Park & Rec closes in downtown Tampa's Channel district
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Apr 21, 2023

Park & Rec, a bar and restaurant that features retro arcade games and giant lawn games, is closing its location in downtown Tampa's Channel district.

Stephen Schrutt, founder and CEO of Park & Rec's parent company Hunger Thirst Group, announced the closure in an Instagram post late Thursday.

Schrutt told the Tampa Bay Business Journal on Friday that he sold the lease and assets to the 10,000-square-foot commercial condo along Meridian Avenue on the ground floor of the Towers of Channelside.

"I woke up relieved today," Schrutt said. "It's bittersweet, but I'm thankful I was able to sell my business and move on."

The lease for Park & Rec was signed in 2018. The restaurant opened in October 2019; by January 2020, the condo association at the towers had sued the business over its use of buildings' shared spaces. Schrutt said he also dealt with "nonstop" noise complaints from residents.

Schrutt declined to disclose who bought the lease but said it's an out-of-town group that operates bars and restaurants throughout Florida. Most of their businesses are in Gainesville.

A Tampa native, Schrutt said it was a "dream" of his to open a business in his hometown. He moved to St. Petersburg 12 years ago to start The Avenue and has since opened multiple other concepts, including No Vacancy, Lost and Found, Dirty Laundry and Good Fortune. Park & Rec maintains its original location in St. Petersburg.

"I considered changing the concept, but at the end of the day, I’d rather use my resources to grow in St. Pete," he said.

He said he won't open a bar on the ground floor of a residential building again and has turned down several opportunities in mixed-use buildings in St. Pete.

"I think that works for coffee shops and retail," Schrutt said. "But if you're going to be a bar, it's very difficult to make sure your sound levels and guests are not [disturbing the residents]."