Food Network Star Chef Opening Restaurant In St. Petersburg Development

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A Food Network star and celebrity chef is opening a new restaurant in The Central, a mixed-use development in St. Petersburg’s Edge District, Ellison Development said in a news release.

Geoffrey Zakarian has been hired to lead the food and beverage program for the Central Hotel, Autograph Collection.

He currently stars in “Chopped” and the Emmy-nominated “The Kitchen” on the Food Network. He’s also an Iron Chef on “Iron Chef America.”

In addition to running the flagship restaurant at the hotel, Zakarian Hospitality will manage all food, beverage and hospitality services at Halcyon Workspace. This includes a rooftop bar and jazz lounge, banquets, catering, and curated culinary experiences for hotel guests and office tenants.

Construction for Halcyon is expected to begin later this year and construction of Central Hotel is expected to begin in early 2026.

“St. Petersburg is a city brimming with energy and creativity, and we are thrilled to create a dining experience that captures that spirit,” Zakarian said. “The Central is unlike any development I’ve seen. Being able to bring our culinary leadership not only to the hotel restaurant, but also to the hotel’s events and Halcyon’s office tenants, is a truly unique opportunity. We look forward to building something world-class that both the community and visitors will love.”

Casey Ellison, CEO of Ellison Development, called Zakarian’s involvement a defining moment for The Central’s vision.

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“Everything at The Central is rooted in quality, from the design to the experiences we’re creating,” he said. “Bringing in Geoffrey Zakarian for his first new restaurant in nearly a decade is a perfect example of that commitment. His decision to come to St. Pete validates our belief that people are seeking out places and projects defined by excellence, and The Central is setting that standard.”

Central Hotel was hand-selected by Marriott for the Edge District development, Ellison Development said.

Currently, The Vinoy Resort & Golf Club is the only Autograph Collection property in St. Petersburg. Other Tampa Bay area Autograph Collection hotels include Fenway Hotel in Dunedin, The CURRENT Hotel and Epicurean Hotel in Tampa, Waterline Villas & Marina in Holmes Beach, and Art Ovation Hotel in Sarasota.