Kaixo is coming: St. Pete's Baba passes the torch on Central Ave
Beloved Grand Central spot Baba closes July 3 after 7 years, handing its Central Ave kitchen to chef Andrew Duncan for Kaixo, a new Iberian dining concept.
On the map
The exact spot — handy for figuring out which neighborhood you're really in.
If you've ever had dinner on the 2700 block of Central Avenue in St. Pete's Grand Central District, you probably know Baba. The Greek and Lebanese restaurant opened in 2019 with a loyal following, a rotating cast of regulars, and a warmth that made it feel less like a business and more like a neighborhood living room. This Friday, July 3, it serves its last meal.
But here's the thing: this isn't really a closing story. It's a passing-the-torch story — and the people catching it have been in that kitchen all along.
What's happening at 2701 Central Ave.
After seven years, Baba and its adjoining tinned fish bar Barbouni are preparing to close, but the future of the Grand Central District property will remain in familiar hands. Owners George and Debbie Sayegh announced that longtime team members Andrew Duncan and Danielle McCoy will take over the restaurant space at 2701 Central Avenue with two new concepts: Barra Barra and Kaixo.
The pair have spent the past year working alongside the Sayeghs developing the concepts, which will replace Baba and Barbouni following their final service on July 3rd.
There's something quietly beautiful about that. No abrupt sale, no out-of-town investor, no mystery group. Just an owner who watched his team grow up and decided the best next chapter was handing them the keys.
So what is Kaixo?
The space at 2701 Central Ave. will make way for Kaixo, a new dining experience inspired by the "food, wine and cultural traditions of the Iberian Peninsula," led by Baba's Chef Andrew Duncan and Sommelier Danielle McCoy. The group is also bringing back the popular pintxo pop-up bar Barra Barra as a full-time fixture in the Barbouni space.
While details about Kaixo remain limited, the restaurant has been described as a concept inspired by the food, wine, and cultural traditions of the Iberian Peninsula. The word kaixo (pronounced KYE-show) is the Basque word for "hello."
That pronunciation clue tells you a lot about the direction. Basque cuisine — think pintxos, txakoli wine, wood-grilled fish — is one of the most exciting food traditions in the world and almost entirely absent from the Tampa Bay dining scene right now. Add a permanent Barra Barra pintxo bar next door and you've got a double concept that could become a serious destination on Central Ave.
No exact opening date was announced for Kaixo or Barra Barra, though the team promised "more to share in the coming days."
Keep an eye on their Instagram accounts if you want to be first through the door.
Why Baba mattered — and why this matters more
Baba opened in June 2019 as a Greek and Lebanese restaurant inspired by the Sayeghs' family heritage. The concept combined counter service and a full-service dining room and quickly became a popular destination in the Grand Central District.
Seven years is a long run in the restaurant business anywhere. In St. Pete's post-pandemic, post-Helene dining landscape — where Creative Loafing counted closures from rising inflation, ongoing hurricane recovery costs, and shifting consumer habits — it's remarkable. Baba not only survived, it mentored.
George Sayegh wrote in a social media post announcing the transition: "For Debbie and I, one of the greatest privileges of Baba has been watching talented people grow within these walls. And for the past year we've been working closely with two of those people, Chef Andrew Duncan and Sommelier Danielle McCoy, to develop a new restaurant that reflects their creativity, energy, and vision."
That's the kind of ownership that builds culture in a neighborhood, not just a restaurant.
What this means for Grand Central
The Grand Central District has been through a lot of churn lately. Some of that has been painful — longtime spots closing, new concepts struggling to find their footing. But Kaixo is a different kind of story: continuity with evolution. The same address, the same ownership family in the background, a team that knows the neighborhood and the regulars.
Barra Barra was already a crowd-favorite as a pop-up. Giving it a permanent home in the Barbouni footprint alongside a full Iberian dining room next door creates a two-for-one experience that the block genuinely needs right now.
If you're new to Grand Central or exploring where to spend time in St. Pete, this corridor between 22nd and 30th Street on Central Ave is one of the most interesting stretches in the city — walkable, locally-owned, and constantly evolving. Our Old Northeast vs. Historic Kenwood guide touches on how St. Pete's western neighborhoods fit together if you're trying to get your bearings.
From a real estate standpoint, this kind of organic reinvestment — a chef-driven concept with real local roots taking over a seven-year cornerstone space — is exactly what keeps neighborhoods like Grand Central sticky and desirable. If you're weighing what walkable St. Pete neighborhoods look like for buyers, this block is a good case study in why Central Avenue continues to hold its value.
Baba, it's been a great seven years. Kaixo — we'll see you when you're ready.