Two-story restaurant and bar Stormrunner's Tavern to replace Caddy's in Gulfport
A new two-story restaurant and bar will debut next year on downtown Gulfport’s most prominent corner at the intersection of Beach Boulevard South and Shore Boulevard South.
Stormrunner’s Tavern will replace Caddy’s, which closed abruptly in July, at 3128 Beach Boulevard South.
Details on the new concept are sparse, but renderings of the new Gulfport hangout show three separate bars on the property.
Stormrunner’s Tavern will be the main restaurant and bar situated on the ground floor, The Crow’s Nest at Stormrunner’s Tavern will be on the second-floor outdoor patio with beautiful views of Boca Ciega Bay, and Bar Kitiki at Stormrunner’s Tavern will be a dog-friendly tiki bar located in a thatched roof cabana and side yard adjacent to Stormrunner’s Tavern.
Stormrunner’s Tavern will open in a space formerly home to Caddy’s at 3128 Beach Blvd South
A team of seasoned restauranteurs are working to bring Stormrunner’s Tavern to life. Tampa native Dave Burton, known for Holy Hog BBQ, Gen-X Tavern, The Getaway, and Tampa Pizza Co., is spearheading the new concept with partners Ian Taylor and Joey Frasco, who are involved with The Galley and The Ship’s Hold in downtown St. Pete and Fred Metzler, who owns Dog Bar in the Grand Central District of St. Pete.
Renderings show a black and red theme with large storm warning flags flown around the perimeter of the building. Tampa-based api(+) is responsible for design and architecture for Stormrunner’s Tavern.
As with many bars in Gulfport, music will be a huge focus, with local acts playing throughout the week, according to a report by I Love the Burg.
“We’re excited to be a part of the Gulfport community and love the area and with so many awesome destinations already,” Burton said in an interview with I Love the Burg. “We can’t wait to help make Gulfport one of the most fun destinations in our region.”
This space has seen a “revolving door” of tenants over the past 15 years. In fact, a running joke among the locals in Gulfport is that you can tell when someone arrived in town based on how they refer to this building.
Previous tenants include Caddy’s, Manatees on the Bay, Spinnakers, Beach Haus, Dive Bar and Grill, Roman Gardens, and Aqua Bella.
Stormrunner’s Tavern expects to open in spring 2024 at 3128 Beach Boulevard South in downtown Gulfport. Be sure to follow them on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on grand opening plans.