St. Petersburg Times food critic L Reiley awards Square One Burgers 'Best Burger in Tampa Bay'

The Birth of Square One Burgers & Bar Restaurants

Once upon a time (1964) in Norman, Oklahoma, Bill Shumate opened his first restaurant, a burger joint called "Across the Street" (it was located across the street from the University of Oklahoma). Many years and restaurants later, he yearned to go back to his restaurant roots: burgers. In 2006, he and his partner, Joanie Corneil, began developing a new concept for a burger restaurant in Tampa and named it "Square One Burgers."

Bill is back to square one.

Of course, the quality and popularity of Square One Burgers is no surprise, since Bill Shumate and Joanie Corneil have owned and operated Bella's Italian Cafe , the ever-popular restaurant in Tampa's Hyde Park, for over 25 years.