News Summary
Restaurateur Jeff Gigante is bringing Forbici Modern Italian to the Sundial shopping complex in downtown St. Petersburg, aiming to revitalize the area. The restaurant will retain 90% of its successful Hyde Park menu with local adaptations and feature spacious seating, a vibrant happy hour, and plans for further expansion in the region. Anticipated design features include a sizable outdoor area and a mini-market. This opening promises to enhance the culinary scene in St. Petersburg and attract locals and visitors alike.
St. Petersburg is set to welcome a new dining experience as restaurateur Jeff Gigante, co-founder of Next Level Brands, prepares to open Forbici Modern Italian in the downtown Sundial shopping complex. The opening of this restaurant comes as part of an effort to revitalize the struggling Sundial property, which Gigante refers to as having been a “blight for too long.”
Forbici Modern Italian aims to infuse new life into the area and will retain approximately 90% of the menu from its successful Hyde Park location, with adaptations to include more coastal flavors and seafood, reflecting the local culinary landscape. The new location will have a seating capacity of 400 guests, making it one of the largest restaurants in downtown St. Petersburg. The restaurant will occupy the second-floor space previously held by Sea Salt, which closed its doors on December 31.
The venue’s design will be executed by Zébulon Perron, who has worked on numerous projects for Next Level Brands. Anticipated features of Forbici include a spacious outdoor area, a private event space, live music performances, and multiple televisions for sports viewing. The restaurant will also launch with a vibrant happy hour, designed to attract large crowds and create a festive atmosphere.
In preparation for the opening, plans include staffing measures where personnel from Tampa will assist in the launch while local hires will receive training to ensure thorough integration into the team. Early outreach for staffing has garnered a positive response, signaling optimism for filling positions locally.
The plans for Forbici do not stop at St. Petersburg. In addition to the new location, Gigante has intentions to expand further into the region, including another establishment in Sarasota and additional locations throughout Pinellas County. This is in line with a broader vision to enhance the dining and cultural scene in St. Petersburg, which Gigante likens to being “on fire right now.”
Renovations to the Sundial complex are also on the agenda, which will enhance outdoor seating options and revamp the overall aesthetics of the courtyard area. Forbici Modern Italian will feature an 80-foot bar and a 20-foot-tall wine tower, accommodating up to 300 guests alongside the vibrant design.
New offerings at Forbici include a mini-market selling house-made products and special mini-brunch items during the weekends. The restaurant is recognized for its modern approach to Italian cuisine, particularly its Roman-style pizza that features a 72-hour fermented dough and high-temperature baking, producing a light and crispy crust.
In summary, the opening of Forbici Modern Italian in the Sundial shopping complex represents a significant step towards rejuvenating a key location in downtown St. Petersburg while contributing to the city’s culinary landscape. As the restaurant prepares for its debut, the expectation is that it will draw both locals and visitors alike, enhancing the overall dining experience in the area.
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Additional Resources
- TBBW Magazine: Forbici Expands in St. Pete
- Wikipedia: St. Petersburg, Florida
- St. Pete Catalyst: Forbici’s Expansion Makes Sense
- Google Search: Forbici Modern Italian St Petersburg
- I Love the Burg: Forbici at Sundial
- Google Scholar: Forbici Modern Italian
- Q105: Forbici Plans $5M Expansion
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Restaurant Expansions
- St. Pete Catalyst: Drift Away Courtyard Bar Unveiled
- Google News: Sundial St Petersburg
Author: STAFF HERE TAMPA WRITER
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