Voodoo Brewing Co., a brewpub concept inspired by European beer halls, is opening soon in downtown St. Pete. The restaurant and brewery is opening in the former Orange Blossom Catering location at 220 4^th St N, following stalled progress in much of 2023.

Voodoo is a full brewpub, in the sense that it will not only offer specialty craft beers, but will have a full kitchen offering elevated pub fare, with items such as smash burgers, pizzas, mussels, sandwiches, giant pretzels and more. The brewery will serve a mix of Voodoo’s beers and seltzer cocktails, as well as other local and regional beers.

The brewpub was originally announced back in 2022, and was expected to open as early as February of 2023, but the original owner stepped away, according to St. Pete Catalyst. Veronica Brezina reported for the outlet that a new operator stepped up to take over back in the fall, and renovations of the historic space have resumed since then.

The huge Mediterranean revival building is now 99 years old, and was once a hub in St. Pete’s then-booming cafeteria scene. Read more about the building’s long and fascinating tale from local historian Monica Kile.

While Voodoo Brewing Co. is part of the larger franchise, it will be independently owned and operated. Owners said on facebook that the grand opening is “on the near horizon,” with an expected opening this spring, and indeed, work has been continuing on a daily basis.

“Voodoo St. Pete is thrilled to become an active member of Pinellas County and will be an exciting addition to Florida’s West Central region and its surrounding communities,” the brewery said on Facebook. “Along with Voodoo’s world-renowned artisan beer, hand-crafted hard seltzer cocktails, and elevated pub fare, Voodoo St. Pete patrons will also enjoy the eclectic pub atmosphere that Voodoo fans have grown to love at other Voodoo Brewing Co. locations across the country.”

Voodoo brews award-winning beer

Voodoo Brewing Co. go its start in Pennsylvania back in 2005 as a brewery, opening its first taproom in 2012. The taproom immediately exploded in popularity, and as a result, the employee-owned company now operates nearly a dozen brewpubs across the country. This will be its second location in Florida, with the first having recently opened in Fort Myers.

Voodoo’s brewpubs are celebrations of not just beer and food, but art, music, and community, preferring communal gathering as opposed to something less warm or welcoming. It was with that ethos that they opened that first brewpub in Meadeville, Pennsylvania just over 10 years ago.

“It was modeled after European beer halls, instead of a typical bar with cheap beers, shots and TVs,” Voodoo explains. “Instead, we focused more on delicious, thought provoking beers, food and cocktails, as well as community and human interaction. From there, we’ve only seen upwards growth.”

Beers on the permanent tap list for Voodoo include Good Vibes west coast IPA, the Lacto Kooler flavored Berliner weisse, the Voodoo Love Child fruited Belgian tripel, and the Where Our Secrets Go imperial stout. Seasonal offerings include Key Lime Kolsch,  Schnitzengiggle Marzen, Beach Bear apricot blonde, Hazy Vibes New England style IPA, and Cowbell – a nitro double chocolate imperial milk stout.

More from Voodoo: “For us, it’s all about the liquid. From the very beginning, quality has been our focus. With precise recipes using world class ingredients resourced from some of the finest producers + hand selected hops from all over the world, each beer is thoughtfully crafted, and our brewers never compromise.”

Stay tuned to I Love the Burg for updates on the official opening.