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Clearwater's Cleveland St. Blooms with New Restaurants
2 Aug
Summary
- Two new restaurants, Rippers and Streetlight Taco, are opening on Cleveland Street.
- The hospitality group Tastes Pretty Good is expanding its portfolio to Clearwater.
- The redevelopment of Cleveland Street aims for a pedestrian-friendly corridor.
The revitalized Cleveland Street corridor in downtown Clearwater is poised for a significant culinary boost. Tastes Pretty Good, a hospitality group led by CEO Nick Reader, is set to open two new establishments in the area. Rippers, a novel concept, is slated for a late 2026 debut, with a second Streetlight Taco location planned for early 2027. This move represents the group's initial expansion beyond Tampa.
Reader expressed optimism about Clearwater's potential, drawing parallels to successful urban redevelopment projects like Tampa's Riverwalk. The Tastes Pretty Good group, known for its Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand distinctions, is investing in the historic Telephone Building for Rippers and the Peoples Bank building for Streetlight Taco. Both locations feature restored historical elements, contributing to the corridor's unique appeal.
The broader redevelopment of Cleveland Street, a project spanning two decades, focuses on creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment, improving infrastructure, and reconfiguring parking. The Cleveland Street Alliance, associated with the Church of Scientology's development initiatives, is actively involved in restoring numerous storefronts. Reader believes that restaurants and artists can act as catalysts for significant urban transformation.
