Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille’s second St. Petersburg location will open this summer

St. Petersburg is just a few months away from its second Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille location, which will soon take over the former Green Iguana building at 8790 Bay Pines Blvd.

According to its Facebook, the second Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille will open in the Jungle Terrace neighborhood of St. Petersburg, which borders Seminole.

“We’re looking for experienced kitchen managers to begin training with our company to be able to hit the ground running, and take full ownership of this kitchen when we open later this summer!” it's recent post reads. The restaurant will soon begin hiring for other positions as well.

Guests can expect Doc Ford’s signature tropical-inspired menu, packed with fresh seafood and Caribbean flavors when its newest restaurant debuts in a few months. Popular dishes include panko-fried shrimp, seafood paella, seared mahi mahi and Yucatan baked oysters.

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille also has a separate menu just for gluten-free options, which include signature dishes like its Maine lobster roll and Caribbean jerk tostados.

And perhaps even more so than its island-themed menu and decor, Doc Ford’s is known for its waterfront views and extensive outdoor seating. It's upcoming St. Pete location will boast a scenic view of Boca Ciega Bay.

The restaurant that rests at the end of the St. Pete Pier is currently the only Doc Ford’s in Tampa Bay, with other locations in Ft. Myers, Sanibel Island and Captiva Island. The St. Pete Pier location of Doc Ford’s was recently voted as St. Petersburg’s #1 restaurant on Tripadvisor, proving its popularity with both locals and tourists alike.

The building at 8790 Bay Pines Blvd. housed the bar and restaurant Green Iguana until 2012, when it moved to its current location in South Tampa. The bright-green building has been vacant for almost a decade.

St. Pete Catalyst reported that Doc Ford’s parent company, HM Restaurant Group, purchased the waterfront property and its 6,750-square-foot building for $34.5 million last spring. The article also states that the new Doc Ford’s location will also have several floating docks for its boat-owning customers.

For the latest information on the highly-anticipated Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille location, follow its Facebook and Instagram, both at @docfords.