Old Northeast Tavern is almost back — here's what's new

If you've driven past the corner of 7th Avenue NE lately and felt a small pang of nostalgia, you're not alone. The Old Northeast Tavern has been dark for nearly two years — longer than anyone expected when it first shuttered for renovations. But according to co-owner Bob Wareham, the wait is finally almost over.

The Old Northeast Tavern, a local staple for nearly two decades at 201 7th Avenue North, is expected to reopen later this year.

For a neighborhood that runs on walkability, block parties, and a genuine sense of community, this is a big deal.

What happened while it was closed?

The short version: a renovation that grew.

The historic Old Northeast neighborhood bar has been combining with the neighboring pizza joint, Old Northeast Pizza — and while the tavern stayed under construction, the pizza side kept slinging slices with more dining room than ever.

The new space drastically increased the footprint, utilizing the old game room of the tavern as an expansive dining area, complete with 5 flat-screen TVs, welcoming guests from both the tavern and pizza place to hang out.

So even before the full reopening, regulars got a preview of the larger, merged concept.

Wareham and his business partner, Mark Brindle, have owned the pub and neighboring pizzeria since 2008.

They've clearly been taking their time to get this right.

What's new when it reopens?

Three things stand out from what Wareham shared with St. Pete Rising:

A full liquor license. This is the biggest upgrade.

When renovations wrap, the newly minted Old Northeast Tavern will come with a full liquor license — "We've had a liquor license since February," says co-owner Bob Wareham. "We just haven't been able to use it yet."

Translation: cocktails are coming to a spot that previously ran on beer and wine.

Burgers and fries.

Wareham said the tavern may introduce several new menu items after reopening, including burgers and fries — a first for the restaurant.

Given how much foot traffic Old Northeast gets from families and joggers cutting through on their way to Crescent Lake Park, this feels overdue.

The classics are staying. Don't worry — the Reuben and the Chicken and Plantain Quesadilla aren't going anywhere.

The tavern's menu has traditionally centered on elevated pub fare, including sandwiches, quesadillas, and salads, with popular items including its Reuben sandwich and Chicken and Plantain Quesadilla.

And next door,

Old Northeast Pizza is known for its thin-crust New Jersey-style pies, including specialty offerings like the Del Mar, topped with crab, shrimp, and smoked Gouda, and the Wild Mushroom, featuring shiitake and crimini mushrooms, prosciutto, and pesto.

A building with serious history

The tavern, which originally opened in 2006, occupies part of a building that also houses Black Crow Coffee. The building was constructed in 1925, back when the neighborhood was referred to as North Shore.

And that building has seen some lives. Per coverage from WhatNow Tampa,

over the decades, tenants included Fender's Pharmacy, Elsie's Market, North Shore Sundries, Nan & Lou's Fountainette, N&L's Restaurant, and Ambrosia, a Mediterranean fusion restaurant that occupied the space before the tavern opened in 2006.

That kind of layered neighborhood history is exactly why Old Northeast has some of the most devoted homeowners in St. Pete.

The local publication Creative Loafing voted the Old Northeast Tavern the best neighborhood bar multiple years in a row.

That's not an accident — it's what happens when a bar actually knows its regulars.

When is it opening?

No firm date has been announced yet.

Wareham said both businesses — the tavern and the pizzeria — are expected to reopen later this year.

Follow their social channels for the date drop; based on the renovation progress, it feels like a fall 2026 timeline is realistic.

If you want a deeper look at what makes this corner of St. Pete so special, check out the Old Northeast neighborhood guide — it's one of my favorite walkable pockets in all of Pinellas County. And if you've ever wondered what homes near 7th Avenue NE are actually trading for these days, the 33704 home value page has current data worth bookmarking.

The Old Northeast Tavern isn't just a bar coming back. It's a piece of this neighborhood's identity returning to the block where it belongs. I'll have a table reserved the week it opens.