Construction Begins on Sylvia's Soul Food Restaurant

Sylvia's Restaurant will be opening in October inside the first floor of the Historic Manhattan Casino at 642 22nd St. S.

St. Petersburg city officials, civic leaders and Sylvia's ownership were on hand during a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday afternoon to celebrate the start of construction of the soul food restaurant and the renovation of the Manhattan Casino.

"This is one of the most exciting things that we have going in St. Petersburg and it’s been a long time coming," said Mayor Bill Foster. "(Sylvia's) will be a destination restaurant for all of Tampa Bay."

"It's been a long hard, slog but we’re here and we are doing this," said Larry Newsome with Urban Development Solutions. 

The original, and only other Sylvia's, opened 1962 in Harlem. 

Van Woods, with Sylvia's, said he is proud to bring the community-oriented restaurant made famous in Harlem to St. Petersburg. 

He said bring the Manhattan Casino and Sylvia's together means so much. 

"We commit to doing a wonderful job," Woods said. "We come with hard work."

Similar to its New York City location, Sylvia's in St. Pete will feature a Sunday gospel brunch and will feature performances from Midtown church choirs. 

"The restaurant is designed to be warm and inviting. Familiar elements from the original Sylvia’s have been incorporated into the space including photo wall murals as well as family pictures," a news release said. "The interior colors were drawn from artwork of the Harlem Renaissance. Reflecting the building’s history, a jazz theme inspired many of the decorative motifs."

The second floor of the Manhattan Casino will serve as an event space and is set to open in July. It has 250-person capacity event hall supported by a full service catering kitchen and bar.

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