Advertisement

St. Pete's Casita Taqueria expanding into Tampa with Seminole Heights location

 
The courtyard outside at Casita Taqueria at 2663 Central Ave. in St Petersburg features lots of picnic tables. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
The courtyard outside at Casita Taqueria at 2663 Central Ave. in St Petersburg features lots of picnic tables. [DIRK SHADD | Times]
Published March 21, 2017

Popular St. Petersburg taco shop Casita Taqueria is growing across the bay into Tampa, owner Don Arvin confirmed Monday.

Arvin, who opened the original Casita on Fourth Street N in 2011 with his wife Gwen Arvin, said they'd been looking for a place in Tampa for more than a year, and finally found a good fit at 6707 N Florida Ave. in Seminole Heights. It's the same recently-renovated strip of brick storefronts that Revolution Ice Cream and Seminole Heights City Wine Bar moved into in 2016.

"We love the neighborhood and the sense of community there, it's very similar to Kenwood in St. Pete," Don Arvin said.

The third Casita Taqueria is shooting for a late summer opening and will offer the same menu as its St. Petersburg locations with indoor and outdoor seating, he said.

Casita's original location on Fourth Street moved to a remodeled gas station at 2663 Central Ave. in 2014 to make way for Trader Joe's. In 2015, the business opened a second location in its original neighborhood at 2701 Fourth St. N.

The fast casual Mexican restaurant is known for its bright Day of the Dead decor and straightforward tacos served on house-made corn masa soft tortillas that run $2.99 to $3.50 each.