Stop and consider what the market inefficiency for Tampa Bay's sports bar market is. Got a guess?
Evan Longoria is leveraging that the correct answer is Mini-Bowling!
Fresh of his $100M extension with a club option for 2023, our own Evan Longoria has begun financially investing into the community. His first effort will be a sports bar west of downtown Tampa called Ducky's, and it will feature a respectable menu, lots of big spring TV's, and mini-bowling.
The full press release:
Ducky's Sports Lounge will add a new dining and entertainment option in South Tampa, offering innovative bar foods, creative cocktails, state-of-the-art audio/visual capabilities and "mini bowling" in a relaxed, upscale atmosphere.
Located just west of downtown (1719 W. Kennedy Boulevard), the 5,700-square-foot boutique sports lounge will be the only restaurant in South Tampa to feature four lanes of mini bowling - a smaller, simpler form of the sport that does not require special shoes, uses a smaller ball, and incorporates two, 80-inch high-definition projection screens in the middle of each lane for optimal game viewing.
The main attraction for sports fans will be the 42-inch screens placed throughout the lounge, making Ducky's the "best seat in the house" for every sporting event.
The restaurant will seat 148 guests and will be open seven days a week for lunch, dinner, happy hour and late night dining.
The Ducky's Sports Lounge concept was created and developed by several Tampa area businessmen, including Tampa Bay Rays three-time American League All-Star third baseman, Evan Longoria.
"Ducky's will have a little something for everyone - mini bowling for friends and families, a convenient happy hour spot for the downtown crowd and an incredible game-watching venue for sports fans," said Keith Goan, one of Ducky's owners. "It's exciting to be a part of the current wave of development along Kennedy Boulevard and to bring this unique concept to the area."
Ducky's menu has been developed by long-time chef Frankie Midulla who has worked in New York, Miami and Tampa. Chef Frankie honed his craft locally at Valencia Gardens and at his own restaurant, Midulla's.
The menu will consist of innovative bar foods ranging from pretzel-wrapped pigs in a blanket to Italian sausage sliders. The restaurant will also feature New York-style thin-crust pizzas created by veteran Tampa restaurateur, Rico Iavarone, along with menu items inspired by local heritage, such as deviled crab, media noche sliders and palomilla steak sandwiches. Healthier options include "The Healthy Duck" - a healthy special of the day - and a create-your-own salad option.
For more information on Ducky's Sports Lounge, visit www.DuckysTampa.com.
You can follow Ducky's on twitter @DuckysTampa, the restaurant will open soon.
UPDATE: The Tampa Bay Times posted an article on Ducky's this morning.
Speaking with Marc Topkin, Longoria emphasized his desire for the sports bar to have quality food:
"When I was asked to be a part of it, the thing I was more concerned about was how the food was going to be. I focused more than anything on developing the menu so we could kind of differentiate ourselves from just bar food, so to speak, and be able to have people want to go there to eat... Ultimately, that's what keeps people coming back is quality food and quality service. So I think if we can start to build that, we are going to be really successful."
Topkin also noted that the name Ducky's refers to the "regionally popular duckpin bowling" that inspired the restaurant.
Construction has already begun.