Sneak peek: Ferg's in Channelside to be way more than a sports bar

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Fraze Design rendering

Ferg's at Channelside will feature a 4,500-square-foot interior with a front deck.

Eric Snider

Reporter- Tampa Bay Business Journal

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"Hey, Andrew — late December, right?"

Jay Mize, developer of Ferg's in Channelside, is asking his general contractor if the place will be ready to open by then. Andrew Denton, whose Restaurant Interior Inc. is doing the buildout, pauses, then says, "We're in good shape."

Mize smiles. Just a bit of playful jousting on a gorgeous Thursday morning at the work site.

The original plan was for Ferg's to open in September, in time for Tampa Bay Lightning home games that take place across the street at Amelie Arena. But a few unique design elements caused permitting issues that pushed the project back a few months — namely, using retrofitted 40-foot freight containers for a kitchen and restrooms in a 10,000-square-foot courtyard. "We were in virgin territory with the city," Mize says. "They'd never dealt with shipping containers in that way before. Let me say it like this: The reason for the delay is one of the reasons we'll be successful."

Mize is unfazed by missing a portion of the Lightning season. "This place is meant to be a draw 365 days a year," he says. "The previous operators treated it as more seasonal, and it didn't work out over the long haul. Ferg's is a long-term play."

Ferg's 10,000-square-foot courtyard will be outfitted with a stage to present live music, including national acts. The place is rated for a capacity of just under 900.

The Channelside Ferg's is a whole other animal from the flagship Ferg's in downtown St. Petersburg. Founder Mark Ferguson licensed the name to Mize and has no control over the concept or operation. But that doesn't mean the Tampa location will overlook the sports-bar aspect. Mize said his "restaurant/venue" will feature a plethora of 60-inch TVs. The menu "will use the best of Ferg's [St. Pete] and we'll add our own flair," Mize said, adding that he expects to name an executive chef very soon.

Eric Snider is a reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.