Beer and pizza restaurant concept expands in area

ST. PETERSBURG — Sarasota-based eatery Oak & Stone plans to open a second location, in St. Petersburg, early next year.

Like the original location, the new restaurant and tavern will feature self-serve craft beer, artisanal pizza and gourmet fare when it opens at 199 Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete, next to the newly constructed Hyatt Place on 2nd Street North.

Oak & Stone specializes in handmade, wood-fire artisan pizzas and house-made burgers, sandwiches, soups, entrees and salads. It also offers an extensive list of wines and spirits, including a bourbon and whiskey tasting flight at the full bar.

Building on the success of the original Oak & Stone, business partners Joe Seidensticker and Brett Decklever set out to create a restaurant that offers guests a warm, welcoming and laid-back environment.

“Joe and I wanted to create a space where people can have fun with their family and their friends,” Decklever states in a press release. “It's a great environment for people of all ages.”

St. Petersburg was the first city Decklever and Seidensticker considered when it came time to expand their business. The entrepreneurs frequent the city often and believe in its potential. The city's reputation as one of Florida's craft beer epicenters was also a driving force.

“It's an energetic town with a lot going on and we want to be a part of it,” Decklever states in the release.

Seidensticker adds, “We're excited about every facet of development in St. Pete. I love the way the city has grown over the past few years. We think the market is right, the opportunity is right and that the city will embrace what we have to offer.”

According to the release, Oak & Stone will feature the largest self-serve beer wall utilizing RFID technology in the region. More than 60 rotating varieties of American craft beers will be on tap, with a special emphasis on St. Pete breweries such as 3 Daughters, Cycle and Green Bench, as well as regional breweries.