Episode 30: How Thalia Tatham Is Bringing Vegan Sushi to St. Pete Through House of Vegano
In Episode 30 of Talkin’ St. Pete, Ryan Bogden sits down with Thalia Tatham, owner of House of Vegano in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Thalia’s journey started with her own health. After being diagnosed with lupus, she began exploring a plant-based lifestyle and quickly noticed a major shift in how she felt. What started as a personal decision eventually became the beginning of House of Vegano.
Creating a New Kind of Sushi Experience
Sushi was one of Thalia’s favorite foods, but once she went vegan, she realized most vegan sushi options felt limited.
Instead of settling for simple cucumber, avocado, or sweet potato rolls, she started creating her own at home using mushrooms, tomatoes, eggplant, sauces, herbs, and bold flavors.
That creativity turned into something bigger. House of Vegano now offers a fresh, Japanese-inspired vegan sushi experience with Thalia’s own Caribbean influence woven into the menu.
Building House of Vegano From Pop-Ups to Central Ave
Before opening a restaurant, Thalia started with pop-ups, deliveries, and grab-and-go sushi through Black Radish Grocer in Tampa.
The response was strong, and the sushi kept selling out. That is when she realized St. Pete needed a dedicated space where vegans could enjoy sushi without worrying about cross-contamination or limited options.
House of Vegano first opened inside The Body Electric before moving to its current location at 1990 Central Ave, giving the brand more visibility, foot traffic, and room to grow.
Why St. Pete Felt Like Home
Thalia shares that when she crossed the bridge into St. Pete, something felt different.
After living in different places, including North Carolina, New Mexico, Spring Hill, and Tampa Bay, St. Pete was the first place that truly felt like home.
For her, it was the creative energy, the local business community, the murals, the chefs, the artists, and the way people actually connect with each other that made St. Pete feel right.
A Safe Space for Vegans and Curious Food Lovers
House of Vegano is not just for vegans.
It is for anyone in St. Pete who wants to try something different, eat something creative, or enjoy sushi in a way they may not have experienced before.
Thalia wanted to build a place where vegans could feel safe and where non-vegans could taste something new without feeling like they were missing out.
What’s Next for House of Vegano
Thalia is already thinking bigger.
She talks about future locations, possible franchise opportunities, wholesale dumplings and sauces, and bringing House of Vegano to more cities like Orlando, Tampa, and Atlanta.
For now, St. Pete gets to be home base for a concept that is creative, thoughtful, and completely different from the usual sushi experience.
Comments