Michelin-Recognized Tampa Restaurant Group Opening Downtown Clearwater Deep-Fried Hot Dog Concept

CLEARWATER, FL — A Tampa hospitality group behind several well-known Michelin-recognized restaurants plans to expand into downtown Clearwater, choosing the restored historic Telephone Building on Cleveland Street for a new concept called Rippers.

Tastes Pretty Good Hospitality selected the ground floor of the building at 534 Cleveland St. for Rippers, its first Clearwater restaurant, the Cleveland Street Alliance said in a news release.

The group is known for the Michelin-starred Rocca, Michelin Guide-recommended Bar Terroir, Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient Streetlight Taco and the newly opened Lumbre.

Rippers will serve American classics built around deep-fried “ripper” hot dogs, along with burgers, chicken wings, sandwiches, fries and handcrafted milkshakes.

The concept will offer a casual neighborhood setting for families, downtown workers, visitors and the surrounding community, with dine-in and takeout service, the news release said.

No opening date has been announced for the project.

For CEO Nick Reader, the move was tied to the broader direction of downtown Clearwater.

“We started in Tampa as a love letter to the city we grew up in,” Reader said in a statement. “When this opportunity arose to come to Clearwater, we saw something very familiar. We understood the vision, we understood where it could go and we knew we wanted to be part of it.”

He also pointed to the role a restaurant can play in a larger district.

“The opportunity there is enormous. Food brings people together, and community brings people together. If we can be a small part of a big development, that’s very exciting for us,” Reader said.

Culinary director Bryce Bonsack said the building itself helped shape the idea for the restaurant.

“When we walked into that space, we were immediately drawn to it. It’s historic, it has incredible character and there’s so much history behind it,” he said. “We wanted to create something that keeps telling the story of America through classic food that’s approachable, delicious and affordable. The building and the concept simply belonged together.”

Built in 1914, the Telephone Building is the first historic landmark completed as part of Cleveland Street Alliance’s restoration initiative, according to the release.

The group said the work brought back the building’s original brick façade, storefront, windows, awnings and architectural character while updating the structure for new businesses.

The CSA is leading a broader effort to revitalize downtown Clearwater through historic restoration and redevelopment projects along Cleveland Street.

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