Restaurants go out of business all the time, but it's kind of weird to see a successful one close.
When Rio Bravo on Dale Mabry Highway closed last month, it was a bit baffling. It was popular for happy hour and saw standing room only crowds on Cinco de Mayo.
Rio Bravo officials confirmed the restaurant was a moneymaker but said they received an offer for the property they couldn't refuse. A company representative would not say who bought the property or what their intentions may be.
Word on the grapevine is that the property's new owner will build an Italian restaurant on the site. Italian? An intriguing choice given that Carrabba's, Donatello and Maggiano's are all in close proximity.
So, what big-money Italian restaurant should we look for? Bucca Di Beppo? They already have a location on Dale Mabry, but it's closer to Carrollwood. Olive Garden has nothing in the area but seems to favor the 'burbs.
Or maybe this will be the site of Eddie DeBartolo's latest venture. His TuscaBella Grill & Patio Bar on Anderson Road went up for sale in June, but the DeBartolo Property Group is searching for another Tampa location. Could this be it? Stay tuned.
Speaking of Maggiano's, the Italian restaurant at WestShore Plaza will serve spaghetti and meatballs on Aug. 13 to more than 80 children at Kid's Cafe, a program of America's Second Harvest Food Bank that provides free and prepared food and nutrition education to hungry children.
The restaurant will also hold its second Best Italian Meatball Contest later this month to benefit the organization. Ten finalists will be selected and will challenge each other in a cook-off at Maggiano's.
The winner will receive a trip for two to Napa Valley, Calif., and the recipe will be featured as a menu special at Maggiano's. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the winning meatballs will be donated to America's Second Harvest of Tampa Bay.
I'm happy to report I'll be among the judges and let me note: Everyone should consider me for food contests.
Oh, wait a minute. Here's an eating contest I have to pass on. On Saturday at 11:30 a.m., local media personalities will compete for the title of King Grub by eating chocolate-covered ants and crickets at Channelside's IMAX theater. Moviegoers will donate dollars to the celebrity they believe will win, and donations will go to the Christmas Wish Fund of WRBQ-FM 104.7 host Mason Dixon. The promotion is tied to the new film Bugs! 3D.
While Maggiano's made a point to include me, the new Brandon Krispy Kreme passed me over for a doughnut eating contest.
How dare they?
After all, I am the reason Brandon has been gifted with a Krispy Kreme. Yes, shortly after I lamented that we didn't have a place to get those sugary gems, Krispy Kreme announced it was opening in Brandon. Any thought that Krispy Kreme might have had plans to target a community of more than 200,000 before I wrote my column is simply an attempt to detract from my growing sphere of influence. I am the man. Just ask my 2-year-old.
Yet when contestants chosen from the Brandon Chamber of Commerce's elite membership sat down for a doughnut showdown at Tuesday's grand opening, I was on the sideline. Colleagues might suggest I had a last-minute chance to enter and chickened out. I'll sue if they go public.
Why in the world would I want to miss a chance to cram doughnuts over a three-minute span, go on a mind-numbing sugar rush and possibly get sick in front of a bunch of people?
Luckily, the Times was represented by Brandon advertising director Eric Myers, who trained for a week by inhaling 10,000 calories a day and went out and wolfed down eight doughnuts to beat five other contestants.
In case you're wondering, Eric did have a glazed look on his face after it was all over.
