Downtown Bar Finally Gets a New Face

Rick Clowes opened Grumpy’s Tap Room in late September, when the previous tenant’s lease expired. 

And while it took just a few weeks for Clowes to get back into the swing of operating a bar and restaurant in Palm Harbor, it took considerably longer for him to put a face on the place. 

About a month ago, that all changed, as Grumpy’s finally unveiled a new sign with a familiar face staring back at patrons and passersby. 

“A friend of mine named Mike Schobel does caricatures, and in November he was fooling around while over at my house and drew one of me,” Clowes said. “I figured, why not put my ugly face up there and let it shine down on all of Palm Harbor?” 

Problems with getting the electronics working properly and other issues delayed the debut of the signature sign, which depicts Clowes holding a couple of frosty beer mugs, but now that it’s in place Clowes is moving forward with other changes to his establishment. 

“We’re about to debut a new menu and a new [point of sale] system … and do a little fine-tuning of the place,” said Clowes, who previously operated a Mexican restaurant in the same spot. “We will be taking some items off the menu that weren’t selling as well, and adding a few new items that we hope will do well.” 

In addition to the new menu and cash register system, Grumpy’s will soon feature live music six nights a week, up from four, and Clowes hopes to add breakfast and possibly full liquor in the future. He also recently installed a small bar inside. 

Amid all the changes, including the addition of the sign, which reflects the fun nature of the bar, Clowes said he is happy in his second go ‘round in the restaurant business. 

“Everything has been going great, better than I expected,” he said. “It’s a little different than what I was doing before … but I am enjoying it.”

Grumpy's Tap Room 

Address: 1026 Nebraska Ave.

Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-close Friday-Saturday