A South Tampa institution faces an “uncertain future” at its flagship location.
According to a press release, the owners of Hyde Park Village, Boston-based WS Development, have decided to not renew the lease of The Wine Exchange, which has been there for 32 years.
“It’s hard to imagine not being in our Hyde Park Village home especially because we are the oldest business in the Village and business has never been better”, Dr. Mark Smith—who owns Wine Exchange with Rick Drummond—said in the release.
He continues to thank the countless customers who’ve been loyal to his bar and restaurant over the years, stressing that he's “making every effort to keep our extraordinary staff together and find a new location in South Tampa to continue the legacy of The Wine Exchange.”
Smith tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that he initially signed a 10 year lease with the option to add an additional 5 years. Knowing that the business was approaching its 15 year mark, he had spent the last few years asking for another extension—a request that was recently denied.
Wine Exchange's last day at 1609 W Snow Ave in Hyde Park Village will be Friday, March 31.
According to a press release, the owners of Hyde Park Village, Boston-based WS Development, have decided to not renew the lease of The Wine Exchange, which has been there for 32 years.
“It’s hard to imagine not being in our Hyde Park Village home especially because we are the oldest business in the Village and business has never been better”, Dr. Mark Smith—who owns Wine Exchange with Rick Drummond—said in the release.
He continues to thank the countless customers who’ve been loyal to his bar and restaurant over the years, stressing that he's “making every effort to keep our extraordinary staff together and find a new location in South Tampa to continue the legacy of The Wine Exchange.”
Smith tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay that he initially signed a 10 year lease with the option to add an additional 5 years. Knowing that the business was approaching its 15 year mark, he had spent the last few years asking for another extension—a request that was recently denied.
Wine Exchange's last day at 1609 W Snow Ave in Hyde Park Village will be Friday, March 31.
A Tampa Bay Times article from yesterday states that the owners of Hyde Park Village have plans to replace Wine Exchange with an undisclosed retail store. A representative of WS Development told the Times: "part of what makes Hyde Park Village so special is that it is ever evolving and we’re excited to bring forth the next chapter of what the community has been asking of us.”
The Wine Exchange, a concept inspired by European-style street side cafes, debuted at Hyde Park Village in 1990, and moved a few storefronts away to its current location a few years later. The bar and restaurant is known for its extensive selection of wine and spirits, as well as its intimate bistro menu stacked with pastas, steaks, salads and other small plates.
Although there might be a waiting period before Wine Exchange's 2.0 opens, Smith is confident that it will thrive wherever it's located. There probably won't be many changes to its menu either, as Smith says "we'll stick with what's been successful—our customers have always been receptive to our food and well-curated wines.”
Hyde Park Village, South Tampa's culinary, retail and lifestyle hotspot, is currently home to popular restaurants like Forbici, Meat Market, On Swann, Timpano, Sur La Table, and many more.
The popular district's newest addition is a wine, champagne and cocktail bar called Bouzy, which will be joined by other upcoming concepts like Tampa's second Sweetgreen and The Salty Donut.
For the latest updates on The Wine Exchange and its relocation efforts, keep up with its Facebook page.
The Wine Exchange, a concept inspired by European-style street side cafes, debuted at Hyde Park Village in 1990, and moved a few storefronts away to its current location a few years later. The bar and restaurant is known for its extensive selection of wine and spirits, as well as its intimate bistro menu stacked with pastas, steaks, salads and other small plates.
Although there might be a waiting period before Wine Exchange's 2.0 opens, Smith is confident that it will thrive wherever it's located. There probably won't be many changes to its menu either, as Smith says "we'll stick with what's been successful—our customers have always been receptive to our food and well-curated wines.”
Hyde Park Village, South Tampa's culinary, retail and lifestyle hotspot, is currently home to popular restaurants like Forbici, Meat Market, On Swann, Timpano, Sur La Table, and many more.
The popular district's newest addition is a wine, champagne and cocktail bar called Bouzy, which will be joined by other upcoming concepts like Tampa's second Sweetgreen and The Salty Donut.
For the latest updates on The Wine Exchange and its relocation efforts, keep up with its Facebook page.
