Surf Shack Coastal Kitchen in Westchase served its last tacos on Sunday, clearing the decks for a roughly two-month overhaul into an Eddie’s Bar and Grill. The longtime neighborhood hangout is trading its beachy, coastal-taco feel for Eddie’s game-day setup with big screens, daily specials and a beefed-up bar program. One big unanswered question in the plaza: what happens to the small arcade and simulator tucked next door.
What’s changing
As reported by the Tampa Beacon, owner Stephen Bishop announced the switch on social media and confirmed that Surf Shack closed last Sunday so construction crews could move in. The Beacon notes the conversion is expected to take about two months, and that Surf Shack employees will be shifted to other Eddie’s group locations while the work is underway. The outlet also reported that, at the time of publication, it was still unclear whether the adjacent Level 19 gaming lounge would stick around after the change.
Eddie’s puts Westchase on the map
Eddie’s own website already has a dedicated Westchase page touting a “New Location In Westchase - Coming Soon,” making the switch feel all but official. The chain traces its roots back to Dunedin in 1985, according to the restaurant’s Eddie's Bar and Grill About page. Over the years it has built a reputation as a sports-friendly bar with large TVs, game rooms and nightly food specials, per the Westchase menu section on Eddie's Bar and Grill.
Where it will be
The former Surf Shack spot is listed at 12217 W. Linebaugh Ave., inside Westchase Commons, where the restaurant has operated for years. Surf Shack Coastal Kitchen is still visible in online listings, and neighborhood chatter and business directories continue to point to the Level 19 gaming lounge sitting right next door, according to local posts on Nextdoor.
How Eddie’s fits in Tampa Bay
The Westchase flip comes on the heels of Eddie’s recent growth spurt around Tampa Bay. The chain opened a Largo location last fall and already operates a Bay Pines outpost, moves covered by the Tampa Bay Times. Local reporting and the restaurant’s own materials highlight Eddie’s regular promotions, including Taco Tuesdays, Burger Wednesdays, Fish and Chips Fridays and a weekday happy hour that runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For now, the story in Westchase is all about construction noise and covered windows. Owners say the renovation will take several weeks, with Eddie’s full menu and game-day programming rolling out once the doors reopen at the Linebaugh Avenue spot. We will update when a firm reopening date is announced and if there is any definitive word on the future of Level 19.
