Tampa Bay restaurants that closed their doors in 2020

Hall on Franklin

701 N. Franklin St., Tampa
Tampa’s Hall on Franklin, the area's first food hall, closed in mid December following a lawsuit with the landlord. “As great as the original Franklin Street site was, there are certain things we were not able to do there, such as outside dining, adding a private dining room and other amenities that are especially important amid COVID-19,” founder Jamal Wilson told CL. Wilson's next concept, Hall at Midtown, is expected to open in 2021.
Photo via Colin Wolf

Four Green Fields Irish Pub

205 W. Platt St, Tampa
Irish pub, Four Green Fields, closed in early December, but have no fear because the original thatched roof's legacy will live on at a forthcoming location near Channelside. The restaurant has famously hosted musical legends like Sinead O’Connor, The Wolfe Tones, Paddy Reilly as well as the late Tommy Makem. A rep from Four Green Fields told Creative Loafing Tampa that the restaurant does not have an official grand opening date in mind for the forthcoming Channelside location.
Photo via Four Green Fields Irish Pub/Facebook

The original Corner Club

204 Westshore Plaza, Tampa
According to Tampa Bay Business Journal, the ownership of Westshore Plaza sued Mitchell's Fish Market, seeking unpaid rent for the remainder of its lease term (which ends on January 2021) and alleging the restaurant abandoned its storefront at the mall. Upon state-ordered shutdowns of restaurants, the WestShore Plaza location of Mitchell’s Fish Market did not reopen - triggering Washington Prime Group to sue the restaurant last September in Hillsborough County Circuit Court. Mitchell's has eight other storefronts, with the Florida location already pulled from its website and its Facebook reading "permanently closed."
Photo via Mitchell's Fish Market/Website

Boca

901 W. Platt Street, Tampa
Farm to table eatery Boca closed in December. The restaurant's menu hosted New American cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. Brunch and happy hour at Boca were king, boasting colorful cocktails and loaded dishes like decadent french toast, barbecue pork Benedict and a breakfast flatbread made with smoked chorizo, manchego, charred shishito peppers and topped with a sunny-side-up duck egg. While we no longer have a Boca in our backyard, if you're missing Boca's brunch bites, you can take a mini road trip over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge or hop on I-275 and head to Sarasota for your fix.

Photo via Google Maps

The original Corner Club

1502 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa
The Corner Club, Old Seminole Heights’ long standing institution and so-called dive bar, was for sale for almost a year, and after finding a buyer, shut its doors on Oct. 24. However, longtime Tampa hospitality veteran Jeni Armstrong bought the landmark, and renovations are already underway. While there's no opening date yet, Armstrong told CL that Corner Club won't be a dive, it'll still be a place to "come get a drink and do karaoke."
Photo via Google Maps

Skipper's Smokehouse

10 Skipper Rd., Tampa
After 40 years, iconic Tampa Bay music venue and restaurant Skipper’s Smokehouse will close after a final show Sunday, Sept. 27. The 1.6 acres of land Skipper’s sits on will be transformed into an outdoor special events space.

Photo by Michael M. Sinclair

Old School South Tampa

2202 W. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
Living up to its name, Old School offered customers all the classics bar dishes: wings, a variety of tacos, and cheese fries. In its short time available to the public, Old School provided true value to its patrons.

Photo via Old School South Tampa/Facebook

Lucky Dill

4606 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa
Shutting down at the top of 2020, this location in the Westhore business district featured a combined bar and nightclub with a focus on New York-style deli cuisine.

Photo via Photo via Google Maps

Nocturnal Hospitality Group

3215 S. Macdill Ave., Tampa
Three locations that were a part of Tampa restaurant group Nocturnal Hospitality Group closed down earlier this summer: Franklin Manor, Mole Y Abuela, and Osteria. Franklin Manor offered live entertainment, Mole Y Abuela offered Spanish-style cuisine, and Osteria served Italian dishes.

Photo via Osteria/Facebook

Xtreme Tacos

223 S. Howard, Tampa
Although Xtreme Tacos closed the doors on its South Tampa location, patrons will soon be able to get a taste of their tostadas, sopes, and churros at their food truck location in Seminole Heights (pictured here). Vegan options are available, as well!

Photo via Xtreme Tacos/Facebook

Stack 'n' Sizzle

401 49th St. S., St. Petersburg
A Southern-inspired comfort foods joint, Stack ‘n’ Sizzle served up both hefty stacks of pancakes and French toast as well as fried catfish and country fried steak in St. Pete until its recent announcement, “Stack 'n' Sizzle is now permanently closed,” on Facebook.

Photo via Stack 'n' Sizzle/Facebook

Capital Tacos

5226 4th St. N., St. Petersburg and 6802 22nd Ave. N., St. Petersburg
Capital Tacos recently announced it has no plans of reopening its two St. Pete locations following pandemic closures. The chain’s specialty taco creations can still be enjoyed, though, at one of its five other local locations or through its Capital Pantry, Capital Tacos Express and full service catering.

Photo via Capital Tacos/Facebook

Cafe Ponte

13505 Icot Blvd., Clearwater
After 18 years of serving the Tampa Bay community with its modern Italian cuisine and fine dining atmosphere, Cafe Ponte closed down for good following complications stemming from the pandemic. However, the owners recently opened a new Italian restaurant, OLIVIA, in Tampa.

Photo via Cafe Ponte/Facebook

Sweet Tomatoes

Multiple locations
While not specific to Tampa, Sweet Tomatoes’ health-focused buffet-style eats could be found at seven locations in the Tampa Bay area, until its parent company recently announced all of its locations would be closing for good.

Photo via Google Maps

La Tropicana Cafe

1822 E. 7th Ave., Ybor City
A spot rich in Ybor City history and traditional Cuban fare, La Tropicana Cafe closed for good following a decrease in business due to COVID-19. Acting as a hub for immigrants when it first opened in 1963, La Tropicana had been serving Cuban sandwiches for almost six decades. The current operator’s Gio’s Cuban Cafe remains open across the street.

Photo via Google Maps

Gator’s Dockside

5840 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa
The Gator’s Dockside Tampa location has closed permanently, but those in search of its wings and bar eats can visit one of its several other statewide locations that remain open.

Photo via Google Maps

Foundation Coffee

1607 N. Franklin St., Tampa
Tampa Heights lost its Foundation Coffee location this March. Specializing in handcrafted coffees, teas and fresh-baked bakery options, the modern coffee shop is succeeded by Foundation Coffee’s Riverview location.

Photo via Foundation Coffee/Facebook

London Heights British Pub

7701 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa
London Heights British Pub, a Seminole Heights bar spot for British-inspired fare and drinks, recently closed down and was replaced by Seminole Heights Bar & Bistro.

Photo via London Heights British Pub/Website

Babalu

9246 Fourth St. N., St. Petersburg
Having served classic comfort eats since 1964, family bar and restaurant Babalu closed in January. Known for its classic dishes like jumbo chicken wings, Babalu served locals for more than 30 years before its closing.

Photo via London Heights British Pub/Website

Hofbräuhaus

123 Fourth St. S., St. Petersburg
An iconic spot for German-inspired atmosphere and eats, St. Pete’s Hofbräuhaus closed down in early March after serving the St. Pete community since 2015. The bar was facing an eviction lawsuit over late rent since October.

Photo via Google Maps