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Alma at John's Pass closes as owners declare bankruptcy

 
Alma at John's Pass has closed and its owners have declared bankruptcy. The restaurant moved to the beach from downtown St. Petersburg in 2014.
Alma at John's Pass has closed and its owners have declared bankruptcy. The restaurant moved to the beach from downtown St. Petersburg in 2014.
Published June 27, 2015

The owners of Alma at John's Pass in Madeira Beach filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy this week.

Scott and Kristine Vogel, who bought the restaurant when it was called Cafe Alma in downtown St. Petersburg, relocated it to Madeira Beach more than a year ago.

The filing cited their estimated assets were between $100,001 and $500,000 and estimated liabilities were between $500,001 and $1 million. The two had between 50 and 99 creditors.

The Vogels could not be reached for comment, but the restaurant's Facebook page and many Yelp reviews indicate it has been closed since May.

On May 10, Alma posted a notice on its Facebook page for Mother's Day that apologized to its customers for suddenly closing its doors.

"Please believe us that we did our very best to serve and please everyone. As fun as it was we also encountered challenges especially the past year and a half," the post read.

A June 15 Facebook post reads: "Cafe Alma may relocate soon, keep your eyes on this page!!"

"I sure could use a fat spicy bloody mary," was the last Facebook post Alma made on Sunday.

The personal bankruptcy filing, although not directly linked to the closing of Alma, said the debts were primarily business related.

A notice on Wednesday said that their Chapter 7 filings were incomplete or deficient.

Alma specialized in Florida foods, with options ranging from freshly caught fish to its signature Bloody Mary bar. The restaurant was known for a having two sides: one for sit-down, formal dining and the other for casual, flip-flop eating.

Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Cameron Saucier can be reached at csaucier@tampabay.com.