Southern Fresh Carves Niche Amid Downtown Dining Scene

Opening a new business under any circumstances can be a challenging endeavor. 

But starting a new restaurant in a small downtown district teeming with eateries in an economy that’s still recovering can be downright daunting.

That didn’t discourage Aaron Stewart when he decided to open Southern Fresh back in September, and now his place is one of the more popular restaurants in Safety Harbor. 

“I’ve been in the restaurant industry for 16 years, it’s what I’ve always done and what I know,” the 33-year-old told Patch last week. “So I decided it was time to take a shot with my own place.”

“It’s been tiresome, for sure, but at the same time very rewarding.”

Stewart’s confidence comes from his concept, which is simple, but when done properly, very effective.

The Safety Harbor native has taken his old family recipes – including his grandmother’s signature Southern fried chicken – and crafted a limited but well-balanced menu, one that’s light on quantity but high in quality.

And Stewart stresses that just because they’ve got ‘southern’ in the name and fried chicken is the go-to dish, they’re not just serving deep-fried, unhealthy fare.

“We’ve got soups, salads and a grilled salmon entree, and we’re about to add a fresh fish program featuring non-mainstream fish like Amberjack,” he said. “So we’re not just about unhealthy foods.” 

“But of course our fried chicken is our most popular item.”

That popularity dates back decades, to when Stewart’s mother and grandmother cooked it for the family as well as the kids in the neighborhood, many of whom now come in the restaurant with fond memories of the dish.

Stewart believes it’s that kind of connection to the community, plus the comfortable atmosphere at their homey Third Avenue location, that helped make Southern Fresh a success right out of the gate.

“We’ve built a lot of great relationships with a lot of businesses and people in town,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of great restaurants with different themes here. If we all work together, it’s a bigger draw for downtown.”

“That’s been the coolest thing since we opened, the partnerships we’ve formed and the relationship we have with our guests,” he added. “It brings a new dimension to my job every day.”

Southern Fresh

Address: 122 3rd Ave. N.

Phone: 727-216-6341

Hours: Tue - Thu, 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Fri, Sat, 11 a.m. - 11 p.m. Sun, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Mon, closed

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