Historic Kenwood gets its first Mexican restaurant
Pepe’s Cantina may be only three weeks old, but for partner and general manager Jose Acosta, it’s the culmination of years at work – and a day at the beach.
Located in the Shoppes at Kenwood at 3118 3rd Avenue N., the St. Petersburg Pepe’s is the seventh location for the fast-growing Florida eatery. Founded in Winter Park in 2015, Pepe’s fuses both traditional and reinterpreted Mexican favorites with speed and preparation techniques that emphasize faster turnaround times on meal orders – 5-7 minutes for lunch and 15 minutes for dinner service.
It’s that recipe that has found success across Central Florida and now, Acosta believes, will in St. Pete.
Landing in St. Pete, the restaurant’s first West Coast location, was no certainty. Acosta and his partners examined a half-dozen Central Florida communities, including Lakeland, when choosing where to launch their franchise. Needing a break one weekend, they decided upon a trip to the Gulf coast. “We came here to St. Pete to go to the beach,” said Acosta, laughing. “And we’re like, ‘What about here?’”
Pepe’s is the brainchild of restauranteur Frank “Pepe” Chavez, whom Acosta first met while serving tables together in Winter Springs. The two became fast friends, and while their careers diverged, they kept in touch. Years later, while running a brewery outside Orlando, Acosta learned of the success Pepe’s was having and the opportunity to launch a franchise of his own. He jumped at it.
“We love the local community. It’s very embracing,” said Acosta, adding that Pepe’s achieved more than 300 reviews with an average rating of 4.9 in just three weeks.
Sandwiched between the leafy craftsmen bungalows of Historic Kenwood and the towering luxury apartments that seem to spring up weekly along US 19, Acosta hopes to serve as an oasis for both neighbors and city-dwellers looking for place for a break.
Trendy decor and a cozy ambiance combine with an expansive menu featuring both classics and Pepe’s specials. It also features an extensive menu of specialty margaritas.
Acosta also noted that Pepe’s is unique in featuring extensive vegetarian and vegan options, which comprise almost a quarter of the food menu. He sources all of the food from Cheney Brothers, a Florida-based, family-owned and-operated distributor.
In time, he foresees Pepe’s will serve not just as a success story for Pepe’s but a home base for additional expansion – first in St. Pete and then in Tampa and beyond.
The restaurant is located in the Shoppes at Kenwood at 3118 3rd Avenue N.
