Let me take you back to 2010. I was a fresh-faced college student at the University of South Florida, majoring in International Studies and Mass Communications. A sophomore trip to Italy spurred both interests, but the pull toward journalism was growing stronger and stronger. Specifically the "magazine journalism" track at USF, which feels so antiquated now it may as well have been the year 1910.
One of the rock stars of journalism at that time was our very own Lane DeGregory, narrative writer extraordinaire. We read her then-St. Petersburg Times stories in class. And just before I graduated, I reached out to her for a final project. I had also just gotten a gig as a Times copy editing intern, and was going to start working in the downtown St. Pete office (RIP).
I asked Lane if we could meet for lunch, and she chose the place: Red Mesa Cantina, a lively Mexican spot that had just recently opened blocks from the newsroom. It was the first of many times I'd indulge in the chips and dip trio or the giant burritos with colleagues; we'd gather for happy hours, goodbye parties, birthdays, lunches. At that time, it was one of just a few solid, locally owned restaurants downtown, if you can believe it.
After 16 years in that iconic location, Red Mesa Cantina announced this week that it has permanently closed (its other related spots are staying open as of now). The abrupt closure was surprising, and sad. While it was now one of many, many, many spots to eat downtown, it still retained a certain charm buoyed by its impressive longevity, and I'll miss it.
After seeing the news, one Times staffer who works out of Fort Myers messaged me to say she'd be in St. Pete next week and was looking forward to meeting with her mentor for lunch. The location of choice? Red Mesa Cantina.
