BELOVED 4TH STREET NORTH DINING DESTINATION IS ONE OF ST. PETE’S LONGEST OPERATING RESTAURANTS
St. Petersburg, Florida – (Feb. 16, 2017) – Realtor Michael Holmes of Yellowtail Commercial Realty has announced the sale of Babalu Restaurant, located at 9246 4th Street North in St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay residents Chip and Laurie Pitts ran one of the oldest active operating restaurants on North Fourth Street for over 30 years. Loyal customers will be happy to hear their beloved St. Pete institution, offering a casual restaurant and bar with an “all American menu,” is still operating as a hot spot “north of downtown” under new owners Abuhamra and Sears. Babalu’s is open daily. The number is 727-576-7414.
Babalu has a rich history in St. Petersburg and has been serving guests since 1946 from an unpaved, two lane road and initially launched as a “drive up” food stand. Early renovations included a screened porch in 1947. A wine and beer bar was added, and the location became known as a popular gathering spot and pizzeria in the 1950s before the main restaurant was expanded in 1955. In the 1970s, loyal customers enjoyed playing pool and embraced the casual and popular menu items. By 1986, the menu slowly expanded to include over 100 items and a full liquor license was added. Smoke fish spread has always been a popular item, and is still made fresh daily. Ribs made from their own smoker and Caribbean Shrimp are award-winning menu items. Babalu is truly a Pinellas County local dining destination “where everybody knows your name” continues the tradition with the new owners.
Babalu restaurant offers a full bar and encompasses 2,516 square feet at the perfect “crossroads location,” joining North St. Pete and Tampa via the Gandy bridge. In addition to the popular menu items from burgers and “World Famous Jumbo BABALU Wings” to grouper nuggets, menu additions will be announced including a daily breakfast starting Feb. 20th from 6 am to 11 am. The popular weekend Bloody Mary bar embraced by locals for decades begins at 9 am on Saturday and 11 am on Sunday. Entertainment options are in the works and customers are invited to enjoy weekly Karaoke on Wednesdays. Renovations are underway and a grand re-opening will be announced for March.