Ybor City’s beloved dive bar Boneyard to close this weekend, marking an 'end of an era'

Help drain the bar's many taps at its going-away party this Sunday.

click to enlarge Ybor City’s beloved dive bar Boneyard to close this weekend, marking an 'end of an era'
Photo via Google Maps
In the heart of Ybor City amongst the clubs, pizza parlors and cigar shops lies the Boneyard at 1823 E 7th Ave.—one of the district's most beloved and eclectic dive bars.

Unfortunately, there's only about four more days to enjoy the its cheap drinks, pool tables and late-night bar fare, since Boneyard announced its imminent closure on social media yesterday.

“It’s with a heavy heart we announce that this will be our last weekend…After nearly three decades in Ybor we will be closing our doors for good this Sunday night.” Boneyard wrote on Instagram.

Its farewell post doesn't name any of the reasons why Boneyard is shuttering doors for good.

Online, bargoers lamented the loss of another one of the historic district's watering holes (Rock Brothers closed last week), and also mentioned how the vibe's changed at the dive since it returned from the pandemic with some interior renovations, including removing the christmas lights inside.
The beloved dive bar will be open its regular hours of 7 p.m.-3 a.m. for the rest of the week until its closure on Sunday, July 16. Its farewell celebration will feature jello shots, cheap drinks and a ton of regulars bonding over their favorite drunken nights at the Ybor City institution.

“Come down and reminisce on the good times, have some jell-o shots, and enjoy killer drink specials! Thank you all for making the Boneyard a staple of Ybor, we’ll miss you all," its final post continues.
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Boneyard is known for its cheap, yet stiff drinks, walls filled with photos and memorabilia, as well as its late-night menu of beer-friendly eats like chicken tenders, giant hot dogs wrapped in bacon, mozzarella sticks and jalapeño poppers (which can still be ordered on Grubhub, too).

The dog's been called the best in town, with the wings once lauded as among the greatest in Tampa, too.

In 2014, the Tampa Bay Times deemed the dive as "a quirky home for all of Ybor City's freaks," admiring its eclectic dive bar charm, $2 tallboys and seating area made of hacked-up clawfoot bathtubs. Before that, the Tampa Tribune described Boneyard as "a comfy retreat from Ybor's trendmongering."

For the latest information on Boneyard and its imminent closure, head to its Instagram at @therealboneyardybor. In 2005, the Tampa Tribune called Boneyard In 2005, the Tampa Tribune called Boneyard "a comfy retreat from Ybor's trendmongering." 22 Jul 2005, Fri The Tampa Tribune (Tampa, Florida) Newspapers.com Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

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UPDATED
: 07/15/23 9 a.m. Updated to include reader reaction.

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Kyla Fields

Kyla Fields is the Managing Editor of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay who started their journey at CL as summer 2019 intern. They are the proud owner of a charming, sausage-shaped, four-year-old rescue mutt named Piña.
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