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Tiki Docks moves into the Skyway Marina District
It’s still possible to get away to a beach-themed restaurant in the Skyway Marina District. Just don’t call it the Getaway.
That particular grill and bar, an offshoot of the successful Gandy Boulevard Getaway, opened with great fanfare in mid-2018, and abruptly closed 13 months later.
The new tenant is Tiki Docks Skyway Bar & Grill, and it opened just this week.
“We saw an opportunity to connect with the community, which is what we prioritize when we are looking at almost every location that we decide to do something creative with,” said Tara Matheny, Vice President of Brand Development for Tampa-based 23 Restaurant Services. In St. Petersburg, the company also operates Ford’s Garage on 1st Avenue S. Sake 23, the company’s Asian-centric St. Pete dining establishment, closed in April.
Tiki Docks has an entirely new menu, new employees, a new paint job and new, tiki-themed décor. Otherwise it looks very similar to the Getaway – the outdoor bar, adjacent to roomy Maximo Marina, remains. With real beach sand. There’s both outdoor and indoor dining amidst a tropical, beachy motif.
23 Restaurant Services has leased the property from the Getaway’s owners.
“On our very first site visit, we met members of the community who said they were very excited that somebody wanted to bring in good food, good service, and to connect with the community,” explained Matheny. “So it just balanced out very evenly with what we were looking for.
“The conversation wasn’t based on the previous business. The conversation was this: ‘We want a place to go, whether it’s lunch, or dinner, or a few drinks after work.’ They want a place to enjoy. They’re craving that.”
