The Joint’s patio makeover will bring shaded seating and an outdoor bar to west St. Pete
/The Joint, a neighborhood tavern in the Jungle Terrace neighborhood of St. Pete, is making improvements to its property which will debut later this month | The Joint
For years, The Joint’s patio had the bones of a great outdoor hangout: space to sit, a neighborhood crowd, and the kind of laid-back setting that feels made for a cold beer and a game on TV.
What it did not have was much protection from Florida’s sun and rain.
That is about to change. The Joint, the longtime Jungle Terrace tavern at 7630 34th Avenue North, has added a covered patio, an outdoor bar, fans, and seven TVs.
Owners Ben Scherlis and Francesco “Fran” Balzano expect to welcome customers into the new space later this month, although an opening date has not yet been finalized.
“We just wanted to open this space up and make it a whole new outdoor concept where people can sit outside, order food and drinks, and watch TV, same as you could inside,” Scherlis said in a conversation with St. Pete Rising. “It’s just giving people another option.”
Large fans will provide much-needed relief, while the insulated roof should make the space noticeably cooler than the former umbrella-covered patio.
“It’s really going to change the whole vibe of the place,” Scherlis said.
The Joint is putting the finishing touches on its new covered patio and U-shaped outdoor bar | St. Pete Rising
The owners are not increasing The Joint’s overall seating capacity. Instead, they are reorganizing the existing outdoor seating around the new bar and covered area.
“We’re not really adding to the space; we’re just kind of being wiser with it,” Balzano said. “We might end up losing a couple seats in the grand scheme of things, but it’ll be a more accommodating and fun area.”
The project has been in the works for more than three years, dating back to the pandemic.
It was delayed in part by a property issue involving the entrance to The Joint’s parking area, which is owned by the City of St. Petersburg.
The owners ultimately worked with the city to secure use of that portion of the property, though the agreement required landscaping improvements and cost the business three parking spaces.
Parking has long been one of the tavern’s few limitations. Balzano recently reached an agreement with neighboring Arthur Murray Dance Studio that allows Joint customers to use its lot, particularly during evening hours.
The Joint’s Shrimp alla Vodka is served over Linguine with Garlic Bread | The Joint
Balzano opened The Joint in 2016 with the late Mike Anderson, a longtime local bar owner, before Scherlis later joined the ownership group.
The two had known each other for decades, and they have since partnered on other hospitality ventures, including Dead Bob’s Waterfront Kitchen at the Elk’s Lodge in Madeira Beach.
The Joint was designed to have that easygoing beach-bar feel, even though it’s a few miles from the water.
Its menu includes wings, burgers, Philly cheesesteaks, fish and chips, meatball sandwiches, pot roast sliders, seafood dishes, and weekly specials featuring freshly caught fish from local purveyors.
Local fishermen can also bring in cleaned, scaled, and filleted catches for the restaurant’s “hook and cook” service.
A portion of The Joint’s outdoor patio will remain uncovered and occasionally host live music | St. Pete Rising
The tavern is also a familiar gathering spot for sports fans and hosts music bingo on Tuesdays and trivia on Wednesdays.
The revamped patio will also occasionally host live music, including solo performers, guitarists, and perhaps duos, though not larger bands.
For its owners, the new patio is ultimately about giving the bar’s loyal customers a better place to spend time.
“There are people who come in here every day,” Scherlis said. “People that are fans of The Joint are pretty much fanatical. They love the place.”
Follow The Joint on Instagram and Facebook for patio opening updates, upcoming events, and live music announcements.
