The crew behind Michelin-starred Rocca is crossing the bridge into Pinellas County, bringing its first restaurant there to downtown Clearwater. The group is planning a casual American spot called Rippers in the fully restored Telephone Building on Cleveland Street, built around deep-fried “ripper” hot dogs plus burgers, wings, sandwiches and handcrafted milkshakes in a family-friendly, walk-up setting.
The restaurant is set to occupy the ground-floor space at 534 Cleveland St., part of a larger coordinated restoration of Cleveland Street, according to a press release from Cleveland Street Alliance. The announcement describes Rippers as a casual counter dishing out American classics with both dine-in and takeout service. Tampa Bay Business Journal reports that the new tenant could open by the end of the year.
Historic building shaped the concept
For CEO Nick Reader, choosing Cleveland Street was “about far more than opening another restaurant,” he said in the announcement. Culinary Director Bryce Bonsack told the organization that “when we walked into that space, we were immediately drawn to it” and that “the building and the concept simply belonged together,” according to Cleveland Street Alliance. The team said the historic character of the space helped steer both design ideas and menu choices for a laid-back neighborhood eatery.
Restoration and downtown strategy
Built in 1914, the Telephone Building was reconstructed brick by brick and modernized with a new internal steel frame and upgraded systems as part of a multimillion-dollar restoration, the City of Clearwater says. That rehabilitation is one of the early visible wins in a broader push to reactivate Cleveland Street, and Rippers is the first restaurant tenant publicly announced for the restored building, local reporting notes. TBBW Magazine says the arrival adds momentum to the corridor’s redevelopment.
From Michelin fine dining to casual counter
Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality, the group behind Rocca and other Tampa concepts, is leading the charge. Rocca is listed by the MICHELIN Guide, so the move brings a chef-driven pedigree to a no-frills menu, a contrast that could broaden dining options along Cleveland Street. Background on the restaurant and its team is available on Rocca's site along with local coverage of the group’s expansion.
Timing and what to expect
Coverage of the announcement notes that no firm opening date is set yet, and details on hiring and any soft openings are still to come. According to Tampa Bay Business Journal, the tenant could be open by the end of the year, although no calendar or reservation details were included in the materials. Local leaders and developers say leased storefronts and approachable dining concepts like this help build the steady foot traffic needed for larger entertainment projects planned along the corridor.
Whether Rippers turns into a go-to lunch counter, a family-friendly evening stop or both, the project is an early test of Cleveland Street’s ability to support chef-driven and casual concepts side by side. Expect more details on hiring, reservations and an official opening date as the interior build-out wraps up.
