The Lime’s owners retool eatery in New Tampa
By KENNETH KNIGHT
kknight@tampatrib.com

The Lime restaurant in New Tampa has gone sour.

“The Lime just didn’t work out,” co-owner Jimmy Lanza said.

Lanza and his business partners moved quickly last month to change the concept at the fledging eatery.

They closed The Lime, a Latin-themed restaurant and sports bar, on May 5, made some renovations and reopened three weeks later as two trendy restaurants under one roof.The larger spot will be ideal for Ciccio’s, which operated out of a smaller, adjacent storefront as the well-established Ciccio & Tony’s restaurant, Lanza said. It will share space with The Lodge, an eatery with a large, traditional menu that caters more to families.

Owned and operated by the same group that owns Ciccio & Tony’s, The Lodge is a successful dining concept that was launched in South Tampa before it was introduced to New Tampa. The Lime on Howard Avenue, which is doing a robust business in South Tampa’s SoHo district, will remain open, Lanza said.

“We tried the concept of The Lime,” he said. “It wasn’t necessarily conducive to the New Tampa clientele.”

The Lime caters to a younger crowd who enjoys dining on Mexican and South American inspired entrees while watching ESPN on flat-screen TVs and listening to loud, pumping music. The concept proved to be not as appealing in New Tampa.

Prior to The Lime, the space at City Plaza at Tampa Palms was occupied by Winners Grill.

Lanza said he hopes the combination of Ciccio’s and The Lodge is more in line with the appetites of New Tampa residents. So far, the change has been well received.

“We have doubled our lunch business,” Lanza said. “Business is very, very good.”

Both restaurants operate out of a combined space of about 5,000 square feet that includes a shared kitchen and seating for about 30 on the patio. Each restaurant covers about 2,000 square feet of space.

The total square footage is large enough under Tampa’s wet zoning to allow beer, wine and liquor sales, said Lanza, who also co-owns Ciccio & Tony’s, Daily Eats and Water, all restaurants on Howard Avenue in South Tampa.

“Ciccio’s lease was up in the smaller space,” Lanza said. “It was perfect timing.”

The new combined location can accommodate about 200, managing partner Robert Garofano said.

While both restaurants share the same menu, loyal Ciccio’s customers will find plenty of their favorite entrees included, he said. The same is true for popular appetizers served at The Lodge.

“It’s a complete fusion of the two; and the menu is available all day,” said Garofano, a Tampa Palms resident and Rotarian.

Ciccio’s and The Lodge, 16023 Tampa Palms Blvd W., are opened seven days a week from 11:30 a.m. to close, which usually runs past midnight.