A space that’s needed strong leadership to get it in gameday shape seems to finally be getting the shot it deserves.
Hail Mary Social Club is set to open on Tampa Heights’ Yellow Brick Row this winter, Dor Haim told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. The concept at 1701 N Franklin St. will seat around 200 people, he added, and includes a full kitchen, huge, curved screens, TVs and more.
Chicago-born chef David Reyes—who’s taken home prizes at the last three Tampa Bay Wine and Food Festivals along with last year’s Savor St. Pete—will helm the kitchen after stints as executive chef at Haiku and St. Petersburg Distillery. The TVS firm, which just named longtime Tampa architect Ken Cowart, AIA, as principal, is helping with the design.
Icrave creative studio, which has worked on the Las Vegas sphere, along with Liv and Komodo in Miami, is also involved.
Inspired by Tampa’s sport culture that drives hospitality at spots like Hattricks, American Social, and Yard House, Haim said he and his partners—Enrique DeJesus, Al Rogers, Josh Pardue, and Robert Stern—certainly want fans to come to Hail Mary, but also think about staying late as it transitions to a late night social club. Once it’s open, Tampa’s Hail Mary Social Club will open at 11 a.m. daily, and close at midnight Monday-Thursday, 3 a.m. Friday-Saturday, and 1 a.m. on Sunday.
In a separate news release, Rogers said he and his partners are excited to bring energy back to the block, while DeJesus added that they hope to raise the bar “for hospitality in Tampa Heights.”
“This is just the beginning—we have more surprises up our sleeves that will come to light soon, and we can’t wait to share them with the city,” Haim noted in the release.
Outside of the future Hail Mary Social Club, window clings allude to two other concepts opening at the address that was once home to the Hall on Franklin: a taqueria and lounge called Uno Mas, plus Boogie Heights (a social profile for the latter teases “A nostalgic escape into the sounds and style of the 70s, 80s, and 90s”).
A late-night spot for music and dancing coming to the corner of Henderson Avenue would be huge as the address used to be home to a sprawling two-story legendary gay bar The Chambers. For now, however, Haim is focused on getting the Hail Mary to the end zone.
“It’s very important to us that each concept builds its own identity,” he added, alluding to the address’ past as a popular food hall (and another that never even opened).
Alongside Hail Mary, Haim’s ownership group “is developing another culinary concept, a speakeasy lounge, and an additional entertainment concept, transforming the historic Franklin Building into one of Tampa Heights’ most dynamic hospitality hubs,” according to the release.
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This article appears in Sept. 25 – Oct. 1, 2025.