Anclote Brew Opens Today

Tommy Koulouris, 27, is opening the doors to his first establishment, Anclote Brew, on Friday evening. 

A familiar face around town, Koulouris' roots run deep in Tarpon Springs. 

His great grandfather opened Pappas' restaurant, which is now Hellas. In the late '80s, Koulouris' grandfather bought the sponge exchange and built the foundation for the current space.

Photos inside of Anclote Brew depict an earlier Tarpon Springs. The images show that the space Koulouris is now using for the bar was actually used as a sponge storage space many years ago.

Koulouris, growing up around restaurants and sponge diving, has had quite a few interesting life experiences at his age. After completing high school at Tarpon High, he attended Tallahassee Community College for his freshman year. 

Like a lot of young entrepreneurs, Koulouris found that school was not the route for him.

"It just wasn't for me," Koulouris said.

Being on the water as a kid, Koulouris has always been an avid fisherman. When he left Tallahassee, he moved back down to Tarpon to pursue a career on a private fishing boat. Koulouris was able to explore the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas during his time as a fisherman.

Although he says that the scenery was nice on the open water, it was only a matter of time until he found himself wishing to be home on the sponge docks. 

It was almost a nine-year stint on the boat before Koulouris finally moved back to Tarpon Springs. 

"I traveled a lot and saw a lot of different places, but I never saw a place like this," Koulouris said.

Upon his return, he started brainstorming ideas for a business. He tossed around ideas of a restaurant or a coffee lounge. Nothing seemed to stick.

One day, Koulouris was doing some research and found that surrounding cities had craft beer bars that were booming with business.

It was game on for Koulouris.

"I wanted a place where locals could come and call it 'their bar,' " Koulouris explained. "When they have friends in from out of town, I want them to say, 'this is where we all hang out.' "

In Koulouris' opinion, there has never been a place held with such esteem on the sponge docks.

Unlike other businesses that rely on the tourist season to hit their annual profit goals, Koulouris says that he wants the tourists to be "the cream on top." Locals are his primary focus.

Koulouris has his inventory planned out: 10 craft beers on tap, blush wine, chardonnay, merlot and a handful of bottled imports. For other beer fans, Anclote Brew will also carry a number of domestics. Koulouris says that the list isn't set in stone and that it's just a starting block. 

Once the establishment is up and running on a daily basis, the day crowd will have the option to order imported coffees and teas.

Anclote Brew's decor is an inviting mix of modern ambiance and Tarpon Springs history. A single wall was left in its original form with exposed brick from the past. Barstools line the bar while high-tops and chairs sit near a comfy leather couch.

Just in time for fall, the outdoor seating area promises to be a great spot for shooting the breeze and enjoying a cold one. Or hot, depending on your taste.

The bar will open at 7 p.m. today and is located inside the Sponge Exchange on Dodecanese Boulevard at the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. For more information, visit the Anclote Brew Facebook page.