On its best nights, long-running Tampa country music venue and dance club Dallas Bull plays host to more than 2,100 party goers.
These days—after months of mandatory closure to try and stop the spread of the novel coronavirus—assistant manager Jose Romero says the 31,000 square-foot club hosts a maximum of 50 people on the nights that it’s even open.
“We are struggling,” Romero told CL in a Thursday phone call. The Bull is unique in Tampa for its sheer size, the way it mixes line dancing with hip-hop on the dance floor, and how it’s hosted countless mainstream country artists before (Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line) and even after (Kenny Chesney did a surprise acoustic show) they got big.
Romero deferred specifics to the Bull’s general manager, but he told CL that the club did get some PPP (it does not appear in a database of entities which got at least $150,000) and paid the employees it had to furlough or layoff in the wake of the pandemic.
“The owner [Lewis Surratt Sr.] has given up his own paycheck so management can keep its health insurance—you don't want to go without health care during a pandemic,” Romera added.
The struggle is why the 41-year-old hotspot, which moved into 3322 U.S. Hwy. in east Tampa in 2006, is asking for help via a GoFundMe campaign that says, "we are in dire need of all of our friends help in saving our beloved establishment."
“With much humility, we are now reaching out to you,” the fundraiser adds, “to help keep this Honkey Tonk alive.”
Even if successful, Romero told CL that the $45,000 raised would just delay the permanent closure which clubs like his—and countless others, especially ones that act as strictly music venues—fear.
Support local journalism in these crazy days. Our small but mighty team is working tirelessly to bring you up to the minute news on how Coronavirus is affecting Tampa and surrounding areas. Please consider making a one time or monthly donation to help support our staff. Every little bit helps.
Follow @cl_music on Twitter to get the most up-to-date music news, concert announcements and local tunes. Subscribe to our newsletter, and listen to us on WMNF 88.5-FM’s “Radio Reverb” program every Saturday from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
