St. Petersburg’s resident curd celebrity is finally putting down roots. Mozzarella Mike, the cheesemaker known for selling out pop ups across Tampa Bay, is going brick and mortar with Mozza Paninoteca, an Italian-inspired cafe and shop headed to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street N. The spot will center on fresh stretched mozzarella, handheld Italian sandwiches, a compact retail selection of pantry goods and a small, carefully picked wine list, landing on a stretch of MLK that keeps adding cozy neighborhood bars and shops.
The move became official in an announcement on May 22, 2026, as reported by I Love the Burg. The outlet notes that Mozza "will feature sandwiches, fresh stretched mozzarella, wine, and Italian goods" and confirms the concept will take over the former Little Llamas space at 2319 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N. Owners Mike and Tiffamy told the site the permanent home feels like the payoff for years of hustling through pop ups, classes and catering gigs: "This has been a dream for us for a long time, and it honestly still doesn’t feel real."
What to Expect at Mozza Paninoteca
The plan is a tight, mozzarella-forward menu that keeps things simple and craveable. Look for house-stretched mozzarella as the headliner, stacked into toasted panini and other handheld Italian sandwiches, with a small market counter stocking Italian pantry staples and a modest lineup of wine by the glass and bottle. The setup is designed for daytime lunch crowds and early evening neighborhood regulars, with some grab-and-go options for anyone sprinting back to the office or home.
From Pop Ups to a Permanent Spot
Mike and Tiffamy have been quietly building a following one cheese pull at a time. Their brand grew through cheese-making classes, catering and a string of quick sell-out collaborations with other local businesses, which they credit with making a storefront possible. I Love the Burg points to events like the Mozzarella Mike x Stew’s Bagels collabs as the kind of early buzz that helped fuel demand for a permanent home.
Where It’s Going
Mozza is set to slide into the former Little Llamas storefront at 2319 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N, an address listed on the children’s boutique’s own contact page. Coverage by St. Pete Catalyst further ties Little Llamas to that spot on the MLK corridor, which is now handing the keys over to fresh mozzarella and panini.
MLK Corridor Momentum
Mozza’s arrival adds one more neighborhood hangout to a corridor that has been steadily filling in with local operators. Nearby, Golden Isles Brewing at 3000 Dr M.L.K. Jr St N and other ventures like 86 Wine Bar have helped reshape this stretch into a low-key hub for drinks and bites. Business details from Golden Isles Brewing and area listings show a growing cluster of food and drink spots that Mozza will soon join.
The owners have not locked in an opening date yet. For now, they say they will keep fans posted on buildout progress and hours through their usual channels as they get closer to opening the doors.
