The beloved Cali location in our Winthrop community is getting a major glow-up this month. Here's everything you need to know.
This October, Cali will undergo a massive renovation to its interior. In recent months, the Cali locations in South Tampa, St. Pete, and Tampa Palms have gotten full renovations. Now, it's the Cali in Winthrop's turn. Rob Migliaro, the outstanding Managing Partner for Winthrop Cali for over 4 years, shared some of the details with us about what to expect.
The Glow-up
The restaurant is expected to keep the clean, open, airy feel that we know and love, but with some major upgrades. Like the other locations, the renovated Winthrop location will serve an even more refined aesthetic offering chic, coastal vibes. Other newly renovated Cali locations have been described as "premium casual", with a major increase to ambiance, while keeping the warmth, character, and charm that have positioned Cali as a neighborhood favorite for years.
The Grand Reopening
Beginning at 3:30pm on Sunday, October 4, Cali's kitchen and dining room will close to undergo the complete renovation. The kitchen will open back up only two days later on Tuesday, October 6 for take-out only through Sunday, October 11. The dining room will remain closed during renovations.
Starting on Monday, October 12, the restaurant will fully reopen to soft launch its new look and feel. Be the first to take in the new aesthetic between October 12-15.
The Grand Reopening is on Thursday, October 15 with a series of events and pop-ups happening throughout the day and night, including a ribbon cutting ceremony. Dining room seating will be highly limited that evening.
Follow the restaurant for any changes to the schedule.
The Same Menu, An Upgraded Atmosphere
Cali has recently refined their menu to place even more focus on Real Food Only. They've doubled down on health and wellness, moving away from seed oils and preservatives. They serve antibiotic-and-hormone-free chicken, grass-fed beef, and responsibly caught seafood. This interior renovation doesn't include changes to the menu. So, for the die-hard Cali fans out there, all your favorites will still be on the menu.
Serving Winthrop for over 12 years
Cali first opened its doors in Winthrop in spring 2014. It opened with a bright green "Cicio Cali" mural on the side that included a huge painted hang-ten sign. A photo from the original opening of Cali is remarkable for what's missing — no buildings on either side of Cali like there are today, no Donovan's, no Mainstream Boutique. Today, that original green mural is covered by the many buildings that have joined our Winthrop community over the last decade.
A 2013 Patch.com article shows the Winthrop sign on Bloomingdale Avenue that first announced Cali's arrival (then called Ciccio's California) to the community.
A lasting commitment to health and wellness
Since 2014, Cali has undergone multiple renovations — updates to its interior, upgrades to its menu. No renovation has been as total as this one is expected to be. While plenty has changed in more than a decade of Cali in Winthrop, some things have remained the same: Cali's commitment to raising the bar again and again for healthy food and lifestyle in the Tampa area.
