Pepe’s Cantina Mexican Grill is expanding in Pinellas County, with a second location planned for Seminole.

Following the success of its first Tampa Bay location in St. Pete’s Historic Kenwood neighborhood, the Central Florida-based restaurant will open at 7756 113th Street Suite E, taking over a former Maple Street Biscuit Company space in Seminole City Center.

The new location is expected to debut in July.

“We’ve seen such a positive response to our location in St. Pete,” managing partner Jose Acosta said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “We get so many guests who come in from Seminole, and they’ll now have a location to visit closer to home.”

The 2,800-square-foot space will feature a bar with seating for about 12 guests, along with booths, high-top tables, and an outdoor patio with lounge-style furniture, bringing total capacity to around 130.

“People can expect a similar design as the existing Pepe’s locations, but with this larger space, we’ll be able to add more decor and detail,” Acosta said. “We’ll also have outdoor dining and a lounge area with love seats, which is a first for Pepe’s. Guests can stay a little longer and enjoy a drink.”

A new restaurant is bringing the feel of a French seaside café to Pass-a-Grille.

Cafe Riviera, a French bistro and bakery, is preparing to open at 116 8th Avenue, just steps from the beach and next to Grace, a popular modern American restaurant.

The concept takes over the former Paradise To Go space, which previously operated as a takeout-only spot.

Owner Veronica Alfonzo is reworking the small footprint into a full-service restaurant with indoor seating and an open kitchen.

“It’s going to be a full-service restaurant with seating and an open kitchen where you can see your meals being prepared,” Alfonzo said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “Before, it was just takeout. We want to create more of an experience.”

The café will have approximately 20 seats, with Alfonzo also exploring the possibility of adding outdoor seating in the future, pending city approval.

Alfonzo brings several years of experience in French cuisine, having worked in the restaurant industry for about seven years, including at a well-known French restaurant on Anna Maria Island.

A new neighborhood coffee shop is in the works in Central Oak Park, with two first-time operators hoping to create a laid-back, community-driven space just outside the bustle of downtown.

Crooked Cup Cafe is expected to open this July at 4130 5th Avenue North, in the former home of Tasty Treats Bakery.

Owners Sidney Mrak and Vanna Thackrah are currently renovating the roughly 800-square-foot space into a cozy cafe with an outdoor patio.

“We want it to feel like a home away from home,” said Thackrah in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “A place where people can come every day, hang out, work, and really feel like part of something.”

The location, tucked into a pocket of Central Oak Park, played a huge role in developing the concept.