Charlie Tulum's Taco Shack Opening in October

News came down recently that downtown Largo staple the Deli Diva sandwich shop was closing its doors for good, with Charlie Tulum's Taco Shack soon to take its place.

While many of the deli's loyal customers will be sad to see the place go, the owners of the new restaurant are excited to be a part of the area's growing business scene.

Charlie Tulum's co-owner Kimberly Platt told Patch that she and business partner Chris Carnes are eager to get their First Avenue SW shop opened.

"We're very, very excited," Platt said by phone. "Chris and I are big on promoting ourselves and the area, and we can't wait to get started."

The partners plan to open the shop, named after an infamous Indian Rocks beach turtle, on October 1st and follow the same schedule Chef Anne and Rob Buck did with the deli - opening from 11 a.m. till 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The pair will also operate a taco bus, which will be stationed at the shop and travel to events on weekends.

In fact the bus was going to be Platt and Carnes' only business, until fate intervened.

"Chris and I have been friends for more than 20 years," Platt, who is currently in culinary school, explained. "I heard he was planning on starting a taco bus and asked him how it was going."

"He said, "It's not, I'm looking for a new partner", so I raised my hand, and we agreed to work together earlier this year."

When a friend told her about the Deli Diva closing, Platt talked Carnes, a chef who once ran a taco window on Indian Rocks Beach, into taking a look at the place.

"I lived in this area for a long time, and used to be involved with the First Friday festival, so I new what we were getting into here," Platt, who now lives in Dunedin, said.

After meeting with the Bucks and falling in love with the property, Platt and Carnes quickly came to an agreement to open the restaurant there.

Now the pair are preparing to introduce their unique business, where they will offer tacos stuffed with all sorts of unconventional fillings, to the downtown district.

Platt said she believes the union was meant to be.

"We never intended to open a brick and mortar business," she said. "But the way everything happened, it just felt right."

"We thought this was a good opportunity to jump in here and contribute to everything that's going on in this community."