Dr.B BBQ in Saint Petersburg is closed

street. PETERSBURG – EDGE District Grill Restaurant CLOSED

The restaurant, which opened in October 2018, was a collaboration between celebrity pitmaster and St. Petersburg-based Ray Lampe, aka “Dr. BBQ,” and Datz Restaurant Group owners Suzanne and Roger Berry.

Lambie, the licensor of the Dr.

In August, the Perrys sold the 7,935-square-foot building that houses both Dr. Versatile Edge Collective development.

Dr. BBQ was open until Thursday evening, which was the last day for the restaurant. Susan Berry said a different tenant will be running a new venture in the space for the next 18 months.

Perry described the decision to close as “heartbreaking”.

“We loved this restaurant,” she said. “I was proud of this restaurant; we worked so hard on it.”

Perry said that the rapidly changing landscape of downtown St. Petersburg, particularly the EDGE district, played into their decision to sell the restaurant. She also said that the lack of parking spaces available to restaurant customers was becoming difficult to manage.

“It was very simple: Someone called us and said they really wanted that real estate in the worst way in the world,” Perry said. This was just a real estate transaction. In this corridor of development, in this particular day, time and economy – it was the right business decision to make. It was the only decision to make, to be honest.”

The Perrys also operate Datz Restaurants in Tampa, St. Pete and Riverview, Donovan’s casual steakhouse in Riverview, and Dough in Tampa.

The partnership and friendship between the Hall of Famer and Perrys BBQ dates back several years before the restaurant was launched. As part of their agreement, Lambie signed a five-year licensing agreement with the Perrys to use the name Dr. When the restaurant opened, the national barbecue scene was thriving and the place debuted to a lot of buzz, featuring an impressive selection of smoked meats, Southern-inspired comfort food with creative twists, and a huge selection of vegetarian and vegan dishes.

“Maybe it was a little bit ahead of its time,” Perry said. “But we cared for her and we loved her and we were passionate about her.”

In early 2021, the group expanded and renovated the second floor space into a tiki-themed cocktail bar, serving Polynesian-inspired snacks and tiki classics.

Perry said there are no changes under way to the remaining DATZ restaurants.

Immerse yourself in the food and drink scenes of Tampa Bay

Sign up for the free Taste newsletter

Get restaurant and bar news, insights and reviews you crave from food and dining critic Helene Freund every Thursday.

You are all signed up!

Want more of our free weekly newsletter in your inbox? Let’s get started.

Explore all of your options

“In 2023, our goal is to return to Service Quality 101,” she said. “It’s been very difficult the last couple of years with so many people leaving the industry.”

There is no word on what will happen next with the EDGE District space. An email was not returned to PTM Partners immediately.