St. Pete native debuts local neighborhood bar The Kenwood
/The Kenwood, a no-frills neighborhood bar, is open at 1721 28th Street North in St. Petersburg | St Pete Rising
St. Pete is full of bars. Especially downtown, you'll find sports bars, cigar bars, karaoke bars, dog bars, axe throwing bars, 70s-themed bars, and more. The list goes on. But what if you’re just in the mood for a simple, laid-back bar with affordable drinks and consistently great service without all the bells and whistles?
For decades, smaller, simpler neighborhood bars have been scattered throughout the city, like Wilson’s Lounge, Mastry’s Bar, Emerald Bar, Flamingo Sports Bar, and Boardwalk Tavern.
Over the years, many of these neighborhood bars have shuttered or been at risk of closing due to rising costs, rent increases, and pressure from developers.
However, Ian Taylor, a lifelong St. Petersburg resident and owner of various bars in town, wants to keep the classic neighborhood bar alive.
The Kenwood is currently open, serving liquor, beer, and wine, every day from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. | St Pete Rising
In February, he purchased Our Bar at 1721 28th Street North in North Kenwood with plans to spruce up the place and continue operating it as a neighborhood bar for years to come.
Taylor, who co-owns The Galley and Mary Margaret's Olde Irish Tavern in downtown St. Pete, decided to rename the bar The Kenwood to better reflect its neighborhood vibe.
“I've wanted to have a neighborhood bar for a while. There is such a high concentration of bars in downtown St. Pete, and there's so much competition,” Taylor said in an interview with St. Pete Rising. “It’s really nice to be able to take a short drive or walk to a nearby neighborhood bar to grab a cold beer and play a game of pool or darts.”
Having been born and raised in St. Pete, Taylor has had a front-row seat to the meteoric growth that St. Pete has experienced over the years.
“We've seen little neighborhood bars shut down and new ones pop up. I want to make sure the people who live around the area are the ones who get taken care,” he said.
Ian Taylor, who purchased the bar in February, has invested in a number of improvements, including a newly-installed bar top | The Kenwood
“I've kind of kept this project under the radar. I wanted to learn from the staff, the bartenders, and the regulars what has worked and what hasn’t. I didn't want to come in and shake things up,” he said.
“We are just making things a little nicer and warmer when you come in,” Taylor said.
Working with Kyle Habershon of Wood & Bar, Taylor has invested in infrastructure improvements, including a completely new wraparound wooden bar top and mounted TVs showing the latest sports broadcasts.
The patio and backyard will get an overhaul as well, maximizing its potential of becoming a relaxing hangout space. Taylor also wants to bring in a food truck to offer more food options to patrons.
Taylor, who is also involved in the new Stormrunner’s Tavern in Gulfport, hopes The Kenwood will become the next decades-old staple in St. Pete, much like the iconic Mastry's Bar located on the 200 block of Central Avenue in downtown St. Pete.
The Kenwood contains a front porch, a back patio, and a wrap-around bar inside | St Pete Rising
“There are some nostalgic aspects to it, the longer you're around, the longer you're going to stay if you just keep it going and be consistent,” he said.
The Kenwood is currently open, serving liquor, beer, and wine, every day from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Follow The Kenwood on Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date on the latest happenings.
