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Gene's Bar Demolished After Outcry

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By KATHY STEELE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 28, 2007

Updated: 11/26/2007 10:55 pm

EAST TAMPA - Gene's Bar is gone.

A wrecking crew demolished the infamous neighborhood hangout last week. In March, the city bought the bar with about $200,000 in local property taxes.

All that remains standing is Arthur "Mr. Caldonia" Roby's barbecue pit, where for more than 47 years he sold chicken, ribs and his signature barbecue sandwich topped with coleslaw.

Once electrical power is shut off, workers are expected to tear down the structure within a few days, East Tampa redevelopment manager Ed Johnson said.

"Someone forgot to get electrical clearance," Johnson said. "It was still hot."

The property's future is undetermined.

Johnson said the city would like to combine the bar site with an adjacent city lot and possibly other vacant properties. If that can be done, the city plans to seek development proposals, he said.

Residents had complained about illegal drugs and fights in and around Gene's Bar for more than 20 years. A renewed outcry in 2006 prompted the city council to request stepped-up police monitoring.

Initially, there was discussion of reviving the city's public nuisance abatement board and trying to shut down the bar.

But the East Tampa Community Revitalization Partnership and city officials opted to buy the property and market the site for commercial development.

The partnership works with the city to revitalize the East Tampa community redevelopment area bordered by Hillsborough Avenue, interstates 275 and 4, and the city limits. A portion of the area's property taxes must be reinvested in the community.

The city paid for environmental testing of the site and gave Roby time to remove his equipment before tearing down the bar.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 835-2103 or ksteele@tampatrib.com.

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