BELLEAIR BLUFFS — The Belleair Hideaway, the third business in the area from Belleair Market owners Chris Scott and Julie Champion, held its ribbon cutting last week, several months after the upscale, speakeasy-style tapas bar opened at 560 Indian Rocks Road in October.
The entrance is tucked into Antique Alley, where a darkened bar area opens onto an outdoor patio fronting Indian Rocks Road. The patio hosts live acoustic music on weekend nights. The menu features small plates and wine pairings, and the Hideaway offers wine tastings, wine clubs and private event bookings.
The eclectic decor and relaxed ambiance mark a departure from the couple’s other ventures: the adjacent Belleair Market, a community staple for a dozen years known for its Cuban sandwiches, and the Belleair Cafe, a popular breakfast spot behind the store on Jewell Road.
Scott said Champion had long envisioned a “dark” space where they could unwind with friends. After converting the former bakery into a 1920s-style speakeasy, the Hideaway joined a growing stable of local businesses that also includes a second Belleair Market on John’s Pass.
“This place used to be a bakery,” Scott told the crowd at the April 23 ribbon cutting, hosted by the Bluffs Business Association. He said they originally planned to use the kitchen for their catering business.
“And then it turned into this dream that Julie had to create something that was a little bit different — a place that people can come in the neighborhood, a place like the Market and the Cafe, where everyone in town felt like it was their place.”
The Hideaway, Scott said, “is a great place for Julie and I to finish our day after working at the Market. We come over here and sit down and talk to some people and have a glass of wine and enjoy it. And that’s what we want our customers to do, too.”
After praising the staff, including bartender Monica Parker and business development director Albert Donaldson, Scott offered his favorite part about the new place.
“The best thing about this place is, we make our own rules for it,” he said. “So when someone asks what time we close, I say, ‘Well, it says 10, but you’re still here, so we can stay open till midnight.’”
“It could be one lonely guy at the bar,” Champion added.
“Right,” Scott replied. “And if we want you to leave, we’ll kick you out.”
BBA president Larry Bell called the Hideaway a valuable addition to the area’s business scene.
“This means a lot to me because Chris and Julie are not just incredible business owners. They’re friends,” Bell said, adding the couple “have built a strong business presence with their Belleair Market Brands.”
The Hideaway, he said, “is another true reflection of what the Bluffs Business Association stands for, and as a board, we feel incredibly blessed to have members like them.”
With that, Scott sliced the BBA ribbon as customers walked in.
If You Go
What: Belleair Hideaway
Where: 560 Indian Rocks Rd, Belleair Bluffs
Hours: Wednesday-Thursday, 4-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 4-11 p.m.; Sunday, 3-8 p.m.; closed Monday-Tuesday
Details: The Belleair Hideaway is the third business on the block from Belleair Market and Belleair Cafe owners Chris Scott and Julie Champion, a speakeasy-style tapas bar and restaurant that features a dark and cozy indoor bar space and an outdoor patio that is highlighted by live acoustic music on weekend nights. The establishment specializes in small plates and wine pairings as well as special events and clubs and was designed as a place for guests to relax and unwind and enjoy drinks with friends, according to the owners.
Info: Call 727-223-4568 or visit belleairmarket.com.