King State to close Tampa cafe
The reality of craft beer in 2024 continues to take shape, and it has not been kind to many established brewers in the Bay Area. Many beloved brewers continue to close their doors or rework their business plans, and now King State has announced changes to operations, including closing the doors of their cafe on Floribraska Avenue in October.
From King State:
Homies,
FIVE YEARS. A blink of an eye and also a lifetime. Both feel true. When we opened King State at 520 E Floribraska, we wanted it to be a place people could call home in Tampa. A place where natives could be proud of. We feel that we have done that. Through a global pandemic, normal small business challenges, economic changes and internal hurdles, we have navigated it all the best we could. We’ve made so many memories. So many mistakes. So many relationships we’ll have for the rest of our lives. Nothing can take that away.
The all-day, 3 services 16 hours a day, seven days a week is A LOT. A lot on our staff, our building and our entire team. It was the OG concept that we wanted to bring to Tampa, and we did that. But not without it’s toll. It’s been harder and harder to keep it moving forward the right way, and if we can’t do it right it ain’t worth doing. It’s time for King State to rethink our path forward and continuing the all day concept at 520 sadly isn’t it.
Towards the end of October, We will be transferring out of 520 for good and solely focusing on continuing to roast coffee and brew beer for the masses! We are working on getting a new operator in here that will treat this space well and will allow King State to still be a part of Tampa.
We don’t fully know what’s next, but we know that we have shared in so many moments here in this old gas station. Everything from weddings to funerals to engagements to heavy phone calls, loss, joy and moments that we’ll never ever forget. The connection of humans from all different walks of life under one roof is a beautiful thing. The thing we will miss the most. As well as telling people we don’t have public WiFi. That was so much fun. Hah
BUT, we are going to end on a high note! As King State in its current location is transitioning out of operations late October, we’re about to PARTY!!! So many events, so many wild ideas we’ve always wanted to do, etc. PUMPKING SPICE TOMORROW!
Also, King State will continue to roast coffee, brew beer and distribute to all the current places we already do. If not even more very very soon!
We love you Tampa. We love our neighbors and everyone that has supported us from day one. We would factually be nothing without everyone that’s poured into us and this place. The whole team and everyone that’s been here since day one, joined later or just passed by, we love y’all. So much.
Stay posted as we announce events and keep you updated the best we can. Come roll through, drink same dranks, tip our ripping staff, eat some food and celebrate the last half a decade with us.
“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”
Although cryins fine too. Already been lettin it ride haha
Onto a new chapter of King State that we’re stoked to put all our focus on.
1 LUV HOMIES. LET’S RIP.