Hamburger Mary’s Tampa, Pub House announce same-day closure

TAMPA | Hamburger Mary’s Tampa and Mary’s Pub House Tampa in Ybor will permanently close at the end of business Nov. 6, the restaurant and owner Kurt King shared on Facebook the same day.

“It is with great regret that Kurt King and Brian DeChane must announce that tonight will be the last day/night that Hamburger Mary’s Bar and Grill and Hamburger Mary’s Pub House in Ybor City will be open,” King and Hamburger Mary’s Tampa shared via social media.

“We, along with our Management Team and dedicated staff, have done our best to keep Mary’s doors open for nine years, but the latest challenge over the last couple of weeks has proven to be too much to overcome,” he continued. “It was our pleasure to serve the entire community whether it was a safe place to come and enjoy a meal amongst friends or a place to hold your community fundraisers.”

King subsequently noted Hamburger Mary’s Ybor was proud of its staff and greatly appreciative of their hard work throughout the years. “We wish to thank our customers and the full Ybor/Tampa community for all of your support,” he also noted. “If you wish to come out to Mary’s tonight to show your support to Mary’s fabulous staff, we are sure they will appreciate it.”

King’s full post can be seen below:

The announcement follows the restaurant’s brief closure Oct. 24-25. The Florida Dept. of Health in Hillsborough County identified a positive case of Hepatitis A, a highly-contagious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis virus, and offered vaccinations to employees and diners that frequented the establishment Oct. 4-20.

The Hepatitis scare was not limited to Hamburger Mary’s. As of Oct. 30, Tampa Bay’s ABC affiliate reported that Hillsborough County had 36 reported cases. In addition, Pinellas County reported 58 cases and Pasco County reported 33.

The same affiliate reported Nov. 2 that “the emergency closure was actually due to live roaches and rodents in the kitchen.” In a Dirty Dining segment, it noted 40 live and dead roaches were found in the bar area, by the reach in cooler, in the alcohol closet, the beer storage area and an area designated for chemical storage.

King advised ABC that he had fired the pest control company and hired a new one, as well as hired two new kitchen managers and remedied all violations. Hamburger Mary’s Ybor reopened Oct. 26.

Ahead of announcing the Ybor hotspots’ permanent closure, King shared with Watermark that Mary’s Ybor staff had been trained or re-trained by the Florida Dept. of Health. “I think we’re a step ahead of all of the other restaurants right now because of that,” King shared. “I think the Health Department needs to go into every restaurant and teach them what they taught us.”

King’s Nov. 6 announcement was signed by him, DeChane and the entire staff. “Remember! Eat, Drink and BE Mary!” it concluded.

Photo via Hamburger Mary’s Tampa Facebook.

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