That second outpost from The Getaway is not far from setting sail in the Skyway Marina District of South St. Petersburg. The latest Florida Keys-inspired hangout’s showpiece? A tiki bar of course, with unobstructed views of Maximo Marina.
Located on the south end of the under-renovation marina at 3701 50th Ave. S., The Getaway No. 2 has big plans for its waterfront tiki bar, which will look different than the ones on-site at the flagship location. But co-owner Scott Tashkin — who debuted the popular destination along St. Pete’s Gandy Boulevard with his wife Karina, overseer of the day-to-day operations, and partner Dave Burton in 2014 — also promises the finishes will be spectacular, from the whitewashed ceiling with exposed beams to the tile floors incorporated throughout.
“This is gonna be a work of art,” said Scott Tashkin. “This will be one of the coolest waterfront bars you’ll see.”
Other highlights of the tiki bar include a good-sized deck and a place where patrons can dig their toes into the sand. The key component, though? Landscaping. With a knack for developing the right atmosphere using Mother Nature’s bounty, Tashkin says the bar is set to feature lots of palm trees, shrubs and plants to create the kind of lush, tucked-away retreat fans of The Getaway likely expect.
“The landscaping, that’s what sets us apart, I think,” he continued.
And more awaits where that came from. On top of the tiki bar out front, this indoor-outdoor Getaway will offer a patio with additional oasis-style landscaping to carry on its signature tropical feel, plus a fountain, intimate nooks and an element of reserved seating — not to mention two bars and a deli area with pre-made sandwiches meant for takeout.
While the Gandy outpost is a little bit bigger, the new location, which is about 12,000 square feet altogether, aims to have room for a few hundred or so guests, including tiki bar tipplers.
The Getaway — an anticipated addition to Maximo’s surrounding neighborhood, as there’s really not another local option close by — will keep its base menu of coastal favorites the same (the coconut shrimp and jalapeño poppers aren’t going anywhere). For the uninitiated, items like house-made sauces and house-smoked meats are part of the team’s hands-on approach to food.
An added bonus at the marina, however, is not only some dedicated slips for those visiting by boat, but also a larger kitchen (staff work out of a shipping container at the original), which allows for an expanded selection of dishes and a diversified brunch lineup. The idea is to provide food service to the revamped docks as well, delivering orders in a Getaway golf cart from vessel to vessel.
Circling back to the beverage side, the list of specialty tiki cocktails driven by fresh ingredients will be consistent with what’s available at the flagship. The bars have the flexibility to store and showcase more one-off bottles of booze, too.
The Getaway No. 2, which Tashkin believes is gearing up to become the “centerpiece” of the Skyway Marina District’s redevelopment, has been in the making for a year and a half. The gang originally wanted to open last year, but the permit process took longer than anticipated: nine months. They now feel good about a mid-May launch.
“The atmosphere that we’re gonna create is gonna be unlike anything else,” Tashkin said.
According to the co-owner, The Getaway was drawn to the waterfront aspect of Maximo and, well, the opportunity to keep having fun. Although some regionites might be surprised to learn that Tashkin and Co. are already scouting sites for their third location — from Tampa Bay to the Keys — further expansion will come down to “finding that perfect spot.”
“We’re having fun with it,” Tashkin told CL. “If it wasn’t fun, we wouldn’t do it.”
This article appears in Mar 22-29, 2018.