we visited and attempted to order sandwiches. My Spanish is very rusty, but I speak enough to order basic food. The person at the counter acted as though she did not understand anything at all, and she was not interested in even working with me to get the idea across ie..pointing at the items, or menu or anything. Another person was nearby and they had no interest in helping us either. We asked if anyone else might help and the girl just shrugged. I've spent a bit of time in Baja and not once did the locals snub us for our limited Spanish. They were very understanding and made every attempt to communicate the best way we could. The impression that the folks at Abuela's left was that our patronage was neither needed nor really desired.
anon 6:49
Why would they need a variance?
Are bungalows protected like grand oaks now?
It's not in a historic district, and not protected as such. That structure wasn't all that sound, and the inside was a wreck.
Years ago, one previous owner offered the house FREE for the taking, so long as the taker paid the expense of having the house raised and moved elsewhere. No takers.
I tell you, I did shop at the cuban meat house at central and sligh I think. I am white, the were the rudest people I have ever gone to. However, I am not sure if it was a racist thing, or a comfort level Since they could not speak English, they treated us differently. They were fine with other spanish speaking guest. I just chose to never go back. I don't consider them to be racist. I figure that neighborhoods support businesses like this. If they have enough people speaking spanish, they will remain. If not, they will eventually go out of business and a new company will move in to replace them.
Hey Anonymous 6:46 PM. Just like the radio or TV, if you don't like what you're reading on the blog, then don't visit the blog. It's that simple.
Actually, you are even worse than TV and radio complainers. You have to go to your computer, type in a web address, then choose the entry you want to read comments on.
You are going out of your way to be offended.
Do yourself a favor and stop punishing your high-and-mighty tormented self.
I'm incredibly disappointed in the direction this blog has taken. As someone involved in marketing the business community of Seminole Heights I am appalled at everyone's negative and ugly comments. We all want the same things here. Better restaurants and better retail. Not big stores, but nice places we can go. If I was a business owner doing research online and saw the Seminole Heights blog and the nasty comments many of you have made about our current establishments I certainly would not move my business here. Be careful what you say online because it does affect all of us living and working here.
Anon 6:51:
I go to the Taco Bus. I am greeting by a person with poor but passable english. I speak terrible spanish. But she tries, I try, and I get great food. This is good.
I go to a cuban restaraunt (the one on Hillsborough and Armenia that recently changed hands is a great example). Just moved to Tampa and alread love Mexican cuisine. So I'm itching to learn about Cuban cuisine. It's a buffet style setup, which is common for these types of restaraunts. Nothing is labeled. I ask what things are and no one will speak to me. Now I'm smart enough to know that an older immigrant may not have learned english, but a high-school aged person who was raised here very likely speaks it as a native. When no one, even those that very likely speak english, refuse to, that's discrimination. It's a restaraunt, I'm asking very polite and appropriate questions. The message was loud and clear: we don't want your kind in here. I've gotten this reaction several times from cuban places. I don't know why. I avoid the small ones now and stick with the larger ones that obviously want my business. (I was born and raised in a town with a large latino population. I don't believe my behavior was anything more than eager and curious.)
Two examples. Two totally different responses.
Spanish food is great. Latino's are cool. But is Seminole Heights really a better place if more isolationist businesses open up here?
y'all stoopid.
Anon@10:20 I agree that there is a lot of negativity hidden behind anonymity here, but I doubt an entrepreneur giving due diligence to research for starting or relocating to Seminole Heights would be so easily swayed by a few bad apples. If so they may not have a thick enough skin to be successful in a business that serves the public. Granted the comments on this blog sometimes reflect poorly, it's only a small segment of the blog and the blog is by no means the entire neighborhood, just one visible portion of it in cyberspace. For all anyone knows, much of the negative commentary could come from folks who may not even live in Tampa, much less SH.
To Anon 04/04 6:51
I’m one of those “obnixious new world croud”.
We’ve moved into the Corner Club?
I’m curious as to what an “obnixious new world croud” looks and acts like. “Obnixious” is not a description I would have thought of. Low key, lazy, subdued? These are words I would have thought of but not “obnixious".
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