Citrus Park fish camp staple Ballyhoo Grill is closing its doors on Sunday, Sept. 26.
Ballyhoo—located at 7604 Ehrlich Rd.—made the announcement on its Facebook page, saying that it wasn’t able to renegotiate a new lease on a restaurant building that dates back to the mid-’90s.
“ ...we are proud of our success and thankful to you our customers and our amazing staff for the last 12 years. Keep checking our page for further updates,” the restaurant wrote.
The Florida seafood restaurant was opened by Chris Fargale of City Fish and Ozona Blue fame, who owned two other Ballyhoos in Tarpon Springs and Gainesville. The current owners took over 12 years ago.
Some form of Ballyhoo Grill has sat at the corner of Ehrlich Road and Gunn Highway since the 1910s. "It was built in 1913," Randy Grasmann, then-president of Ballyhoo Grill told the Tampa Bay Times back in 1996. "It was a home that was converted into a restaurant more than 20 years ago."
The restaurant is also selling all of its decorations and equipment starting on Monday, Oct. 4.
“If you are interested in any of these items that include some really nice fish mounts and nautical items come by and take a look. We are taking deposits to bills many items now,” the restaurant stated. They are also selling its many televisions and furniture. But please don’t call them, the phones are “already ringing off the hook!”
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay will be updating this article with more information as soon as possible.
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