St. Pete-themed tavern The Galley opening soon

The Galley opens this December in prime downtown area slated for major redevelopment

Founded by two St. Pete natives – they call it “a long-term investment in the future of St. Pete”

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (November 21, 2016) — Two local leaders of the ever-expanding St. Pete hospitality scene have joined forces, with high ambitions, to open what is likely to become a flagship addition to downtown St. Petersburg’s variety of restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues.

Located at 27 Fourth Street North, several blocks within eyeshot will look drastically different by 2018. “I’ve always been bullish on St. Pete – we’ve wanted to do this for a long time,” said co-owner Pete Boland. “This opportunity was worth the wait – we’re thrilled to participate in the renaissance of downtown, and especially in this historic and reemerging area, near both landmarks and growth.”

The Galley – “a St. Pete Tavern” – is a street-cross from Williams Park, the open-air post-office, and Snell Arcade. Nearby are the to-be-developed 400 Block, BB&T First Central Tower, and the “ONE” condo-hotel development (soon to be St. Pete’s tallest building) – along with more on the way.

The two-story, 2,000-square-foot space served as a Howard Johnson hotel decades ago. This makes for an oversized kitchen from which The Galley will create “fresh, nutritious, high-quality Tampa Bay fare, in the spirit of a gastropub,” said Boland. “Grouper sandwiches, Cuban sandwiches, stone crabs, Florida-inspired desserts with fresh Florida fruits… Beach Drive quality, Central Avenue fun… Chef Ian Carmichael is captain of the kitchen – he understands good food doesn’t have to be stuffy.”

Co-owner Ian Taylor and Boland both attended St. Pete High and first met on the wrestling team. Taylor has been leading the build-out and renovations for the past two months. Already keen eyes for detail can be seen – the familial seating, the mural by Sea Cat Murals, hand-picked nautical items from several states, a pressure-washed vicinity, and 10 HDTVs for Sunday football and local games, along with a projector screen for special events. “The community response and participation is amazing – fellow locals have really stepped up to help us in some major ways – we just can’t wait to give back.”

Upstairs offers unusually large storage capacity (for a more efficient supply chain) and even a nook for staff (for phone calls or a brief getaway). From general manager to support staff to construction and branding – Boland and Taylor have worked for a dozen-plus hospitality establishments between them.

The name “The Galley” and the nautical theme were inspired by several factors. Taylor is a Navy veteran. Both Taylor and Boland have family that are Navy and Coast Guard veterans. A kitchen on a ship is known as the galley. Plus of course the waterfront/water in general is a major component of St. Pete’s identity. Emphasizing the local roots and theme, Taylor said, “Our vision is to become one of the must-stop spots of the St. Pete experience.” The Galley will open next month (December).

About The Galley:

A nautical-inspired, locally owned and operated full liquor tavern, serving the best in St. Pete food, drink and culture. Located at 27 Fourth Street North, The Galley will be open 11:30am to 3am daily, with late-night menu 11pm to 3am. Bar will include local options along with full liquor and wine list. Opening in December, information/updates will be at TheGalleyStPete.com, Facebook, and Instagram.

More at:

• Tampa Bay Times
• Creative Loafing
• St. Petersburg Foodies
• St. Pete Patch
• Business Observer
• 83 Degrees
• Tampa Bay Newswire

###