Fresh Kitchen is making its South Tampa comeback, with a new Hyde Park flagship slated to open on June 9 after a 2024 fire wiped out the chain’s original SoHo storefront.
The larger restaurant will take over the former Ducky’s Sports Lounge at 1719 W Kennedy Blvd and is being billed as a bright, airy flagship and test kitchen. Fresh Kitchen lists the Kennedy Boulevard address with an opening set for this summer, while the Tampa Bay Times reported the restaurant is expected to open June 9.
Bigger footprint and more parking
Company and contractor notes show the Kennedy Boulevard property sits on roughly a 4,500-square-foot parcel, with about 3,000 square feet becoming the restaurant itself and the remaining space used for a central kitchen and support functions. The project is also set to add more than 60 parking spots, which is a significant upgrade from the tight street parking at Fresh Kitchen's old SoHo location. FOX 13 reported that the SoHo flagship was deemed a total loss after the July 29, 2024 blaze, and TWT Construction summarized the build and contractor details.
Design built for testing and growth
BDG Architects has published renderings that show an open dining room, covered patio seating and an interior laid out to support menu testing and operational flexibility. The firm’s project update frames the Kennedy Boulevard spot as both a neighborhood restaurant and a central test kitchen for the chain.
The opening will be preceded by a June 8 ribbon-cutting with Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and a two-day pre-opening that will donate proceeds to disaster relief through $5 bowl sales, according to local business coverage. In a statement to Tampa Bay Business & Wealth, Fresh Kitchen president Tara O’Neill called the new location “our way of giving back that love” to the community.
Fresh Kitchen, part of the Ciccio Restaurant Group, lists a growing roster of Florida locations and says the Kennedy Boulevard flagship will act as a proving ground as the brand scales. Follow Fresh Kitchen or its Instagram for opening-day details and event tickets.
