It began with a single farm-to-table dream in St. Petersburg — a restaurant born not in a time of comfort, but in the shadows of uncertainty. The founder of Naked Farmer once said his chain is “better today because we opened our first location in St. Pete.” Yet now, like a hero stepping from the familiar into the unknown, the brand’s heartbeat is moving across the bay.
A Headquarters Rises in the City’s Core
The move is not just a change of address — it’s a strategic shift. CEO Jordan Johnson signed a five-year lease at Thousand & One, the towering 20-story landmark of Water Street Tampa. This was no ordinary relocation. The real estate developer, Strategic Property Partners, announced the move late last month, and it sent a ripple through Tampa Bay’s culinary scene.
Downtown Tampa, Johnson explains, offers something the brand craves — a centralized location where the corporate team can work mere steps above their own restaurant. “The opportunity to put our office above one of our restaurants is a really special thing,” he says.
Follow Naked Farmer on Instagram
Closing One Door, Opening Another
While the headquarters prepares for its October 1 arrival, the St. Petersburg flagship store quietly shut its doors on July 28. The reason? A staggering $1.5 million renovation. Johnson calls it fitting that the first location — the one that survived the pandemic’s crushing uncertainty — is the first to receive an entirely new look.
Like a phoenix rising from ashes, Naked Farmer’s story began in May 2020 inside the 200 Central office building, when much of the restaurant world was in freefall. “It really forced us to become the best version of ourselves,” Johnson reflects. The restaurant will reopen in December, reborn for a new chapter.
Scaling Up — and Fast
From 10 to 15 locations in the next 18 months — that’s the plan. The new 2,000-square-foot office at Thousand & One will be more than glass and steel. Johnson calls it a “restorative professional environment that cultivates productivity” — the kind of place where ideas sprout like seedlings. With most of the leadership already living near downtown Tampa, the location is more than strategic. It’s personal.
The building’s sustainability credentials add another layer to the story. As North America’s first WELL-certified office building, Thousand & One fits seamlessly with Naked Farmer’s mission to “build a better food system.”
St. Pete Roots Run Deep
Johnson’s loyalty to St. Petersburg hasn’t wavered. The renovated flagship will mirror the design of all future locations, each tile and ductwork replaced, every kitchen tool brand new. “There will be nothing in that store that stays through the renovation,” Johnson says, his voice tinged with excitement.
It’s no wonder he picked St. Pete as the launchpad back in the day — he saw a culinary hotspot rising before the cranes and the influx of young professionals. Critics doubted him, but the seasonal menu and locally sourced ingredients from partners like Brick Street Farms won over the city’s “discerning guests.”
“The St. Pete community doesn’t settle for mediocre food,” Johnson says. “Food is a really big deal in St. Pete.”
The Next Course is Served
The Tampa headquarters, the St. Pete rebirth, the expansion to South Florida — these are not just business moves. They’re chapters in a larger story of resilience, vision, and unyielding commitment to quality. And if there’s one thing we’ve learned from Johnson’s journey, it’s that Naked Farmer thrives in the spaces between risk and reward.
The lights will come back on in December. The kitchen will hum again. And in that moment, guests will taste not just the food — but the story of a brand that refused to settle.
When Naked Farmer’s doors reopen in St. Pete, the menu won’t be the only thing transformed. The question is… will you recognise it?
Are you on social media? Check out our profile for more local news! Follow @TampaLatest for up-to-the-minute updates in Tampa, Florida.
