Willa's, Willa's Provisions A Dream Come True For Tampa Natives

TAMPA, FL — The Tampa natives behind the new neighborhood restaurant and bar, Willa’s, in North Hyde Park are doubling the pleasure for Tampa Bay foodies.

Nate Siegel and Merrin Jenkins have opened a casual all-day cafe, Willa's Provisions, in front of their restaurant, which opened at 1700 W. Fig St. in March.

Willa's Provisions at 310 N. Rome Ave. offers a menu of pickup fare along with a curated selection of pantry staples, home goods and Willa’s merchandise.

Additionally, the café has partnered with Tampa-based roastery and microbrewery, King State Coffee, founded by former musicians Nate Young and Tim McTague, to offer customers King State's acclaimed blend, “Yuh," for espresso, cold brew and drip.

Willa's Provisions also offers organic tea from HOUSE of WARIS Botanicals and matcha from Matchaful.

“We met Nate and Merrin what feels like years ago," said McTague. "Nate gave us a tour of an old building with a lot of character and an even bigger vision. It felt a lot like King State when we started."

McTague and Young opened King State Coffee in an old abandoned gas station in Tampa Heights after launching their online roastery business in 2014.

"Nate from the get-go seemed to understand quality, experience and, most importantly, customer service," said McTague. "So, when they asked us to partner with them at Willa’s Provisions, it was a no-brainer."

McTague said it's been a match made in heaven.

"Provisions turned out even better than we thought it could have, and to have a mini-King State in a neighborhood that we don’t serve is awesome, especially one that’s run by a rad team that cares about our coffee as much as we do," McTague said.

Retail offerings at Willa's Provisions include a curated selection of Siegel and Jenkins' favorite pantry staples, including Pineapple Collaborative’s extra virgin olive oil and apple cider vinegar, natural and biodynamic wine and Willa’s house-made lemon vinaigrette dressing, pickles and coconut almond granola.

They will also have a rotating selection of Willa's merchandise from hats and sweatshirts to coffee tumblers and espresso cups.

“We wanted to create a coffee shop where, when you visit, no matter the reason or the time of day, you can experience something unique and special, whether it's enjoying a cappuccino and a freshly baked glazed cruller or learning about natural wine for the first time," Jenkins said. "Coming to Willa's Provisions should be a highlight of your day, where there’s always something new to taste and discover."

Opening two businesses in the midst of a global pandemic admittedly presented some challenges, but Jenkins and Siegel were determined to create an atmosphere where both staff and customers could feel safe.

That meant retrofitting the 4,700-square-foot industrial building constructed nearly a century ago with a high-tech air filtration systems.

The architect, RDB Design, and design team, FODA, carefully preserved the gritty qualities of the aging structure while introducing crisp, clean-lined and reductive finishes for contrast.

The combined restaurant and café feature time-tested elements found in classic cafés and brasseries. But, at the heart, said Siegel, the businesses are fundamentally Floridian with an eye to comfort. The design team focused on forms and materials native to a humid coastal setting without being kitschy.

For both Siegel and Jenkins, the resulting businesses are the embodiment of a long-held dream of owning a restaurant and cafe in their hometown.

Siegel brings an extensive hospitality background to Willa's with nearly a decade of experience working at renowned Tampa and New York restaurants, including Mise en Place, Ruschmeyer’s, Tacombi and with the Keith McNally Restaurant Group, which includes Balthazar, Pastis, Minetta Tavern and Morandi.

Jenkins comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. She has worked for several nonprofits including the Tampa Museum of Art and New York University, and most recently she served as the director of development for the Akilah Institute, an award-winning women's college in Rwanda, educating female leaders for a sustainable future.

They say the response has been overwhelming. They're already planning some pop-up ventures.

Willa’s and Willa’s Provisions provide ample guest parking, including reserved spots for curbside pickup.

View the all-day menu here and the breakfast menu here.

Willa's Provisions is open Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Willa's will be expanding its days and hours and will be open every day in the near future.

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