Roughly three years after its Seminole Heights debut, Korean fried chicken concept Gangchu Chicken and Beer is now for sale.
Located at 6618 N Nebraska Ave., the 1,792-square-foot, full-service restaurant is being sold turnkey, according to the recent listing. The completely renovated space comes with a 14-car parking lot, a bar, patio, and a large walk-in freezer.
The current asking price is $1.9 million, and the listing agent is Scott Hileman of Goal Commercial Inc.
Built out of a former service station, then-owner and chef Noel Cruz first opened the concept back in 2021 with a focus on twice-fried chicken, shareable platters, and a robust cocktail menu, along with late-night eats and karaoke room. A few months after its debut, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay food critic Jon Palmer Claridge celebrated the Best of the Bay-winning concept, saying Cruz "hit the bullseye."
"Everything we sample at Gangchu Chicken and Beer in Seminole Heights puts a smile on our faces," wrote Palmer Claridge in his review. Ostensibly, they celebrate Korean style chicken and beer, but the menu is so much more."
The sale also comes about a year after the closure of Cruz's other Seminole Heights ramen restaurant Ichicoro, which was a Michelin Bib Gourmand winner.
Cruz had also been connected with 3 Corners Pizza in Water Street, but last December a rep for Tampa Hospitality Group told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that Cruz was no longer involved with Gangchu or 3 Corners.
SunBiz connects Gangchu to Chris Clamp, who also owns 3 Corners as well as Cement Tile Shop, which keeps an office in Seminole Heights.
Cruz has not commented, and Clamp told CL that while the property is for sale, he's basically looking for a buyer to invest in the property and let the Gangchu team keep doing its thing. He lauded recent new additions to the menu, and encouraged everyone to take advantage of karaoke, the large patio and happy hour. "Gangchu plans to continue serving the neighborhood," he added.
