Bouzy opens in Hyde Park Village
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Feb 24, 2023

A long-awaited sparkling wine bar has opened in Hyde Park Village.

Bouzy, which features champagne, sparkling wines and small plates, opened in the South Tampa shopping and entertainment district on Feb. 6. It is a new concept from Cru Hospitality Group, the parent company of Cru Cellars.

The 2,500-square-foot space cost between $1.5 million and $2 million to build out, said Jen Bingham, owner and sommelier at Cru Hospitality Group. Cru Cellars has three locations: Palma Ceia, the Westshore Marina district and Heights Public Market at Armature Works. It is also opening Small Giant, a neighborhood bar and restaurant, as well as wine shop Wine on Water, in Water Street Tampa.

The food menu is seafood focused with an emphasis on small plates. Eric Bach, who was previously a sous chef at Bern's Steak House in Tampa and a sous chef at Cru, is the executive chef.

"I genuinely think people are going to be very surprised by [the experience] we're able to deliver," Bingham said.

Bouzy was first announced in January 2021, and Bingham told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that the concept had evolved significantly since initial plans went public. There are 35 seats in the bar and about 20 patio seats that are first come, first serve. The remaining 35 seats in the champagne cellar, aka the dining room, are available by reservation only.

"Under Jennifer’s vision, Bouzy is sure to delight all who visit Hyde Park Village and become a destination for celebrating life’s big and small moments,” Nicole Dee, general manager of Hyde Park Village, said in a statement.