New Tapas Restaurant and Bar opens at historic site | Business

St. Petersburg, Florida – A new eatery, the Tapas Restaurant and Bar opened this past Tuesday, Aug. 7, in west St. Petersburg.  It is located at 1700 Park Street North and Elbow Lane by the Jungle Prada public boat launch and the Jungle Prada de Narvaez Park. 

The site of the new restaurant has a lively history.  The Jungle Prada shopping complex was built in 1923-1924 on an Indian burial mound. The complex had a large restaurant, several small stores and a gas station. It had a successful speakeasy named “The Gangplank, which became St. Petersburg’s first nightclub. Count Basie and Duke Ellington played at the Gangplank and Babe Ruth was married here.

During the prohibition era, there was a secret underground tunnel leading from the bay to Jungle Prada, which was used by bootleggers.  It is rumored that Al Capone was part owner of the Gangplank.

The Hernando family, who recently relocated from Cocoa Beach, owns the restaurant.

Business Hours are: 

• Tuesday: 11 a.m. – Midnight

• Wednesday & Thursday: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m.

• Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.

• Sunday: 10 a.m. – Midnight

For more information go to http://www.taparestaurantbar.com/ or call: 727-202-6833.