South Tampa restaurant Haven will close, capping more than a decade in business, the restaurant group behind the happy hour hotspot announced Thursday.
A new seafood concept led by longtime Haven executive chef Chad Johnson will replace the iconic restaurant, according to a press release from the group, which also owns nearby Bern’s Steak House. The new restaurant does not yet have a name, but has been in the works for several years, and reflects “the restaurant group’s long-held belief that great hospitality is grounded in continuity and thoughtful evolution,” the release said.
Haven opened in March 2015 inside the space formerly home to SideBern’s, at 2208 W. Morrison Ave. Over the years, the restaurant received rave reviews, including from former Tampa Bay Times food critic Laura Reiley, who wrote at the time that she was “over-the-moon in love” with the spot, which sported a much more casual approach than both its predecessor and Bern’s. The restaurant became a popular happy hour destination, praised for its robust cheese and charcuterie program, edgy cocktail list and envelope-pushing small plates menu.
Bern’s Steak House owner David Laxer said in the release the restaurant “played an important role in our community.”
“We dig deep to learn, source and execute the best techniques and offerings the industry has to offer our guests,” Laxer said. “That commitment will carry forward into a new concept building on the foundation, lessons, and culinary stewardship that have shaped this chapter.”
The new seafood restaurant will open in fall 2027. According to the release, Haven will stay open until the summer season, and employees of the restaurant will be “supported throughout the transition.”