Century-old Tampa bakery relocates to reach younger generation of customers

Alessi Bakery will have a grand opening at the new location on Wednesday, April 15.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:35pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a selection of freshly baked pastries, breads, and other baked goods arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background, conceptually representing the timeless craftsmanship and quality of Alessi Bakery's products.Alessi Bakery's relocation to a larger, modernized space reflects the bakery's commitment to adapting its century-old traditions to the changing preferences of a younger customer base.Today in Tampa

Alessi Bakery, a popular Tampa bakery established in 1912, is moving to a larger location a block away from its current Cypress Street spot. The new 18,000-square-foot space will feature an expanded bakery, cafe, full-service bar, and other amenities aimed at attracting a younger customer base.

Why it matters

As one of Tampa's oldest family-owned businesses, Alessi Bakery is adapting its century-old operations to cater to the changing preferences and habits of a younger generation of customers. The relocation represents a strategic move to ensure the bakery's long-term viability and relevance in the local community.

The details

Alessi Bakery will close its current Cypress Street location this Saturday at 6 p.m. and reopen at the new location, the old Tampa Letter Carrier's Hall at 3003 W. Cypress Street, on Wednesday, April 15. The new space features an open kitchen concept, allowing customers to watch their food and desserts being prepared. In addition to the expanded bakery, the new location will include a cafe, full-service community bar, wood stone oven pizzas, and rotisserie chicken.

  • Alessi Bakery will close its old location on Cypress Street this Saturday at 6 p.m.
  • Alessi Bakery will have a grand opening at the new location on Wednesday, April 15.

The players

Alessi Bakery

A popular Tampa bakery that has been in business for 114 years.

Phil Alessi Jr.

The fourth-generation owner of Alessi Bakery.

Chrissy Palmer

An employee who has worked at Alessi Bakery for more than 40 years.

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What they’re saying

“It's a dream come true.”

— Phil Alessi Jr., Owner, Alessi Bakery

“We have our base of customers and they're great and very loyal. But what we really want to capture is the younger generation. They don't really know Alessi. And now we've made the space with the consideration of the newer generations, like the outlets where they can plug their phones in and computers, the Wi-Fi with the internet, and we have a lot of areas where they can do so and just kind of hang out.”

— Phil Alessi Jr., Owner, Alessi Bakery

“It's very exciting.”

— Chrissy Palmer, Employee, Alessi Bakery

“We're going to be selling Acai bowls and smoothies and shakes.”

— Chrissy Palmer, Employee, Alessi Bakery

What’s next

The old Alessi location will close its doors this Saturday at 6 p.m. There will be a grand opening at the new location on Wednesday, April 15.

The takeaway

Alessi Bakery's relocation to a larger, modernized space demonstrates the importance of adapting to changing consumer preferences and habits, even for long-standing local businesses. By investing in amenities and an updated look aimed at attracting younger customers, Alessi is positioning itself to remain a beloved Tampa institution for generations to come.