A group of local restaurant entrepreneurs is collaborating to transform the former Caddy’s location in Gulfport into a new two-story dining establishment. The upcoming venture, named Stormrunners Tavern, is set to debut in early the coming year at 3128 Beach Blvd. South, featuring an exceptional setting with three bars overlooking Boca Ciega Bay.

This innovative restaurant concept includes a ground-floor walk-up bar and an open-air, high-end bar on the second floor, aptly named The Crow’s Nest. Additionally, there will be an outdoor tiki bar named BARk, designed to be dog-friendly. Notably, this multi-tiered restaurant marks the first of its kind in Gulfport.

The creative vision for Stormrunners Tavern originates from restaurateur Dave Burton, who also owns The Getaway in St. Petersburg, along with Tampa’s GenX Tavern, Tampa Pizza Co., and Holy Hog BBQ. Burton has joined forces with Fred Metzler, the owner of the Dog Bar on Central Avenue, as well as Ian Taylor and Joey Frasco, the proprietors of The Galley and The Ship’s Hold in downtown St. Petersburg, forming a new ownership entity for this project.

This partnership secured the lease for the space following the sudden closure of the Caddy’s seafood chain in July. It’s worth noting that Caddy’s also closed its St. Pete Beach location, which is now being transformed into Taverna On The Bay, a restaurant concept specializing in Mediterranean cuisine with a contemporary twist.

Prior to Caddy’s tenure at the Gulfport site in 2019, several other dining establishments, including Spinnakers, Dive Bar and Grill, Beach Haus, Aqua Bella, and Roman Gardens, had operated there. Conceptual renderings reveal a vibrant and tropical Florida theme, featuring storm warning flags adorning the building. Although the space experienced some damage from recent storms, the owners anticipate the grand opening of Stormrunners Tavern in the first quarter of the upcoming year.