Restaurateur and philanthropist Hakki Akdeniz is bringing two new dining concepts to the Tampa area, he told Business Debut in an interview.
Hikari, a new food hall, is set to open in early December at 4205 N Florida Ave, Tampa, FL 33603. The 5,200-square-foot space will feature nine food vendors offering unique Asian fusion cuisines. The business will have at least 100 seats between indoor and outdoor dining areas.
Akdeniz plans to partner with chefs and entrepreneurs by offering a more affordable opportunity to launch and maintain food businesses. Expect a bar serving primarily Korean and other Asian alcoholic beverages. Akdeniz reported that Hikari is under construction currently and is aiming to debut in early December.
Additionally, Akdeniz’s Champion Pizza chain is expanding with a new location near UCF at 11802 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33612, set to open as early as the end of August.
Akdeniz’s own journey from immigrating from Turkey to homelessness in New York to successful national restaurateur fuels his mission to provide opportunities for others. Read more about Akdeniz’s powerful story and philanthropic efforts.