Mozza Paninoteca, an Italian sandwich shop, is set to open this summer on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North in Crescent Heights, according to a May 26 announcement. The new eatery will occupy the former Little Llamas Boutique space at 2319 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North.
The concept is led by local cheesemaker Michael Deininger, known as “Mozzarella Mike,” who began hosting pop-ups and catering events last April featuring his freshly made mozzarella. Since then, Deininger has collaborated with several local businesses including 86 Wine Bar, Golden Isles Brewing, Stew’s House of Bagels, Cipolla Rossa Pizzeria, and Cellarmasters.
“We realized people really connected with what we were doing,” Deininger said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “The feedback on the sandwiches has been incredible for a while now, so we wanted to expand all that and do something special.”
Deininger described Mozza as a traditional Italian paninoteca—a shop serving sandwiches, wine, and pantry items—with an emphasis on fresh mozzarella stretched daily in small batches on-site. “Once we go through a certain amount of sandwiches, we’ll stretch a new batch of cheese, so the mozzarella never hits refrigeration,” Deininger said. “It’s always super milky and super tasty.”
The 630-square-foot space will feature bar seating along the front window and several tables inside; outdoor seating may be added pending city approval. Mozza’s menu is still being finalized but will include classic Italian-American sandwiches as well as other creations centered around house-made cheeses.
Beyond sandwiches, Mozza plans to offer imported olive oils, olives, spreads, conservas, soft cheeses and other specialty Italian pantry items not commonly found locally among traditional markets. The shop also expects to have a small wine program for guests wishing to pair food with glasses of wine onsite.
“To everyone who has supported Mozzarella Mike from the beginning, thank you. Truly,” Deininger wrote on Instagram. “This has been a dream for us for a long time, and it honestly still doesn’t feel real.”
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