Ferrell Alvarez is a culinary superhero. If Tampa were to assemble its own foodie Avengers, I’m pretty sure he’d be the city’s version of Iron Man or Thor. Rooster & the Till remains one of the best restaurants in the state, and Nebraska Mini Mart has evolved into an essential hangout spot in Seminole Heights. Add to that Gallito at Sparkman Wharf, Tampa’s outdoor dining and events hub.
Alvarez just announced that the taco joint is expanding. Gallito will open in The Joinery, a modern food hall debuting soon in Lakeland. Another Tampa favorite, King State Coffee, named the best coffee shop in Florida by Food & Wine, will also open in the food hall.
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The two Tampa treasures will be a part of a sprawling roster of food options that includes a space for handcrafted ice cream, a craft brewery, and Neapolitan Pizza.
This new food hall in Lakeland is at least in its soft opening stages. Instagram stories from both Alvarez and King State show that the vendor stalls are ready to serve customers.
The Joinery space and location look stunning, too. Guests enjoy stunning views of Lake Mirror along 640 E Main Street.
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This expansion complements the recent growth of The Hall on Franklin. Tampa’s first food hall will debut a similar concept in St. Petersburg’s dynamic EDGE District in 2020, as well as Orlando.
While original food hubs are expanding beyond Sparkman Wharf, new tasty concepts are preparing to debut there. The minds behind St. Pete’s renowned Il Ritorno will open an Italian restaurant, Semolina, at the waterfront food court in 2020.
Blind Tiger also stepped in as the key coffee spot at Sparkman.
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