A new Cuban and Puerto Rican-influenced restaurant called Coco’s In the Heights is aiming to fully open by the end of October in Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood, taking over the old Nebraska Mini-Mart building at 4815 N Nebraska Ave. The project comes from Carlos Carrillo and Adam Hendricks, who are betting the neighborhood’s appetite for good food will match the community’s reputation.
According to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, the menu will lean on sandwiches including the Tampa Cuban, the O.G. Cuban and the Midnight Special, alongside bowls, tacos, loaded tostones, salads and empanadas. All of the sauces are made from scratch, with frozen product limited to the chicken tenders and fries. Kids will have their own options too, including a Cuban grilled cheese and a two-taco kids meal alongside tenders and fries.
Drinks on offer will include Cuban coffee, fountain sodas, Spanish soda, draft and craft beer, bottled beer and wine, per the same report. A dessert menu is also in the works, though specifics haven’t been detailed yet.
A Big Renovation for a Long-Running Address
The building has quite a history. Nebraska Mini-Mart closed at the site in March 2025 after more than six years there, known for its burgers, according to the outlet’s earlier reporting. Before that, the same address served as a drive-thru convenience store that was later renovated into a largely outdoor concept complete with shuffleboard, bocce courts and ping pong tables, as Tampa Bay Times reported at the time. Nashville hot chicken concept King of the Coop also had a short run at the corner.
Now it’s Coco’s turn. The renovation is expected to cost about $100,000 and will include new furnishings, tiles for the air-conditioned indoor dining area, bathroom and kitchen improvements, umbrellas, shades, lighting and palm trees, the report notes. The team also plans to expand the parking lot by adding 12 spots, bringing the total to 24.
Hours, Halloween Plans and a Foodie Reputation
Once open, Coco’s In the Heights will run Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., the same account states. The restaurant is categorized as Latin American, Puerto Rican and Cuban. To mark the season, the spot plans a lawn movie screening on Halloween night from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Carrillo told the outlet that Seminole Heights is a foodie town and neighborhood, and said the restaurant aims to be community-driven and community-focused. Coco’s already has locations in Palmetto Beach and East Tampa, giving the Seminole Heights spot a built-in identity to lean on as it settles into its new home.
