Buckets of Beers welcome thirsty boaters to the Beer Shed.
Legend has it that once you spend an evening at the Beer Shed in Riverview, you become part of the “family,” a family that now spans more than five generations of thirsty boaters and spirited karaoke singers.
On any given night, you will be sure to run into Elvis Wayne, who has been coming to the Shed for some 30-plus years and loves to emulate the original Elvis in his singing performances.
You might also see Baby Jane, Miss Bessy, Bouncin’ Fred, Marky-Mark, and Colonel Stevo, regulars whose patronage has been cemented by five decades of good times, great friends and extended family ties to the scenic waterfront watering hole.
“I named them all,” says Sabrina Perez, the Karaoke DJ who has been conducting shows at the Beer Shed three to four nights a week for a decade now. “Back in the original days, this was always a karaoke bar for families and kids on Sunday afternoons,” said Sabrina. “Over the years it’s expanded and changed, but the original intent is still here. There’s still karaoke here three or four nights a week.”
Founded in the 1940s, the Beer Shed began as a bait shack on the Alafia River, a place where tired fishermen could stop for a cold brew on the water. Without a beverage license, the founder simply gave beer away with the purchase of bait.
Friends are made and sustained at the Beer Shed.
As time progressed, the Beer Shed grew into a gathering place for locals both on and off the water. Tucked away on a heavy moss- and tree-lined lane in Riverview, the beautiful views of the Alafia River were hidden from the sight of casual passersby, and the owners liked to keep it that way.
Current owner Mark Sullivan said he is still reluctant to advertise his bar, preferring instead to limit his clientele to trusted regulars. But every weekend, boaters stop in to buy a bucket of beer, and bikers come every Sunday afternoon to listen to live bands and eat munchies on the outdoor deck.
Bartender Angel Little sports a Beer Shed T-shirt.
“The word just spreads,” said Perez. “I have people coming from all over, and once they see how friendly it is, they keep coming back.”
She described how she invited a group of coeds from the University of South Florida to check out the karaoke singing.
“At first they were asking ‘what are we doing here?’ but by the end of the evening, they were hooked,” said Perez. “Now I have college kids coming from all over looking for friends and a fun time.”
Karaoke DJ Sabrina Perez.
One thing you’ll notice right away is that the regulars at the Beer Shed like their memories. Cherished stories of days gone by and friends who have crossed over can be heard from almost every bar stool.
Near the entrance is a large round table with vintage photos lacquered to its surface, showing the faces that have helped build and shape the Shed into what it is today.
There’s no confusing it with the Ritz Carlton — customers are often in muscle shirts, bikinis or sleeveless biker vests. But even in the faded photos, they are all wearing large grins.
Occasionally you might urge the owner, Sullivan, to pull out the “Beer Shed Bible” — a tattered looseleaf binder that contains a wealth of old photos and newspaper clippings chronicling the history of the Beer Shed from its humble beginnings as nothing more than a 25-foot makeshift shack to its current structure, built right over the top of the old one.
In 1956, Lucille Bertini and her husband, John, converted an old garage into a shed, adding “a roof here, a porch there, all cockeyed.” Lucille ran the bar for 23 years, expanding the building and her clientele before selling it to Joanne Bennett in 1979.
Mark Sullivan has been at the helm of the Beer Shed now for 12 years, and is proud to have kept the original rustic integrity of the place while adding newer decking, popular bands and new menu items to the venue.
Customers enjoy spectacular views and ice-cold brews.
“It’s still a family place,” said Perez. “We’ve celebrated the milestones of people’s lives here, including birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, baby showers and, yes, funerals too. A lot of people in here consider this their home.”
Bartender Angel Little agrees. “A lot of the guys in here like to debate over who’s been coming in here the longest. Mark, our boss, is really conscious about keeping the regulars happy, and still trying out a few new things.”
Currently, the Beer Shed is testing out a new menu that includes a variety of food selections, including Thai food, seafood, burgers, sandwiches and tasty appetizers. They also keep a current list of popular bands on their Sunday schedule. This month’s entertainment includes Randy McNeeley, Concert Tease, Bipolar, and Gravity Down. For more information, look for the Beer Shed on Facebook, or call 813-671-1885.
PHOTOS BY LISA STARK (www.LisaStark.com)
