CORTEZ – A family with deep roots in the restaurant business has opened a new sports bar called Tailgatin’ Sports Tavern.
After a soft opening on Friday, Aug. 21, the tavern officially opened the following day. The new family-friendly establishment is currently serving a limited menu, and a full menu is coming soon.
Tonya Lutz and her husband, Doug, co-own the new business. They were approached by the property’s landlord, who told them the space at 12012 Cortez Road was available. The leased space was most recently occupied by the short-lived Izzy’s Place diner, and previously occupied by Slicker’s Eatery.
“We’re from a very small town in Ohio,” Tonya Lutz said. “We want that feeling here. We want you to walk in and we know your name. We want this to have a neighborhood feel.”
Lutz has spent most of her life in the restaurant industry. She and Doug opened a restaurant in Ada, Ohio, her hometown. The family later relocated to the Bradenton area, where Lutz worked at local bars for more than 10 years.
The restaurant is a family operation. Doug is running the kitchen, and the children and grandchildren have been on hand to help, including a grandson, Christian, who flew in from Ohio for the opening.
Lutz said the full menu is being finalized, but the restaurant and bar are fully open.
The tavern is currently offering a partial lunch and dinner menu. The current menu items include wings ($11 for 10), grilled or buffalo chicken sandwiches ($12), burgers ($12-$14), fried fish ($16), grilled salmon ($17), pork loin ($16), chicken ($15), shrimp ($16) and a garden salad.
Tailgatin’ Sports Tavern is open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., with food served until 11 p.m. The tavern will be closed on Tuesdays.
The tavern already has 11 TVs inside for watching sports, and two more will be added to the outdoor patio. There are also two league-ready dartboards in the back room.
“We hope to organize dart leagues in the future,” Lutz said.
The family plans to hand out comment cards asking customers what they’d like to see from the new business.
“We want suggestions, and we’re going to play with that,” Lutz said, noting they are new to the Cortez area.
Lutz said the tavern’s large back parking lot will soon be marked clearly, with new signage directing customers to park in the back.
Menu updates and more information can be found at the Tailgatin Sports Tavern Facebook page. The tavern’s phone number is 786-907-0356.
