ABOVE: Owner Jeff Baker at Zoie’s Jan. 10. Photo by Ryan Williams-Jent.
ST. PETERSBURG | Zoie’s held its official grand opening in the Grand Central District Dec. 31, a sold-out spectacular that followed months of perfecting the restaurant’s southern comfort menu and more.
The eatery first opened its doors to participate in the LGBTQ-inclusive Halloween on Central last year. By mid-November they were operating on a limited menu and hours as “a unique restaurant experience catering to everyone.”
“We celebrate all beliefs and walks of life and we provide a place for all to meet, eat, drink and make memories,” the restaurant promises. It’s named after pansexual owner Jeff Baker’s beloved dog, who helped him find comfort at the height of the pandemic.
“Zoie means ‘life’ in Greek and in a time where things weren’t great for me emotionally, she gave me a second life,” he explains. “I dedicated the restaurant to that because I also hope it’s going to give life to the community.”
Zoie’s is Baker’s first restaurant. He’s a data scientist by trade who’s worked with Universal Studios and Moffitt Cancer Center.
“What I’d wanted to do for quite some time is create a community venue that is not just about food, but also about entertainment and being connected locally,” he says. “We don’t care where you come from, what your background is, who you love, how you identify, because when you come into this building, it’s us as a collective unit having fun and leaving all of our differences at the door.”
The menu is still the central focus at Zoie’s, which can seat nearly 200 guests indoors and 50-60 outside. Baker says that’s because “food is what brings people together and has since the beginning of time – it’s where we form friendships and relationships.”
“What influences the menu is that my mother’s side of the family is from the South,” he says. “So Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Texas, you will see elements of all of those states. My first boyfriend of 10 years was also from Louisiana, so I got a lot of exposure to Cajun and Creole cooking as well.”
The menu fuses southern comfort classics with modern twists, with dishes ranging from Crawfish Egg Rolls to Key Lime Pie Pudding. Baker says he uses his background to craft the optimal list of brunch, lunch, dinner and late-night dining options.
“When we first opened, we really focused on food, getting our service down, and then slowly introducing all the entertainment over time,” Baker says. “New Year’s Eve was probably a great defining moment of ours.”
The venue welcomed drag star Lady Bunny and a plethora of local entertainers for their New Year’s celebration, which was followed by a sold-out New Year’s Day brunch. View photos from the event below:
Baker says “every week is a record from the previous one,” which allows them to introduce offerings like Drag Queen Bingo, karaoke, trivia and more. Helping Baker make that a reality is Kori Stevens, the fan favorite drag entertainer who recently came on board as Zoie’s show director.
“Being a part of the team at Zoie’s excites me because we all share the goal of doing our part to build a better community,” she says. “It’s really that simple. It’s a great atmosphere where everyone is welcome, and I am super excited for things to come!”
“We’re in this very diverse neighborhood and our goal is to have diverse guests from everywhere,” Baker adds. “Zoie’s is just a place where people can come in, be themselves and not have to worry. Be whoever you are – whatever that is, we don’t care.”
Zoie’s is located at 2245 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg. Daily hours vary. For more information, visit ZoiesFL.com or call 727-855-6990.
