4th Street burger restaurant expands into sports bar

A local burger chain is turning its St. Petersburg location into a “neighborhood sports bar.”

Burger Monger opened its first location in the Tampa Bay region in 2011 and expanded to St. Pete in 2016, opening a 2,700-square-foot restaurant at 1325 4th Street N. The spot known for fast-casual burgers and hand-spun milkshakes will unveil approximately $10,000 of renovations at its 4th Street N. store Friday. 

The restaurant now includes a full liquor bar, a stage for live music, multiple TVs, billiards and arcade games. General Manager Joseph Gertis said the goal is to appeal to a new demographic in St. Pete.

“The community needs a nice, family-friendly, fun place to go,” Gertis told the Catalyst. “A place you can play pool, you can play the claw machine, you can listen to bands and not have to go to, you know, a traditional bar. We want to be more of a friendly, family-oriented sports bar.”

In addition to a full liquor bar, Burger Monger will also now serve local beers on tap.

Gertis said the location is also adding a bar menu with appetizers and flatbread pizzas, and expanding to new hours. The 4th Street N. location will now stay open until midnight Monday through Wednesday, 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 10 p.m. Sundays. Gertis said the new hours will take effect in the coming month.

“We’re just trying to provide something family-friendly, and a good place to come have a drink or a beer and some great food,” Gertis added.

The 4th Street Burger Monger store is one of three Tampa Bay area locations; the others are in Wesley Chapel and Clearwater. There are no plans yet to renovate the other two locations.

Burger Monger will host a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting at 1325 4th Street N. Friday from 2 p.m. to midnight.