St. Pete Bagel Co. Branching Out to Largo

, a staple of the Fourth Street breakfast scene for nearly 25 years, is bringing its award-winning, New York-style bagels to Largo.

The restaurant, which opened in 1987, will open the doors at its new location at , the former home of Gram’s Old Fashioned Donuts, on Saturday morning.

Owner Renata Plevova is anxious to debut the first offshoot of her popular St. Pete eatery in the Largo area, and she has been encouraged by the reception she has already received.

“We had been looking for a new location for about a year,” she said before the grand opening. “We thought about Pasadena, Gulfport, somewhere closer to our other store. But this place feels right.” 

“There are very friendly people here. They have already been stopping in and asking when we are opening," Plevova said. "I live in St. Pete, but I really like it here.”

With the art of making bagels already perfected — the St. Pete store has been recognized numerous times by local publications for its outstanding product —Plevova decided to branch out and add doughnuts to a menu that also includes deli sandwiches, paninis and delicious coffee.

Because the former tenant sold doughnuts in his restaurant, Renata knew the delicious doughy treats would be a natural addition to her menu and a perfect fit for the area.

“Gram used to get bagels from us, and we used to get doughnuts from him. So when this place came available, I knew it would be a perfect fit for our new location … and I knew I would have to sell doughnuts here,” Plevova explained. 

“Most places don’t sell doughnuts and bagels, and since there are no other bagel shops nearby, we felt we would do well here," she said. "But I’m interested to see if we sell more bagels or doughnuts.”

Plevova wants everyone to know she is not jumping into the doughnut business hastily; she has been researching and studying doughnut-making techniques, and she has hired a pair of qualified bakers who will make both old-fashioned cake doughnuts and the modern risen style in a variety of flavors.

“I have been going crazy, Googling and dreaming about doughnuts,” Plevova said. “We’ve never made doughnuts before, so we want them to be the best they can be.”

Address: 11987 Indian Rocks Road

Phone: 727-286-6145

Hours: 6 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday

Opening day special: Every customer gets a free bagel with cream cheese or a free doughnut all day Saturday.