Founders of Tampa’s hi-fi Greenhouse listening bar want to be Tampa’s new, sober, ‘Third Space’

A local, “listening party” pop-up celebrates the debut of its new Tampa Heights residency this week.

The large, multi-use space at 1613 N Franklin St. is the new home of Elevation Coffee Roasters in the daytime, while Greenhouse will host its high-fidelity, analog listening experience each Friday night.

The first installment of this listening series happens on July 11 from 7 p.m.-10 p.m., where a full menu of specialty mocktails made with popular zero-proof spirits like Ritual, Seedlip, and Curious Elixirs will complement the evening’s laid-back, mellow atmosphere.

One of Greenhouse’s founders, Nolan Hammer, tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that he plans to offer a range of staple mocktails each Friday, in addition to specials and seasonal beverages. 

Greenhouse came into fruition about a year and a half ago, born “from a shared love of music through high-fidelity audio and the nostalgia of 1950s Japanese listening bars,” according to Hammer.

Hammer—alongside fellow Greenhouse operators Jonathon Dorofy, Nolan Hammer, Megan Hammer, and Molly Hensey—aim to distance themselves from the role of a “DJ” and instead think of themselves as music curators.

Attendees of previous Greenhouse events, hosted at Tampa spots like Spaddy’s, Jug + Bottle and La Sétima Club, know that the vinyl pop-up never sticks to one genre of music—although funk, disco, soul and hip-hop usually find their way onto the setlist.

Armed with a pair of JBL-L100 speakers, a Technics SL-1200 MK3D turntable and a JBL SA750 amplifier (a slightly pared-down setup than they’ve boasted at past events), Greenhouse’s organizers aim to provide a high-fidelity listening experience with their curated lineup of vinyl that spans across decades and genres.

In the future, Greenhouse plans to host themed events that celebrate specific genres, in addition to “album drops” where an individual artist is showcased.

And while socialization and enjoyment of tasty N/A beverages is encouraged, at the end of the day, Greenhouse is really just about the music.

“The intimate, underground feel with fully-immersive sound dominates the ambiance, creating a space where the main activity is listening to what’s being played rather than the sole hum of chatter,” Hensey writes to CL. “Along the way came the idea to include parts of The Third Place Theory by developing an immersive space that fosters social interaction, community vitality, and healing one’s mental health; something that residents of this bustling city could uncover and revere.”

While Greenhouse will take over Elevation’s Tampa Heights cafe every Friday night, the curated vinyl pop-up hopes to expand its programming to other nights, too.

Give @gh_listening a follow on Instagram for the latest details on upcoming events.

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This article appears in Jul 3-9, 2025.