A Caribbean-born burger and beer bar is moving into the stretch of A1A South that's seen a revolving door of restaurant concepts over the past 15 years. Tap & Still is taking over the former Cajun Beach space at 5545 A1A S. in Crescent Beach, bringing its island-casual sports bar format to St. Johns County.
The move was reported by St. Johns Citizen, which confirmed Tap & Still is coming to Crescent Beach in St. Johns County. The outlet also reported that the restaurant's sign has already received approval, a sign the buildout is moving forward even though no opening date has been set.
A Brand Built in the Virgin Islands
Tap & Still describes itself as a casual restaurant brand with locations spread across the Caribbean and in Alabama. Per its own website, tapstill.com, the company calls its concept a vibrant, laid-back sports bar built around burgers and craft beer. The brand currently lists five locations: St. Thomas, St. John, Sint Maarten, and Gulf Shores, Alabama, with the Crescent Beach project marking an expansion onto Florida's coast.
According to Gulf Coast Media, Tap & Still got its start in the U.S. Virgin Islands before expanding to the mainland. The chain's Gulf Shores location, at 807 Gulf Shores Parkway, offers burgers, wings and drinks alongside outdoor seating and live music, the outlet reported. Tap & Still pairs American comfort food with a laid-back island atmosphere, the same pitch St. Johns Citizen says the company is bringing to Crescent Beach.
What Was There Before
The 5545 A1A S. address has cycled through concepts before landing on its current chapter. Cajun Beach, which most recently occupied the space, described its own menu as bold Cajun classics, fresh seafood and American favorites, according to its website, thecajunbeach.com. The restaurant said it served two coastal communities, Flagler Beach and Saint Augustine Beach, before closing earlier this year.
Before Cajun Beach, the address was home to Red Frog & McToad's, according to a low-confidence Yelp listing for the location. Neither the exact closing date for Cajun Beach nor a timeline for Tap & Still's buildout has been independently verified beyond what St. Johns Citizen reported.
A Rusted Centerpiece With a Backstory
One detail that travels with the brand wherever it opens is a piece of art known as the Lincoln — a portrait fashioned from a vintage Lincoln Continental hood rather than a conventionally painted canvas. Milwaukee artist Michael Stodola created the piece, which depicts Abraham Lincoln through exposed metal and rust, according to the restaurant's own account. It still bears a vintage Illinois license plate.
The Lincoln first joined Tap & Still's Havensight location on St. Thomas in 2016 before moving to the St. John location in 2018. Tap & Still has said the piece represents Americana, originality, history, and things with a story behind them — themes the brand is expected to carry into its newest outpost on Florida's coast.
No specific opening date has been provided for the Crescent Beach location, and details on hours, menu or staffing have not been released. Locals who remember the string of restaurants at 5545 A1A S. will likely be watching to see what the Caribbean import adds to the strip the next time the signage goes up for good.
