For St. Petersburg restaurateur Stephen Schrutt, a bar should be, above all else, an escape.
That's why his newest creation, No Vacancy, feels like a midcentury Florida motel, with vintage patio furniture, massive flamingo and conch shell punch bowls and neon signs.
"I go out to the beach — that's my escape," Schrutt, owner and founder of Hunger + Thirst Group. "And hitting some of these beach bars, I thought, I don't want to do a beach bar, but there's a lot of elements of the Florida vibe that are just so cool."
Schrutt opened the bar quietly on Jan. 17, following a family and friends event; it's open to the public now, and a grand opening celebration is planned for Feb. 8.
It opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and at 11 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Sunday brunch will likely debut in March, Schrutt said.
No Vacancy replaces Kings Street Food Counter, a comfort food restaurant that Schrutt decided to close in August. Kings Street, which became known for its over-the-top milkshakes, wasn't growing from a revenue perspective after three years in business. It is the latest concept for Schrutt's restaurant group, which is also the parent company of the Avenue and Park & Rec, an "eatertainment" concept that is
expanding to downtown Tampa. (That opening, Schrutt said, is about two months away.)
The Kings Street location, smack dab in the middle of the city's Edge district, wasn't the problem, Schrutt knew. He also knew that whatever came next would need a full liquor license to succeed. So he closed down Kings Street, and after mulling it over, decided it would be perfect for No Vacancy, an idea he's had for some time.After a renovation that Schrutt says was "more than six figures," the space is No Vacancy, a space that's made for selfies and Instagram-worthy shots with the squad. The menu mirrors the theme — it's laid back, featuring items like a fried fish sandwich, a Cuban sandwich and lobster cheese dip. There are frozen cocktails, punch bowls meant to be shared and Florida beers on draft. The ladies room is decked out in flamingo wallpaper and framed vintage Playboy covers.
"It's Florida," Schrutt said of the concept. "You understand when it's from here and you think it's neat when you're not because it's a little bit of quirky Florida but not overdone. We wanted it to still be tasteful and a little bit cheeky and fun but come off as an escape."Click for full article
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