Downtown St. Pete Sports Bar To Close After 10 Years

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — After 10 years in business, downtown sports bar Thirsty First is closing its doors.

Calling the bar’s closure “one of the hardest decisions of my life,” owner Greg Mikurak said in a social media post that Thirsty First’s last day in business will be Sunday.

The closure comes following a landlord dispute that left the bar facing eviction, The Tampa Bay Business Journal said. The business is accused of not paying its rent and property taxes.

Thirsty First initially opened a decade ago at 119 1st Ave. N., before relocating to a larger space at 515 Central Ave., the former home of Acropolis Greek Taverna, in May 2025.

The revamped bar boasts a 1,400-square-foot kitchen, 69 TVs, and an upstairs VIP lounge with couches and a 40-inch mini Jumbotron, according to its website.

Mikurak didn’t share the reason for the bar’s closure.

“When I opened Thirsty First, I hoped to build a great sports bar. What I never expected was to build a community and a family,” he wrote. “Over the last decade, I've watched first dates turn into marriages, strangers become lifelong friends, championship celebrations shake the walls, and thousands of people choose to spend some of the best moments of their lives with us. We've celebrated victories, survived difficult times, and made memories that I'll carry with me forever.”

Mikurak also co-owns another downtown St. Petersburg bar, Whiskey Exchange, and owned the Grand Central District country bar Ride ‘Em Cowboy, which closed earlier this year.

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