One of downtown St. Petersburg's liveliest sports bars is about to pour its last drink. Thirsty First will permanently close this weekend, with owner Greg Mikurak announcing a final celebration before the bar's last day of service on Sunday. The two-story Central Avenue venue, known for its late-night crowds and game-day energy, is set to leave a noticeable gap in the neighborhood's after-hours lineup.
Central Avenue location and timeline
Thirsty First operates at 515 Central Ave., the former home of Acropolis Greek Taverna, where it set up shop in May 2025. As reported by the Tampa Bay Times, Mikurak originally planned to use the larger Central Avenue footprint to grow the sports-bar concept before ultimately deciding to shut the doors. The Times noted the bar had been in the Central Avenue location for about a year.
Owner's note and final send-off
Mikurak shared the news with followers on social media, saying Thirsty First "became a community and a family," and inviting regulars to come out one more time for Sunday's send-off. "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, according to St. Pete Rising, which reports he posted the announcement on both Facebook and Instagram on Monday evening.
A decade in downtown
The Thirsty First name dates back to a smaller spot at 119 1st Ave. N., which opened in 2016 before the team expanded into the larger Central Avenue building. The business's website lists the Central Avenue address as its "New Location" and touts features like 69 TVs, late-night kitchen hours and expanded event programming, according to Thirsty First. Local coverage earlier this year highlighted the move and the added kitchen and event space the Central site provided.
Downtown churn and what’s next
For locals, Thirsty First's exit is one more sign of the ongoing churn along Central Avenue as restaurants and bars juggle rising costs, shifting crowds and changing leases. Recent coverage has tracked a steady reshuffling in downtown nightlife, and residents say the strip keeps evolving as new concepts roll in and long-timers roll out, according to St. Pete Rising. For now, 515 Central Ave. becomes another vacancy to watch as the neighborhood's mix continues to shuffle.
Final night details
Thirsty First's last night of service is scheduled for Sunday, July 26, with a farewell celebration planned for friends, regulars and anyone looking to stop by one last time. For current hours and any final-event updates, the bar's website lists contact information along with the Central Avenue address, and patrons are encouraged to check the business's page or call ahead before heading over.
