TheBayConnection For people who work and play in Tampa Bay

Bahama Breeze to open second Tampa Bay area location [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine 6 days ago

Christine said: "Bahama Breeze Island Grille plans to open a second Tampa Bay area location at the Westfield Brandon shopping center this fall. The new resta...

Hardee's wants as many as 88 more Tampa Bay locations [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine 13 days ago

Christine said: "CKE Restaurants Inc. said it is looking to expand its Tampa footprint of new Hardee's restaurants in the Tampa Bay region over the next s...

Melting Pot teams up with Gluten Intolerance Group [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, April 29 2012

Christine said: "The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. is partnering with the Gluten Intolerance Group for the annual Chef to Plate Gluten-Free Awareness Campaign...

Report: Starbucks to stop using beetle-based dye [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, April 22 2012

Christine said: "Starbucks Corp. will discontinue use of a red dye made from crushed beetles, The Los Angeles Times reports. The coloring product was used to...

Infusion Brands, Elysèe Cosmetics ink European distribution deal [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, April 15 2012

Christine said: "Infusion Brands International in Clearwater has signed a distribution agreement with Elysèe Cosmetics, a cosmetics manufacturer based in Ver...

Top burger contest to benefit Tampa Riverwalk [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, April 08 2012

Christine said: "Executive chefs from restaurants around Tampa Bay will vie to create the "Best Burger in the Bay" at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park on May 4. ...

Carmel Café & Wine Bar plans new restaurants [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, April 01 2012

Christine said: "Carmel Café & Wine Bar has announced plans to expand in the Sarasota/Bradenton area and to open its first freestanding location in South Tam...

Giant McDonald’s cup makes splash at St. Patty’s event [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, March 25 2012

Christine said: "A Bay area advertising and marketing agency took things a step further at the city's St. Patrick's Day festival last weekend, creating some ...

Top 7 of the List: Restaurants, based on violations [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, March 18 2012

Christine said: "In the March 16 print edition, the Tampa Bay Business Journal ranks the top restaurants by fewest critical violations. Here, you'll find som...

First Watch launches new menu after research [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, March 11 2012

Christine said: "Breakfast, brunch and lunch restaurant chain First Watch has launched a new menu with 15 new items including omelets, sandwiches, skillet...

Publix posts year-end earnings increase [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, March 04 2012

Christine said: "Publix Super Markets Inc. reported net earnings of $1.5 billion for 2011, up from $1.3 billion for 2010. Earnings per share were $1.90, up f...

Golding, PropertyPro team up for lease activity [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, February 26 2012

Christine said: "Clearwater-based Stuart S. Golding Co., a shopping center and office real estate firm, has selected Tampa-based PropertyPro to lease its 1.5...

Food Network's 'Heat Seekers' features Bay area eateries [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, February 19 2012

Christine said: "EATS! American Grill in Tampa, Crabby Bill's Seafood in Indian Rocks Beach and Nitally's Thai-Mex Cuisine in St. Petersburg appeared on a...

Original Hooters location to reopen Feb. 13 [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, February 12 2012

Christine said: "The original Hooters restaurant in Clearwater will reopen on Feb. 13 after a full-scale remodeling effort that began last year. The "New ...

Bob Evans to update Bradenton location [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, February 05 2012

Christine said: "Bob Evans Restaurants plans to renovate a Bradenton restaurant as part of an initiative to "refresh" certain locations in 2012. The restaura...

Baristas casting reality show [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, January 29 2012

Christine said: "Baristas Coffee Co. Inc. (OTCPK: BCCI) will hold an open audition to cast a television reality series featuring the company's employees. The...

Closing of Zack Street retail space leaves site’s future unknown [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, January 22 2012

Christine said: "TAMPA - A small strip of retail space is closing in downtown Tampa, and no seems to know what to do with it. The First Presbyterian Church l...

Cake sculptor to appear at Festival of Chocolate [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, January 15 2012

Christine said: "Cake sculptor Paul Joachim, winner of the "Food Network Challenge" episode called "Extreme Alien Cakes," will appear at the Festival of Choc...

Saladworks on track to open three Tampa area stores [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, January 08 2012

Christine said: "Fresh-salad restaurant chain Saladworks has signed a franchise agreement to open three stores in the Tampa area. Franchisees Calvin Ruc...

Bill Allen steps down from OSI Restaurant board [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, January 01 2012

Christine said: "A. William Allen III, chairman of the board of directors of OSI Restaurant Partners LLC, is resigning from the board effective Jan. 1. Allen...

Winn-Dixie shareholders attempt to block sale with lawsuit [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Saturday, December 24 2011

Christine said: "A dissident group of shareholders would like to put the brakes on Bi-Lo LLC.'s purchase of Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. A group of Winn-Dixi...

Winn-Dixie grant program to benefit Tampa Bay area charities [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, December 18 2011

Christine said: "The Winn-Dixie Foundation plans to invest roughly $1.4 million to provide services in neighborhoods across the Southeast U.S. through partne...

Baristas Coffee preps Tampa espresso stand [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, December 11 2011

Christine said: "Baristas Coffee Co. Inc. has begun remodeling a location at 3603 W. Gandy Blvd. in Tampa with a goal to open for business on Jan. 23. The do...

Chef Jeannie Pierola will do her fourth pop-up restaurant in Tampa [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, December 04 2011

Christine said: "Have a heaping helping of the head scratcher du jour: Just-opened Knife & Co. on Kennedy Boulevard is about to cede its space to pop-up rest...

Whole Foods to sell Mote caviar in Florida stores [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, November 27 2011

Christine said: "Whole Foods Market will carry Siberian caviar produced by Mote Marine at its aquaculture park. The caviar will be sold in Whole Foods' 16 st...

MacDinton’s to open St. Petersburg location [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, November 20 2011

Christine said: "MacDinton's, a South Tampa Irish pub and restaurant, plans to open a second location in St. Petersburg in mid-December. The St. Pete MacDint...

Knife & Co. names Allison Beasman executive chef [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, November 13 2011

Christine said: "Allison Beasman was named executive chef of Knife & Co., a Tampa restaurant serving Southern fare that opened about five days ago. Beasman r...

Retail spots reshaped by companies that know their demographics [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, November 06 2011

Christine said: "Storefronts can be like stages - full of props and action one day, empty and awaiting new players the next. In their pure state, stripped of...

Halloween, with a twist [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, October 30 2011

Christine said: "Americans pump a lot of money into Halloween food, costumes and decorations - an estimated $6.86 billion this year, according to the Nationa...

Burger 21 to open location No. 2 [restaurants]

New Topic posted by Christine on Sunday, October 23 2011

Christine said: "Fast-casual burger and shake restaurant Burger 21 will open a second location at 11777 North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa on Oct. 23. Read...