After closing eight months ago, iconic Tampa music venue and restaurant Skipper’s Smokehouse has plans to reopen this summer.
A Facebook post expresses hope for a June reopening at 910 Skipper Rd. and details new changes at Skipper’s including:
- New days of operation (Thursday-Sunday)
- No smoking
- Menu changes (smaller menu, with several favorites remaining)
- Mask rules (required when not seating, a new “masked up safe zone for those who desire to remain masked during shows”)
Naturally, there will be live music.
“We don’t have an exact date for our first show yet, but it will return,” the post added. “Tom [White, owner] will remain mostly retired but will continue to book the venue, while our Managing Partner steps forward.”
When it closed last September, Cricket Larson, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Skipper’s Smokehouse, cited COVID-19 as the thing that put an end to the venue’s 40-year run. Larson said the restaurant would close while the venue would “open occasionally for private events and sporadic concerts are possible.”
Citing, in part, “a lack of the right fit for new ownership,” coupled with demand from loyalists, the venue is reopening but asking fans to be patient.
“First things first - we are NOT open yet. Please DO NOT come to Skipper's now. We are just as eager as you are to be back but, we have a lot of work underway - you will not be allowed to enter at this time and will be kindly asked to leave. Our folks are working daily to get everything completed - the sooner it is completed, the sooner we can open the doors and welcome you in,” the post added. “We ask that you to be patient with us until we are done with what we are working so hard to give you. We really appreciate your respect on this one.”
See a list of Tampa “Safe & Sound” live music venues here.
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