Downtown St. Pete Red Mesa Cantina Building Bought By Atlanta Taco Chain

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Rreal Tacos has acquired the historic building at 128 3rd Street South in downtown St. Petersburg, the longtime home of Red Mesa Cantina, as the Atlanta-based hospitality group continues its expansion across Tampa Bay.

Red Mesa Cantina abruptly closed the doors to this downtown location in early June.

Rreal Tacos said in a news release that the three-story property will be reimagined into a multi-concept dining and hospitality destination under one ownership group.

The acquisition gives Rreal Tacos more than 16,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space across the building, courtyard and rooftop. The property includes five bars and room for nearly 800 guests across its levels.

Rreal Tacos plans to bring three distinct concepts to the building and said it expects to employ more than 250 workers once all floors are open.

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The St. Petersburg project follows the group's downtown Tampa restaurant, which is set to open in late 2026, the news release said. This is the brand’s second Florida location.

Rreal Tacos said it is making a combined eight-figure investment in the purchase and build-out, with the ground floor slated to open first in early 2027. All three levels of the building will be opened in phases.

Preserving the building was central to the deal. Rreal Tacos and previous owner Dean Kucera agreed that the landmark should be kept intact rather than demolished.

Kucera chose to sell to Rreal Tacos because the group committed to preserving the building and converting it into a hospitality destination while highlighting its historic features, the company said.

“This building has watched over downtown St. Pete for more than a hundred years. We didn't buy it to change what it is — we bought it to honor it, fill it with life and hospitality for the next chapter of its life," CEO Damian Otero said.

The deal moved quickly after news spread that Red Mesa Cantina would be closing.

Rreal Tacos said Otero flew to St. Petersburg the same day and met with the building's owner within hours.

The company also credited broker Harrison Gault with connecting the two sides.

The company intends to hire locally as it continues to expand across the region. It said it will employ more than 500 people across Tampa Bay by the end of 2027.

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