Old Northeast Tavern is coming back — here's what's new
St. Pete's beloved neighborhood pub at 201 7th Ave N is reopening after nearly two years. Full liquor, new menu items, same soul — here's the full update.
On the map
The exact spot — handy for figuring out which neighborhood you're really in.
If you've lived in St. Pete longer than a few years, you already know what Old Northeast Tavern means to this city. It's the kind of place that never needed a PR campaign — word of mouth was enough. So when it went dark in late 2024, people noticed. Now, nearly two years later, it's finally coming back.
Two years is a long time for a neighborhood to go without its bar
The Old Northeast Tavern, a local staple for nearly two decades at 201 7th Avenue North, has been closed since renovations began — and its loyal customer base assumed the doors would reopen shortly. Nearly two years have passed and both the tavern and its adjacent pizzeria have remained closed.
But not for much longer.
When the tavern closed for renovations and expansion in late 2024, plans called for a reopening in the summer of 2025 — but permitting issues delayed the project.
Co-owner Bob Wareham confirmed to St. Pete Rising that the reopening is now expected later in 2026.
An official opening date still hasn't been set just yet.
What's actually changing
Here's the part regulars want to know: the bones are the same, but the place is getting a meaningful upgrade.
Full liquor bar. This is the big one.
When renovations wrap, the newly minted Old Northeast Tavern will come with a full liquor license — "We've had a liquor license since February," co-owner Bob Wareham has said.
For a spot that built its identity around craft beer and wine, cocktails are a genuine addition.
Expanded footprint.
The historic neighborhood bar has combined with the neighboring pizza joint, Old Northeast Pizza. The new space dramatically increased the footprint, utilizing the old game room of the tavern as an expansive dining area, complete with flat screen TVs welcoming guests from both the tavern and pizza place.
New menu items.
Co-owner Robert Wareham told St. Pete Rising that a few new items — including burgers and fries — will be on the menu, along with cocktails. Otherwise, apart from some updates, the favorites are expected to return.
That means the fan-favorite chicken supreme sandwich, smoked salmon bruschetta, and those NJ-style thin-crust pies aren't going anywhere.
A corner with a lot of history
I drove past the building on 7th Avenue NE recently and it still has that quiet, "any day now" energy.
The tavern occupies part of a building that also houses Black Crow Coffee — a building constructed in 1925, back when the neighborhood was still referred to as North Shore.
Long before it became Old Northeast Tavern, the corner space served generations of neighborhood residents as a pharmacy, market, diner and restaurant. 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's a century of the same corner feeding the same neighborhood. The tavern has always understood that.
Creative Loafing voted the Old Northeast Tavern the best neighborhood bar multiple years in a row
— which, if you've ever sat at the bar on a Tuesday night talking to whoever happened to be next to you, tracks completely.
Why this matters beyond the obvious
Prior to closing, the tavern served as a neighborhood gathering spot in the Old Northeast, known for its rustic charm, laid-back atmosphere, craft beer selection and American pub fare.
There's a real gap when a place like that disappears, even temporarily. The neighborhood didn't stop being a neighborhood — but it missed its anchor.
If you want a deeper look at what makes Old Northeast one of St. Pete's most distinctive residential pockets, the mix of historic bungalows, walkable streets, and community-first businesses like this one tells most of the story. It's also one of the reasons I regularly recommend the neighborhood to buyers who are relocating and want to feel like they actually live somewhere rather than just in a zip code. Speaking of which — if you're curious what homes near 7th Ave N are trading at right now, the 33704 home value page has current data.
No firm date yet, but Wareham has confirmed it's happening before the end of 2026. Follow Old Northeast Tavern's social pages and keep an eye on St. Pete Rising for the announcement. When the lights come back on at 201 7th Ave N, I have a feeling the first weekend back is going to feel like a reunion.