Jazz & Blues Restaurant (Tampa, Memphis: live, restaurants, shop)

[jeffreda30238]

I was entertaining possibly opening a jazz/blues restaurant that would offer live entertainment Friday and Saturday. How would locals respond to such an establishment? Are these type of establishments oversaturated in the Tampa area?

[annaegel]

Where would you open it? I think it may depend on what area you are looking at. What would set your place apart from all the other jazz/blues restaurants?

[jeffreda30238]

I am not exactly sure WHERE in the Tampa area. Still doing the research on that part. What would set it apart? The cuisine as well as the acts. I have lived around the world and would incorporate that in the menu. Good food and GOOD musical acts that people may not have heard of otherwise. I have pretty good band connections around the country (and world ). I have not heard of any jazz/blues restaurants in Tampa, even though I am sure there are some. A poster posted a thread about where one was and no one could really answer where a good one was, so I am trying to see how big they are down in that area. I am from Atlanta, and that city is WAAAYY oversaturated with establishments like that so I'm trying to tap into a market where there may be very very few.....

[Maggi07]

Bring it to St. Pete. I would love to hang out there. There are some jazz clubs there, but I think it's far from saturated. The St. Pete crowd would be more likely to make it a success than Tampa, from what I understand of the area so far (haven't been here long yet).

[tampaguy03]

There are seceral but the area is definitely NOT saturated. Some areas in Tampa to consider:

Ybor City - picure a smaller version of French Quarter in New Orlaeans. Niche places are successful, great Jazz and/or blues with great food and service - Ybor needs more of these. I remember the Jazz Cellar across from Cafe Creole(also gone), very popular places, not sure what happened to them.

Channelside or Bay Street - these are entertainment/shopping/dining complexes, theme restaurants do well in these areas.

Hyde Park Village - upscale area, again, could use a nice Jazz/Blues place(anyone remember Salena's in the Village?)

[TampaKaren]

I promise if you bring Memphis Blues and real BBQ to Carrollwood, that I will be a regular. Honestly, I don't know if the demographics of the area would support it, you'll just have to do the research first.

TG03, I have stood in line at Salena's during lunch time. Good food and good atmosphere. I surely miss it.

[mickeyfinn]

Originally Posted by annaegel

What would set your place apart from all the other jazz/blues restaurants?

Is this a joke? Please name me five, no three, no TWO jazz/blues restaurants in Tampa that have good music and good food.

I'm serious, I've lived here for close to 30 years. The old Fox on Westshore was decent but it closed years ago.

The new Fox, which just bought the name, on Kennedy Boulevard just before the bridge, was spotty, but it was okay sometimes. They closed very recently.

As far as I know, there isn't even one good jazz/blues joint with good food in Tampa, not one.

There's a market here for one. A good quality place promoted the right way would make a ton in Tampa, I think.

[mickeyfinn]

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

I promise if you bring Memphis Blues and real BBQ to Carrollwood, that I will be a regular. Honestly, I don't know if the demographics of the area would support it, you'll just have to do the research first.

TG03, I have stood in line at Salena's during lunch time. Good food and good atmosphere. I surely miss it.

If you're talking about the place that was in Hyde Park for about 15 years, maybe more come to think of it, the name was Selena's. And it was a great place.

[jeffreda30238]

Well I want to thank everyone for their input. All this insight makes this seem like a very promising idea. I will continue doing my research but please keep the post coming with your opinions.