New bar and restaurant to open in Gulfport

A new bar and restaurant is coming to Gulfport.

Stormrunners Tavern is slated to open at 3128 Beach Blvd. S. by the end of August. Dave Burton of Burton Holdings, the group behind GenX Tavern and SoHo Sushi in Tampa, is the majority owner of Stormrunners. He’s leasing the building from Caddy’s after the restaurant closed last summer.

“I’ve wanted to do a waterfront concept and always liked Gulfport,” Burton, who was born and raised in Tampa Bay, said. “It’s kind of funky and cool and laid back at the same time. The community has been super welcoming and supportive.”

The Crow’s Nest, the second-floor bar and dining area of Stormrummers Tavern, overlooks the historic Gulfport Casino and Boca Ciega Bay.

The large bar and restaurant includes 4,400 sq. ft. of indoor space and more than 4,000 sq. ft. outside. Stormrummers is split into three distinct sections: a second-floor patio called The Crow’s Nest, a first-floor bar and dining room with garage doors that open to the sidewalk and a side yard and dog-friendly tiki bar called “BARk.”

Burton said renovations to the space started last November and included not just cosmetic changes but repairs and updates to the building’s structure, plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems.

When developing the concept for Stormrunners, Burton received mentorship and investment from friends who own and operate businesses in Pinellas County, including Fred Metzler of Dog Bar and Joey Frasco and Ian Taylor of The Galley and The Ship’s Hold in downtown St. Petersburg.

The first-floor bar and dining area of Stormrunners Tavern is decorated with palm-tree murals and a colorful epoxy floor.

With the Stormrunners Tavern menu, Burton aims to capture the essence of Florida’s coastal lifestyle. The name itself is inspired by the frequent storms in the area, offering a “shelter” for people to relax and enjoy good food. The tavern will feature a seafood-focused menu, crafted with the help of a James Beard Award finalist chef consultant.

“In Tampa, so many of the restaurants that are opening are high-end, but that’s just not me, personally or as an operator,” Burton said. “I like to be more laid back, kind of casual. I like to use the word approachable; none of our concepts are going to be overly expensive and you’re not going to have to Google ingredients to find out what the heck it is. The menu is a very simplistic approach, executed well.”

“BARk” is the dog-friendly, tiki-themed outdoor bar on the first floor of Stormrunners Tavern. The outdoor area also has a small stage for live music and entertainment.

Stormrunners Tavern will focus on “imaginative” cocktails, seafood classics like fish tacos, Grouper and crab cakes, and according to Burton, “A little something for everyone.”

Stormrunners will initially be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week, with plans to introduce a weekend brunch in the future. Burton has already selected Stormrunners’ leadership positions, but plans on hiring about 60 additional roles for the initial opening phase, including servers, bartenders, food runners and kitchen staff.

Burton said his vision for Stormrunners Tavern is not just about providing food and drinks, but also creating a community hub that reflects Gulfport’s unique character.

Most of the building is covered in bright murals painted by local artist Alex Clawson of RSK Murals.

“We wanted to embrace the quirkiness of Gulfport and the artsy vibe,” Burton said. “ It’s not overly touristy, but you still have that tourist element, which is nice because in Florida, that’s our bread and butter. I just like the vibe of this area and the community. It’s really cool to be here.”

Updates on Stormrunners Tavern’s official opening date will be shared on Instagram at instagram.com/stormrunnerstavern.

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