Munch’s Restaurant and Sundries retail strip in St. Pete sold
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Feb 17, 2023

The retail strip that is home to Munch’s Sundries in St. Petersburg sold in a $1.6 million deal.

Munch’s and its surrounding properties, located at 3920 Sixth St. S, were sold to an LLC connected to Brian Wedlake, vice president of business development for Cato Holdings, according to a Pinellas County deed. The deal closed on Feb. 3.

The retail plaza has Munch’s, Southside Coffee Brew Bar, Coquina Meat Market and Phillips Air Conditioning & Heating. Two single-family homes were also included in the sale.

Munch’s Sundries was once featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” The properties hit the market last summer. Barkett Realty represented the listing and previously said Larry Munch, owner of Munch’s, was ready to retire. The restaurant has been an iconic destination for diner fans in St. Petersburg for 70 years.

The restaurant is in the Coquina Key waterfront neighborhood south of downtown St. Pete. The business began in 1952 as a Sundries store and post office. Owners Dean and Clariece Munch would sell sandwiches out of their car to construction workers. Later, hot dogs and hamburgers were added, and Munch’s officially opened.