There are certain places that just stand the test of time. (What a boomer thing to say…)

Yet, Wright’s Gourmet is just that. Our family moved to Florida in 1976, and even though we didn’t live in Tampa back then, our love affair with this place began! While our mother continues to be a fabulous cook, an occasional takeout treat would often be brought home from our dad’s day at work—a few Beef Martinis to cut into shared bites, a Turkey Terrazzini for a holiday meal, a slice of the rum cake that Dad loves, and a piece of lemon cake to share. And if it was a really good birthday… a whole Alpine Cake.

Twenty years ago, when we moved to Tampa (again), I took our son in a stroller for many a lunch at Wright’s—the veggie pasta for the absolute win! (And yes, I know it’s off the menu for a bit, but I am fine with that too, because change can be good.)

And change really is in the air for them lately! If you haven’t heard the news, Wright’s recently transitioned to new ownership under Caspers Company. It’s pretty exciting to see a local team with such a deep hospitality legacy in Tampa Bay taking the reins, and they’ve promised to keep the high-quality food and traditions we love completely the same while letting the business grow.

In fact, part of that growth means they are opening a brand-new retail outlet called Wright’s Market right inside the beautiful Oxford Exchange! They are taking over the pop-up space formerly home to The Candle Pour, which means we’ll soon be able to grab their legendary bakery-driven treats and daily grab-and-go staples right on Kennedy Boulevard.

Speaking of their legendary treats, my history with them just keeps going. I was recently able to have a fun Mother/Son send-off before he went to college, which included having Wright’s Alpine Cake ice cream over at Chill Bros! WOW.

And if I haven’t said enough about how much I like Wright’s and their food—I really love their MERCH. On my recent visit, I was not only able to enjoy a ton of necessary protein on my salad, but I also browsed enough merchandise to feel even more excited about this “newer” spin on Wright’s. (See the pics attached, and feel free to buy some for me, or anyone and everybody else!)

I would be remiss if I didn’t close by saying that my late and great friend, Jackie Orr, would love all of this new momentum. I can picture her sipping every last bit of her iced tea, savoring the cup and straw almost as much as the actual tea. Today would be her birthday, and without a doubt, a quick trip across the bridge for tea and Alpine Cake would surely be making its return to Belleair.

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