Downtown St. Petersburg is continuing to boom with forthcoming concepts including Social Roost, Hoots, Must Wine Lofts, Sauvignon, CellarMasters and now a new speakeasy. Club 201 at the Detroit will soon make its debut at 201 Central Ave., within the former space of Detroit Liquors Wine and Spirits.
“It’s always been one of my goals to have a nightlife establishment, and I was fortunate enough to meet my partners,” Club 201 partial owner Carlos Tramontana told CL.
While construction is still ongoing, workers discovered windows and doorways not uncovered for more than 100 years. Some of the building’s original brickwork has been incorporated from the Detroit Hotel — which was originally built in 1888.
Preserving and paying homage to the former hotel is very important to Tramontana and his team.
“We wanted to preserve [the history], so what we did is we kept the name,” Tramontana said. “To us, it’s more than that. It’s preserving the historical factor.”
Although Tramontana is a self-described entrepreneur with a background in real estate and various other projects, Club 201 will be his first project with restaurants and nightlife. Thanks to the support of his backers he’s confident he’ll pull of something the city has been lacking.
“I’m very fortunate to have the backing of my partners,” Tramontana said. “They are businessmen, entrepreneurs who have been doing this in different aspects such as architects and previous bar owners and restaurant managers.”
Club 201 will feature cocktails, craft brews, small plates, CBD-infused drinks and other CBD products like vegan candies. Just a heads up, all CBD products will not be made with THC and will be third-party lab tested.
This brings us to another one of Tramontana’s businesses, Lyfe Medi, which will supply Club 201’s CBD products. Lyfe Medi is based in Indian Rocks Beach and is affiliated with Trichom Health Center, a medical marijuana recommendation facility in Pinellas Park.
The jack of all trades has meticulously planned out all of the food and drink offerings for the forthcoming bar, as well as the decor; think Victorian Steampunk mixed with speakeasy vibes.
“We’re talking about the metals, the different combinations of metal being used with wood, copper [and] steel,” Tramontana explained.
The venue will seat up to 50 people with 15 stools at the bar and two lounge seating areas with antique furnishings. Guests will also be able to access sips through an outdoor bar, which is ideal for those insane First Friday crowds.
With a slew of other concepts popping up around town, Tramontana is confident that Club 201 won’t get lost in the mix.
“What’s going to separate us I believe is going to be a mixture of our atmosphere combined with our drinks, and just our different style.”
More details to come as an official opening date is announced.
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This article appears in Dec 12-19, 2019.
