NOW OPEN

Noble Market

On Aug. 27, the owners of Noble Rice opened this complementary neighbor to their American izakaya, billing it as a sake shop and specialty market stocked with “hard to find ingredients popular in Japanese culture.” Noble Market, which occupies the former Squeeze Juice Works space in Hyde Park, is full of favorites — everything from premade poke bowls, bento boxes and sandwiches (think katsu chicken or fruit and cream on house-baked Hokkaido milk bread) to Sun Noodle ramen kits and mushrooms from Orlando urban fungi farm Nearby Naturals. There’s a deli case featuring items such as duck breast and A5 Wagyu, too, plus imported sake and beer coming soon. On top of all those gourmet goodies, Noble Market fills special orders for fish available at Japan’s Toyosu Market, according to its website. 226 S Boulevard, Tampa. noblericeco.com.

RELATED: Restaurant review: Noble Rice is doing the most exciting izayaka dining in Tampa Bay

ChiChop and Kung Fu Tea

Pinellas Park has scored its own fast-casual mashup of a tea room and a chicken cafe. Part of the Park Plaza along with MD Oriental Market, Taiwanese-inspired chains ChiChop and Kung Fu Tea primarily serve fried, grilled and hibachi entrees built upon the house specialty — seafood and steak dishes are offered for chicken naysayers — and customizable teas that allow you to choose from fun toppings like boba and mung bean. Sharing another location together in Riverview, the duo will also join forces at 7717 Ulmerton Road in Largo. 7688 49th St. N, Pinellas Park. (727) 498-7004. chichopusa.com, kungfutea.com.

CLOSED

CDB’s Pizza

A hot spot for University of South Florida students and nearby residents alike, CDB’s Pizza in Tampa is no more. The beloved strip-plaza Italian restaurant known for tasty pizza and cold beer shuttered last week at 5104 E Fowler Ave. After opening in 1975, CDB’s Pizza debuted half a dozen outposts locally, but the one east of the USF campus, which original owner Pat Iaccovella sold more than a decade ago, was the first. An auction selling kitchen and bar equipment, furniture, lighting and other contents of the 45-year-old restaurant was held on Friday. Hopefully, you nabbed yourself a keepsake.

RELATED: Mourn the closing of CDB’s Pizza by buying a part of it at auction

COMING SOON

Bula Kavananda

Bula Kavananda, the third local member of the Bula kava bar family, is headed for Seminole Heights. In the building that Jet City Espresso previously called home, this community hangout will sling kava, a drink made with the root of a plant from the South Pacific, as well as herbal and botanical teas, kombucha and coffee. The flagship Bula Kafe opened in St. Petersburg in 2009, followed by Madeira Beach’s Bula on the Beach in 2015. Outside of Tampa Bay, Cocoa Beach houses a Bula of its own. 5803 N Florida Ave., Tampa. bulanation.com.

Ground Foods Cafe

The Seminole Heights vegetarian restaurant with New Jersey-style Italian cuisine will breath fresh life into the recently closed Wine Bar Cafe. Putting an emphasis on fresh, organic ingredients while highlighting as many area vendors as possible, Ground Foods Cafe owners Krissi and chef Greg Koodish plan to carry a plant-based menu of sandwiches, salads, toasts and bowls, according to the eatery’s website, alongside Old World Italian wines and beer. You’ll have the ability to incorporate aged cheese or pasture-raised eggs sourced from a small family farm in Tuscany into your meal as well. The restaurant is shooting for a fall debut. 6428 N Florida Ave., Tampa. (813) 515 7562. groundfoodscafe.com.

The Blind Tiger

Game for a fifth Blind Tiger from owner Roberto Torres? Tampa’s popular speakeasy-inspired cafe will open at WestShore Plaza on Sept. 26, taking over the site of a shuttered Starbucks (for the second time) with its signature coffee and tea selection. Started in Ybor City almost five years ago, the Blind Tiger also operates in Seminole Heights, SoHo and Westchase, where it replaced another Starbucks earlier this year. 219 Westshore Plaza, Tampa. blindtigercafe.com.

RELATED: Blind Tiger Cafe is taking over a former Starbucks at WestShore Plaza

Bar Hwrd

Neighbors with Taco Dirty, Bar Hwrd is updating the old Drynk venue in preparation for its SoHo arrival. The Facebook page of this forthcoming joint, which started filling positions for front- and back-of-house staff last week, says it will function as a pet-friendly gathering place to meet and socialize and will host entertainment and events. Bar Hwrd has shared photos of its newly turfed outdoor area and renovated interior, too. 302 S Howard Ave., Tampa. (813) 551-0094. barhwrdtampa.com.

Rocket Fizz

The large chain of candy and soda stores is expanding into the former Daddy Kool Records space in downtown St. Petersburg. Aiming to launch on the 600 block by late October, Rocket Fizz carries nearly 500 flavors of specialty soda, including root beer and buffalo wing varieties, that accompany old-school candies and novelty gags. Clearwater Beach and Wesley Chapel house the chain’s other Tampa Bay locations. 666 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. rocketfizz.com.

RELATED: Rocket Fizz, a candy and soda shop, is opening in the former Daddy Kool space in St. Petersburg