Cru Cellars opens in Tampa’s Westshore Marina District
The 2,400-square-foot spot will eventually serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The new Cru Cellars opened last week in the Westshore Marina District in Tampa. Billed as a “wine restaurant,” Cru Westshore Marina is currently serving coffee and pastries in the morning and dinner Tuesdays through Sundays, with eventual plans to add brunch and lunch. [ CHRIS URSO | Times ]
TAMPA — For the past decade, Cru Cellars in Palma Ceia has been the go-to spot for both approachable and more obscure wine finds in South Tampa.
Now, owner and wine enthusiast Jennifer Bingham has opened a new and ambitious sister concept in the Westshore Marina District, the first of several restaurant projects planned for the sprawling mixed-use development.
The new Cru Westshore Marina, at 5232 Bridge St., marks a big moment both for Bingham’s team, which also operates a small offshoot inside the Heights Public Market at Armature Works, and for other retailers at the development. The project’s developers, BTI Partners, have pitched the residential and commercial hub near the intersection of Gandy and West Shore boulevards in Tampa as a walkable neighborhood that will attract both residents as well as visitors to the area. Cru’s opening last week appears poised to draw the biggest crowd yet.
For Bingham, it’s a big step in what is shaping up to be a busy year. Along with planning the Westshore Marina launch, the local wine pro has been busy hatching designs for Bouzy, a new Champagne and cocktail bar slated to open this fall in Hyde Park Village.
“I’m slightly crazy to be growing right now,” Bingham said. “But Tampa is really growing and I feel really lucky to have 11 years of experience behind me for this.”
Cru Westshore Marina in Tampa features an outdoor patio with seating for roughly 50 people and a dining room that can seat another 65. [ CHRIS URSO | Times ]
Unlike the Palma Ceia flagship, which is both a wine bar and retail shop, Bingham said her newest spot is more of a “wine restaurant,” with an everyday vibe where diners can stop in for an afternoon snack and a glass of wine as well as linger over a more upscale dinner later in the evening.
The restaurant is open for coffee and pastries in the morning and will eventually serve lunch, brunch and dinner. For now, it’s just open for breakfast and dinner. And though the focus has shifted from its predecessor to include more food, Bingham said wine is still very much at the heart of the operation, evidenced by the restaurant’s massive wine inventory, which includes roughly 2,000 bottles.
The light and airy 2,400-square-foot space is outfitted in mostly white decor, including plush banquettes and cozy booths, with seating for roughly 65 people. A long bar anchoring the space is decorated with bright blue tiles, a nod to the nearby marina. Outside, a large patio features seating for another 45 to 50 people.
In the back of the restaurant, a floor-to-ceiling wine cellar overlooks the space. Bingham said keeping the list approachable was important, and while there are several high-end selections, more than half the 260-bottle list features choices under $100.
The wine cellar at Cru Westshore Marina in Tampa features an inventory of roughly 2,000 bottles. [ CHRIS URSO | Times ]
Helming the kitchen is executive chef Zack Sylvester, who was hired at the Palma Ceia location shortly before the pandemic began. The menu at the new restaurant is similar to the one at the flagship location — yes, there are truffle fries and cheese and charcuterie farmer’s platters — but the list also features a larger selection of “marina-inspired” dishes (fish and seafood) as well as a collection of pizzas.
Appetizers and salads on the opening menu include a dish of littleneck clams served in a hickory fumet with roasted fennel, shallots and Pernod cream with crostini ($19); a gulf yellowfin tartare with chili oil, ginger soy reduction, pickled jalapenos, avocado and wonton chips ($21); and a chard and kale Caesar salad paired with a Scotch egg ($12).
Pizzas include a classic Margherita, topped with tarragon, heirloom tomatoes, burrata and basil ($15); and a pepperoni, capocollo and chorizo pie topped with Beecher’s Dulcet cheese, mozzarella and Grana Padano ($17).
Barista Chris Assed, 35, prepares a latte at Cru Westshore Marina in Tampa. [ CHRIS URSO | Times ]
Larger, entree-style dishes include an Australian Angus filet mignon served with maque choux, smoked pork belly and bearnaise ($38); a fenugreek-crusted Faroe Island salmon with hickory clam fumet, charred apples, fennel, frisee and Pernod cream ($27); and a steak sandwich topped with bearnaise, Gruyere, tomatoes and butter lettuce on a Sullivan Street Bakery roll served with fries ($18).
To help run the wine program, Bingham tapped sommeliers Kristen Lee and Julian Mayor, who helped curate the list and on busier nights will both be working the dining room to assist customers with their selections. Building on the Palma Ceia shop’s reputation, the list at the new restaurant will feature a selection of both natural and classic small-production wines from all over the world, Bingham said.
The bottle list at Cru Westshore Marina in Tampa features 260 wines, half of which are under $100. [ CHRIS URSO | Times ]
Bingham acknowledged that opening an upscale, wine-focused restaurant might sound a little ambitious following a rough year for restaurants, but she’s optimistic that Tampa Bay is ready for more.
“As restaurants reopen around the country, many are hesitant to bring back their large wine lists and floor sommeliers,” she said in an email. “Cru is enthusiastic.”
Cru Westshore Marina, 5232 Bridge St., Tampa, is currently open Tuesday through Sunday starting at 7 a.m. for coffee, pastries and retail. Dinner is served from 4 p.m. to close. 813-515-5817. crucellars.com/westshore-marina1.
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Cru Cellars opens in Westshore Marina District, marking watershed moment for the mixed-use development
South Tampa wine bar Cru Cellars has opened in the Westshore Marina District, marking a watershed moment for the mixed-use development.
The third outpost of Cru, which also has locations in Palma Ceia and Heights Public Market at Armature Work, is the brand’s most food-forward location. It feels much more like a restaurant than the original site in Palma Ceia, which devotes a large amount of its real estate to a bottle shop, said owner Jennifer Bingham.
The Westshore location is 2,400 square feet and features an outdoor seating area.
There are more than 250 selections on the wine menu, and the cellar totals 2,000 bottles. The food menu includes nibbles like truffle fries and garlic Gulf shrimp crostini — but also pizza and a selection of entrees that includes filet mignon and several seafood dishes.
Cru is the second retail tenant to open in Marina Landings, the district’s 70,000-square-foot retail village; boutique Sand Surf Co. opened May 1. The retail openings are a big milestone for the district, giving residents a walkable option and nonresidents a reason to visit.
“The quality of these tenants shows how carefully we have curated the retailers in Marina Landings to offer a holistic experience to our residents and the South Tampa community,” Britney Mroczkowski, vice president of retail development with BTI Partners, said in a statement.
Fort Lauderdale-based BTI Partners is the master developer of the Westshore Marina District.
Bingham said she’s made more than 50 hires for the new Cru, which is open for dinner and sells coffee and pastries in the morning. In the weeks ahead, the hours will expand to include lunch and brunch offerings.
The hiring is no small feat; restaurants throughout Tampa Bay are facing an extreme labor shortage. But Bingham said she’s been able to recruit by offering an incentive to existing staff — in the form of a Cru gift card — and following up with applicants immediately.
Bingham is already working on her fourth location, a champagne bar named Bouzy in Hyde Park Village. That restaurant is still in the design phase, she said.
“We’ll go in for permits soon,” she said. “I think it’ll be good to have [the openings] spread out a bit.”
TAMPA, FL — Marina Pointe at Westshore Marina District in South Tampa has officially topped off at 17 stories. This milestone will allow condo buyers to move into their new homes in the sky in the second half of 2022.
© BTI Partners The high-rise tower will be home to 113 luxury condominiums and seven Harbor Homes with views of Tampa Bay and the St. Pete skyline.
Fort Lauderdale-based BTI Partners completed construction of the roof of the tower almost a year after the official groundbreaking in February 2020. The luxury water-inspired high rise was designed to transform South Tampa’s urban living.
“Our first tower’s top-off is an important milestone not only for Marina Pointe, but also for the Tampa luxury residential market,” said BTI Partners CEO Noah Breakstone. “Marina Pointe is the embodiment of Tampa’s waterfront lifestyle, and that’s what is attracting our purchasers to the Westshore Marina District. Inspired by the beauty of the bay, Marina Pointe’s contemporary design will remind owners every day how fortunate they are to live on the water in the majestic Tampa-St. Pete area of Florida.”
On April 26, general contractor Plaza Construction poured the roof of the 17-story building, which is the first of three towers. The high-rise tower will be home to 113 luxury condominiums and seven Harbor Homes with views of Tampa Bay and the St. Pete skyline.
Marina Pointe is located off Westshore and Gandy boulevards on Old Tampa Bay across from St. Petersburg and easily accessible from the new Selmon Expressway Extension.
“Plaza is proud to provide its expertise in high-quality construction to Marina Pointe, contributing to the growth of Tampa’s high-rise residential real estate market,” said Plaza Construction Managing Director for Central Florida Todd Fultz. “We look forward to bringing the nautical-inspired design of the building to life in this first phase.”
Marina Pointe is helping bring some relief to Tampa’s low-inventory housing market. According to Florida Realtors, the Tampa Bay area’s estimated months’ supply of housing inventory is below one month.
Marina Pointe will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including 24-hour doorman/concierge, a fitness center, amenity deck overlooking the marina, resident club with entertainment room and virtual golf simulator among other amenities. Individual condo unit sizes range from 1,750 to more than 4,500 square feet and offer a variety of floor plans, ranging from two to five bedrooms. The residences are priced from the low $800,000s to more than $3 million.
Finding inspiration in the views of the bay, renowned architect Kobi Karp designed the luxury waterfront condominium to feature expansive open-living areas with up to 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and windows, and oversized balconies with panoramic views of Old Tampa Bay and downtown St. Pete on the horizon.
Marina Pointe is in the heart of Westshore Marina District, South Tampa’s premier walkable community along Tampa Bay. The award-winning district invites residents to stroll along waterfront trails with unobstructed views of St. Pete.
Designed to offer a new quality of life, the Marina Pointe experience features access to an array of amenities, including specialty shops, waterfront restaurants, 1.5 miles of urban trails and parks lined with public art, outdoor lifestyle programming, access to water sports and a new, deep-water marina.
Westshore Marina District is also home to several residential projects built by WCI by Lennar, The Related Group and Bainbridge, which have attracted hundreds of residents to a once-dormant waterfront.
Once the master-planned community and neighboring residential projects are completed in the next several years, the area will have nearly 2,400 new residences.
Some of the first retail tenants opening at the Westshore Marina District’s 70,000-square-foot town center include: Duckweed Urban Market, Sand Surf Co., Cru Cellars, Crave Spa, Salon Color Bar, DRNK coffee + tea and QWENCH juice bar.
Luxury Apartments – Sand Surf Co. Open, Cru Cellars Opens May 10 At Marina Landings
Sand Surf Co. will be home to a number of popular brands including Quicksilver/Roxy, Billabong, Duvin, Frankie’s Bikini’s, Kulani Kini’s, Maaji, Olukai, Rainbow Sandals and Lulifama.
Sand Surf Co
Cru Cellars’ 2,400-square-foot wine bar and restaurant, which is set to open on May 10, will serve wines by the glass, cheese and charcuterie boards, scratch cooking by Executive Chef Zack Sylvester and have a 2,000-bottle wine cellar with small-production wines from all over the world. The new restaurant will also offer a lunch menu, grab-and-go pastries and a coffee menu.
Cru Cellars
In honor of the quarterback for Tampa Bay Super Bowl-winning Bucs, Cru Cellars created the Pomme Brady made with hot capocollo, Van Kaas gouda, charred summer apples, omelette, garlic G.O.A.T. and remoulade on a Sullivan’s Bianca bun
Marina Landings at Westshore Marina District is Cru Cellars’ third Tampa location. Owners Jennifer and Torrey Bingham previously opened locations in Palma Ceia and in the Heights Public Market in Armature Works. Click here to see the menu at the Palma Ceia Cru Cellars.
“Every neighborhood deserves a local respite where locals can escape and center themselves over good company, great atmosphere, and serious food and wine,” Jennifer Bingham said. “I’m excited to bring a neighborhood spot to the Westshore area.”
“The opening of Cru Cellars and Sand Surf Co. marks an important milestone for Westshore Marina District,” said Britney Mroczkowski, vice president of retail development with Fort Lauderdale-based real estate developer BTI Partners. “The quality of these tenants shows how carefully we have curated the retailers in Marina Landings to offer a holistic experience to our residents and the South Tampa community. We will welcome many other retail tenants, which are currently building out their new spaces and plan to open in the coming weeks. We are also currently negotiating with several prospective tenants and expect to make a new announcement soon.”
In addition to Cru Cellars and Sand Surf Co., Marina Landings will be home to Duckweed Urban Grocery, Crave Spa, Salon Color Bar, and DRNK coffee + tea and QWENCH juice bar.
Located off Westshore and Gandy boulevards on Old Tampa Bay, Westshore Marina District is also home to luxury condos, waterfront walking trails and parks, a marina on a 13-acre deep-water basin, and floating docks featuring a 150-slip full-service marina to accommodate vessels from 40 feet in length to more than 100 feet.
Access to the district just got easier with the recent opening of the Selmon Expressway Extension, connecting South Tampa to Pinellas County and Brandon.
Westshore Marina District is being developed in phases with BTI Partners as the master developer.
Over the last few years, BTI Partners has attracted developers, such as the Related Group, Bainbridge and WCI Communities, to the master-planned community to build luxury rental apartments and single-family homes.
BTI Partners is currently building Marina Pointe, a condominium development with three high-rises and a marina in the heart of Westshore Marina District. Marina Pointe’s first tower consisting of 120 condominiums is anticipated to be open in mid 2022.
The condos, designed by renowned architect Koby Karp, are priced from the low $800,000s to more than $3 million.
Once BTI Partners’ development and neighboring residential projects are completed, the area will have nearly 2,400 new residences, injecting new life into the 1.5 miles of waterfront.
Duckweed Urban Grocery Now Open In Westshore Marina District
The 3,000-square-foot boutique grocery anchors the 24,000-square-foot Marina Landings town square. (BTI Partners)
The 3,000-square-foot boutique grocery anchors the 24,000-square-foot Marina Landings town square. (BTI Partners)
The 3,000-square-foot boutique grocery anchors the 24,000-square-foot Marina Landings town square. (BTI Partners)
TAMPA, FL — Duckweed Urban Grocery Westshore, the third grocery for the Tampa-based chain, is now serving residents of the Westshore Marina District and beyond.
Located at 5212 Bridge St., the new store is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
The Westshore Marina District store joins Duckweed Urban Grocery and Duckweed Liquors Channelside on 12th Street in Channelside and the original grocery store at 803 N. Tampa St., with plans to open a NOHO Square (Seminole Heights) store soon.
The 3,000-square-foot boutique grocery anchors the 24,000-square-foot Marina Landings town square.
BTI Vice President for Retail Development Britney Mroczkowski said it was constructed to be smaller than the traditional anchor size.
“We wanted something boutique where people could walk downstairs and grab their essentials,” she said. “They are a health-conscious grocer offering a lot of the essentials with a focus on grab-and-go foods, artisanal items and a small vegan café inside. They also have a full liquor store.”
Located at the intersection of Gandy Boulevard and Westshore Boulevard, the Westshore Marina District is a new master-planned community overlooking one of the largest yacht basins on Tampa Bay. Situated along 1.5 scenic miles of waterfront, green space, marina and open bay, this all-new, 52-acre development offers waterfront living, shopping, dining and recreation.
In April, Fort Lauderdale-based BTI Partners celebrated a topping-off ceremony for the 17-story Marina Pointe tower featuring 113 luxury condominiums and seven Harbor Homes.
When built out, there will be three condominium towers.
Marina Pointe will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including 24-hour doorman/concierge, a fitness center, amenity deck overlooking the marina, resident club with entertainment room and virtual golf simulator among other amenities. Individual condo unit sizes range from 1,750 to more than 4,500 square feet and offer a variety of floor plans, ranging from two to five bedrooms. The residences are priced from the low $800,000s to more than $3 million.
Renowned architect Kobi Karp designed the luxury waterfront condominium to feature expansive open-living areas with up to 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling glass walls and windows, and oversized balconies with panoramic views of Old Tampa Bay and downtown St. Pete on the horizon.
Westshore Marina District will also feature several residential projects built by WCI by Lennar, The Related Group and Bainbridge, which have attracted hundreds of residents to a once-dormant waterfront.
Once the master-planned community and neighboring residential projects are completed in the next several years, the area will have nearly 2,400 new residences.
In addition to Duckweed Urban Grocery, Marina Landings town square is home to Cru Cellars and Sand Surf Co., with a DRNK coffee + tea and QWENCH juice bar coming soon.
A boat-up dining destination will be a short stroll away from the condominiums via a waterfront promenade.
The Westshore Marina District is located on a 13-acre deep-water basin, which will feature floating docks and 150 full-service slips to accommodate vessels from 40 feet in length to more than 100 feet.
