ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The vegan staple formerly known as the Cider Press Cafe will reopen next week in Kenwood as Cider Press Vegan Gastropub and Patio Bar. It comes nearly a year after the new location was originally expected to open its doors.

"Pandemic supply line issues, COVID," Co-owner Roland Strobel said of the hold-ups. "You know, we are where we are, and we are here, and we are ready to open, and that's the most important part."

Strobel said Cider Press closed the doors on its former home of six years on Central Ave. last December because its lease wasn't renewed. He said owners looked at other spots on Central, but ended up choosing the new location at 3118 3rd Ave. N. 

"Central Avenue has become so popular. It's difficult for patrons to park. We're just off Central. We have a parking lot," said Strobel.

The new location also has a bar and revamped food menu. Strobel said Cider Press has served 100% vegan food since 2014, first at a location in Naples, then on Central Ave. It started out as a raw restaurant, and he said their former kitchen didn't have some of the equipment required for the new dishes.

"We didn't have a hood vent, we didn't have a deep fryer, we didn't have any of those things. When the first Beyond Burgers came out, we thought, 'Oh, my gosh, we'll get just those George Foreman grills, cook up some burgers,' and they went like wild fire," said Strobel. "Now, we have a whole purpose-built kitchen for us. We've got griddles and fryers and stoves, and so we're looking to have a better equipped restaurant than we were before."

The soft opening is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 9. Strobel said Cider Press will be open from Wednesday-Sunday for dinner and will also offer lunch on the weekends.