The waterfront restaurant many St. Pete diners thought they were losing is not actually going anywhere. Doc Ford’s Jungle Terrace will close briefly, swap out its name, and reopen with much of the same food and waterfront atmosphere under a new identity.
According to Tampa Bay Times, the restaurant’s final day as Doc Ford’s will be Sunday, before it returns Monday as Boca Ciega Waterfront Bar & Grill. General manager Dustin Rickards said most of the menu will remain after the rebrand.
That makes this more of a sign change than a traditional restaurant closing. The company’s official location page describes the Jungle Terrace outpost as a waterfront restaurant along Long Bayou with open-air seating and sunset views, while Paradise News reported that the location opened in late 2022.
A Familiar Menu With A More Local Name
For regulars, the biggest change may be above the front door. The restaurant is expected to retain much of the Doc Ford’s menu while moving forward with a name that leans into its Boca Ciega Bay setting rather than the fictional character tied to the original brand.
Doc Ford’s takes its name from the marine biologist and former CIA agent featured in author Randy Wayne White’s Southwest Florida novels. The restaurant group’s website says the brand has grown to four locations, including the St. Pete Pier, Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach restaurants that continue to operate under the Doc Ford’s name.
The Legal Backdrop Behind The Rebrand
The name change also arrives against the backdrop of a legal fight between White and HM Restaurant Group, the company that operates the restaurants. Business Observer reported that White sued the group in 2025, alleging it violated an agreement involving the Doc Ford brand and royalties, while HM disputed his claims.
A Lee County docket showed the case remained active this year, with a motion to extend case-management deadlines appearing on a February calendar. The publicly reported rebrand announcement does not say the lawsuit caused the Jungle Terrace name change, so the legal dispute is best understood as important background rather than a confirmed explanation.
What Happens Next In Jungle Terrace
Doc Ford’s Jungle Terrace will serve its last meals under the old name Sunday, then reopen Monday as Boca Ciega Waterfront Bar & Grill. For diners, the practical takeaway is simple: the sunset spot is staying put, but the sign — and eventually some menu details — may look a little different.
