Par Bar, a mini golf bar, tees off soon in the Grand Central District
/Par Bar will be opening on the site of a former plant nursery at 2253 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District
My favorite golf course is in my hometown of Fort Myers, Florida. I’ve probably played the course hundreds of times and I don’t think I’ve ever been able to shoot lower than an 85. It’s not a PGA Tour course, I’m just not much of a golfer. I’m talking about Castle Golf, a medieval-themed miniature golf course.
From the time you enter the castle gates (aka the parking lot), you’re swept up in a spellbinding mystery as you make your way over the lagoon, through the forest and fog, to the castle under the stars.
I used to have so much fun mini golfing, but I haven’t been in years. Mostly because I’m not a kid anymore, but also because St. Petersburg, FL doesn’t have any mini golf courses. However, that may soon change thanks to Marcel Gruber and Kurt Campagna.
The duo is opening Par Bar, St. Pete’s first mini golf course and bar, at 2253 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District of Downtown St. Petersburg. Situated on the same block as Right Around the Corner, a popular arcade bar, the former plant nursery will soon be transformed into an 8,600 SF 18-hole mini golf course and a 1,400 SF bar.
Gruber and Campagna’s motivation behind Par Bar is to modernize mini golf, an industry that hasn’t seen much disruption in decades. Top Golf, a super-charged driving range, has seen rapid growth over the past few years. And although it’s not the main attraction, some locations have mini golf courses. In fact, the Top Golf location in Brandon has recently filed plans to add mini golf.
The mini golf bar concept isn’t new, but it has yet to be done in Florida. “They’ve started to pop up in the Pacific Northwest,” says Gruber. “The first one I went to was in Seattle and shortly after another opened in Portland where I was living at the time.”
Although Par Bar is still in the early stages of planning, Gruber and Campagna are anxious to introduce the concept to St. Pete. “Some of the games at St. Pete bars are getting pretty repetitive, so we’re excited to introduce something new to people,” says Gruber.
Par Bar will occupy 10,000 SF of space at 2253 1st Avenue South in the Grand Central District
Par Bar will be open to all ages during the day, but may switch to adults only in the evening. Dogs are welcome too as long as they’re on a leash and don’t relieve themselves on the green.
The bar will have ten taps filled with a mix of local craft beer, sake and wine-based cocktails. Frozen drinks, such as wine slushies, will also be offered. “Par Bar will be mainly outside, so it’ll be great to have frozen drinks in the summer to curb the Florida heat” says Campagna.
As for food, Par Bar plans to have a permanent food truck on site and of course, customers are welcome to have food delivered from Uber Eats or Bite Squad too. Any local food trucks interested in the space should contact Gruber at marcel@parbarstp.com.
After grabbing a drink at the bar, start making your way to hole 1. Whether you are stepping onto the green for the first time or you’re a seasoned pro looking to perfect your short game, Par Bar will provide a challenge to everyone. Best of all, the course will be modular, allowing each hole to be reconfigured periodically to offer a fresh experience.
Pricing for a round of golf has not been decided yet, but the owners want to keep it as affordable as possible. “Our concept is completely different from a high-end country club. Our goal is to be inclusive, not exclusive, and that requires keeping the experience affordable to the masses,” says Gruber. “We want everyone to have fun like they stepped into the movie Caddyshack.”
Other activities such as ping pong, cornhole, and more traditional bar games will be offered in the additional space.
Site Plan for Par Bar. This plan is preliminary and subject to change.
Weekly events will keep things fresh and exciting. “My girlfriend has suggested we have an event called Blues on the Green featuring local musical acts,” says Gruber. Other ideas being thrown around are hosting league nights and tournaments.
Despite opening a mini golf bar, Campagna made a reluctant confession. “I’m not really much of a golfer,” he laughed. “I have a set of clubs, but I’ve only used them a couple of times.” Gruber on the other hand has a little more experience under his belt. “My granddad was a golf pro, so I grew up playing all the time,” he says.
Campagna was born in Connecticut and worked in the casino business for years before moving to St. Pete in 2015. He’s been bartending full-time on the Jannus Block ever since he got here. In fact, the pair met over a beer at MacDintons.
Gruber grew up in Orlando and used to take trips to St. Pete when he was younger. However, for the past 13 years he has lived in Austin, TX. “It had been years since I had been back to St. Pete and I was a shocked at how much it’s changed,” says Gruber. “I love it.”
In fact, Gruber sees many similarities between Austin and St. Pete. “The size and feel of Downtown St. Pete definitely reminds me of Downtown Austin 12 years ago,” he says.
Although we love all local businesses in St.Pete, it’s always refreshing to see new concepts being brought to our city. Par Bar will be a unique place that lets grown-ups be kids again. And frankly, we can’t wait.
