Mayor Buckhorn announced today that Smuggler’s Enterprises Inc., with their Harpoon Harry’s Crab House concept, was awarded the contract from the Request for Proposal for the convention center retail space that was released in May.
“Smuggler’s Enterprise has several well respected, family friendly, concepts across the Southeast that offer a wide variety of options for everyone,” said Mayor Bob Buckhorn. “We look forward to having Harpoon Harry’s Crab House at the Tampa Convention Center as another option, in a growing number of restaurants downtown, for both our convention goers, vacationers, and Tampa residents alike. As Tampa’s downtown becomes a destination that visitors across the globe are flocking to, it’s high-volume, moderately priced restaurants like these that will keep families returning to the urban core.”
The restaurant concept is a “premiere, world class facility” based on the Harpoon Harry’s Crab House Concept which is a successful high energy, food, beverage, retail and entertainment operation. It will have between 400 and 500 seats with mezzanines and open air concept through the incorporation of roll up doors along Franklin Street. It will include a sushi bar, stylized bar area themed around a 1926 truck, as well as a main bar.
They are investing $3.6 million to convert a 10,000 square foot storage space into a family friendly themed restaurant. They intend open in 6 to 8 months.
For additional information, please contact:
Ashley Bauman, Public Affairs Director
(813) 274-8262
Ashley.Bauman@tampagov.net