In St. Petersburg's Grand Central District, Sly Bar is now TapHouse 61. The new name is part of the larger rebrand going down at 2061 Central Ave., and once the transition from Sly to the taphouse is complete, according to owner Joe Robertson, the neighborhood bar will reflect the concept he originally envisioned.
"The aim is to focus more on craft beer and really become the go-to spot for it," Robertson told CL in a message.
"It was kind of the vision initially when we first opened the bar, but there were some reasons that we didn't go that route," he continued by phone. "And now I'm able to really focus on the craft beer, so that's what I'm trying to do."
It's not that Sly, launched in 2014, didn't have a good craft beer selection. But the bar features six additional taps now that it's doubled in size, with six more on their way to achieve at least 24 taps. The lineup of 100-plus bottled brews could also grow, if the taphouse can find the coolers, and Robertson says he's expanding the wine list to include more high-end, artisanal offerings.
A phased-out food menu and remodel — which includes fresh coats of paint, high-top communal tables outside, three TVs compared to the previous nine or 10, and an indoor-outdoor bar counter with a roll-up door (similar to the setup JWags has on Fourth Street) that provides another area for patrons to enjoy — are other changes the shuffling has brought.
Another part of Robertson's craft beer-driven vision is education. The bar plans to start printing out its wine and beer menus with descriptions to make it easier for customers to learn about their drinks of choice, and the owner says he'd also like to serve as a venue for more beer happenings. He's looking into hosting keep-the-pint nights, events with brewers, and food and beer pairings, maybe with a barbecue place, like Sly's done in the past with Brooklyn South.
While there hasn't been a formal announcement or grand opening for TapHouse 61, expect the bar's transformation process to conclude in about two months.
"This was really the vision from day one," Robertson said.
