These days, it’s pretty rare for a bar to make it to its 75th anniversary, so staff at The Hub is going all out to throw one of Tampa’s oldest dives a hell of a party.
The iconic watering hole has been located at 719 N Franklin St. in between the Tampa Theatre and downtown’s Kress Block since 2002, but its history may go all the way back to 1933 when a “Hub Hotel” was at 212 1/2 Franklin St., according to a city directory. A Hub Saloon lived at 801 Tampa St.. in the mid-1930s, according to Paul Guzzo, who added that there was another at 904 1/2 E. Broadway Ave. in the 1940s.
But most people who talk about “the old Hub” are referencing the iteration at 701 N Florida Ave., just a block away from the current location where it first opened as a cigar store in 1949 before eventually adopting dive vibes in the ‘80s. The 700 block of downtown Tampa has been more-or-less razed, but the horseshoe bar from that location of The Hub still lives at the current spot where a roughly three-week celebration happens this month.
Commemorative anniversary merch will be available, and the locally famous, Best of the Bay-winning, jukebox, was recently refurbished and is ready to party. The entertainment lineup is stacked, with a plethora of local acts from various genres performing and an anniversary edition of the monthly DJ night dance party, Rock n’ Soul.
The music starts on Friday, Aug. 16 with The Dennis and John Tribute Band playing in honor of a celebration of life for recently lost friends of the band. The show on Saturday, Aug. 17 features three punk-rock bands—The Vindicators, Boney Fiend and St. Pete’s Atl Dog (stylized in all-caps), making its Tampa debut.
On Sunday, Aug. 18, the theater next door is showing “Casablanca,” so Tampa’s “second best bartender,” Kamran Mir is making the timeless French 75 in addition to other champagne cocktails that are sponsored by Lamarca and New Amsterdam.
Lauris Vidal, who’s no stranger to performing at The Hub, is bringing his one man band on Saturday, Aug. 24.
The Hub gets right back to it the following Monday, Aug. 26, with Mes McDonald and DJ Silence who stage Rock ‘n’ Soul before Tampa instrumental-rock trio Florida Night Heat reunites for a Thursday, Aug. 29 show alongside rowdy rock and roll trio Night Child (formerly Johnny Mile & The Kilometers).
The final weekend of The Hub’s 75th anniversary includes sets from Kenny Green and his band Native Solz (Friday, Aug. 30), and a Saturday, Aug. 31 show with outlaw-country and gospel hybrid One Trip Little.
To cap the seemingly endless celebration off, This Little Pig’s food truck will be outside on Sunday, Sept. 1 serving “elevated comfort food with influence from creole flavors,” but not before a daytime Bossa nova brunch with live music from noon-4 p.m.
Another tasty offering, while supplies last, will be donuts from neighboring sandwich darling Supernatural that will feature a glaze inspired by "Tampa’s official cocktail, 6 a.m. on 7th". Details on daytime entertainment are still up in the air, but at night there will be performances from local favorites Pet Lizard and The Urbane Cowboys.
There's no cover for any of the 75th anniversary celebrations happening this month at The Hub in downtown Tampa.
Whether you plan to attend any of these events or decide to celebrate on your own time, remember that the Hub remains cash only and bullshit free. Cheers to 75 years! UPDATED: 08/08/24 11:26 a.m. Updated because Cacophony band is out, and Bossa nova brunch is in.
Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.
Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
The iconic watering hole has been located at 719 N Franklin St. in between the Tampa Theatre and downtown’s Kress Block since 2002, but its history may go all the way back to 1933 when a “Hub Hotel” was at 212 1/2 Franklin St., according to a city directory. A Hub Saloon lived at 801 Tampa St.. in the mid-1930s, according to Paul Guzzo, who added that there was another at 904 1/2 E. Broadway Ave. in the 1940s.
But most people who talk about “the old Hub” are referencing the iteration at 701 N Florida Ave., just a block away from the current location where it first opened as a cigar store in 1949 before eventually adopting dive vibes in the ‘80s. The 700 block of downtown Tampa has been more-or-less razed, but the horseshoe bar from that location of The Hub still lives at the current spot where a roughly three-week celebration happens this month.
Event Details
The music starts on Friday, Aug. 16 with The Dennis and John Tribute Band playing in honor of a celebration of life for recently lost friends of the band. The show on Saturday, Aug. 17 features three punk-rock bands—The Vindicators, Boney Fiend and St. Pete’s Atl Dog (stylized in all-caps), making its Tampa debut.
On Sunday, Aug. 18, the theater next door is showing “Casablanca,” so Tampa’s “second best bartender,” Kamran Mir is making the timeless French 75 in addition to other champagne cocktails that are sponsored by Lamarca and New Amsterdam.
Lauris Vidal, who’s no stranger to performing at The Hub, is bringing his one man band on Saturday, Aug. 24.
The Hub gets right back to it the following Monday, Aug. 26, with Mes McDonald and DJ Silence who stage Rock ‘n’ Soul before Tampa instrumental-rock trio Florida Night Heat reunites for a Thursday, Aug. 29 show alongside rowdy rock and roll trio Night Child (formerly Johnny Mile & The Kilometers).
The final weekend of The Hub’s 75th anniversary includes sets from Kenny Green and his band Native Solz (Friday, Aug. 30), and a Saturday, Aug. 31 show with outlaw-country and gospel hybrid One Trip Little.
To cap the seemingly endless celebration off, This Little Pig’s food truck will be outside on Sunday, Sept. 1 serving “elevated comfort food with influence from creole flavors,” but not before a daytime Bossa nova brunch with live music from noon-4 p.m.
Another tasty offering, while supplies last, will be donuts from neighboring sandwich darling Supernatural that will feature a glaze inspired by "Tampa’s official cocktail, 6 a.m. on 7th". Details on daytime entertainment are still up in the air, but at night there will be performances from local favorites Pet Lizard and The Urbane Cowboys.
There's no cover for any of the 75th anniversary celebrations happening this month at The Hub in downtown Tampa.
Whether you plan to attend any of these events or decide to celebrate on your own time, remember that the Hub remains cash only and bullshit free. Cheers to 75 years! UPDATED: 08/08/24 11:26 a.m. Updated because Cacophony band is out, and Bossa nova brunch is in.
Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.
Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
