Loading
The fortunes of businesses along Tampa's Channelside Drive near the St. Pete Times Forum have depended in years past on how well the Tampa Bay Lightning did on ice (Business Review, Aug. 20). Now that the hockey team is off to a good start this season, it appears a resurgence is under way in Boltville.
Local entrepreneur Stephen Davis has opened The Luxury Box, an upscale restaurant offering sushi and burgers for lunch and dinner, directly across from the Forum. He's running the new cafe with help from his wife, Crystal, and his brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Barbara Davis.
Rather than relying purely on hockey nights and concerts at the Forum, Davis says he wants to draw crowds to his place every night of the week. He says the owners invested nearly $100,000 to restore the former location of Hot Tuna, Dave Andreychuk's Grille and Beef 'O' Brady's.
“We're really going to build this on non-event nights,” Davis tells Coffee Talk. “Every other business that was here before was only open during events. Our marketing effort is working toward filling up those other days.”
Part of that effort includes promoting other activities, such as poker, karaoke and college nights, as well as televised sports such as football on weekends, he says. Also, a percentage of the restaurant's receipts will benefit local youth sports through the family's nonprofit group, Davis Quad.
Meanwhile, two other pubs on either side of Davis' establishment that used to house The Outpost and The Hut remain vacant. While another Stanley Cup run by the Lightning would surely help, the next proprietors might be better off pursuing a business plan transcending the game schedule.
Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning business news.
Join thousands of executives who rely on us for insights spanning Tampa Bay to Naples.
