For 12 unforgettable years, Ducky’s wasn’t just a bar—it was a beloved cornerstone of Tampa nightlife, a quirky, vibrant escape just off W Kennedy Blvd, where locals could drink, laugh, and test their skill on mini-bowling lanes. But this week, the city of Tampa felt a shiver in the warm Floridian air—a chapter was ending. And it wasn’t just about the bar.
The Night the Lights Went Out at Ducky’s
It came quietly, like the last frame of a midnight bowling match. No crashing pins, no raucous cheers. Just a social media post—”thank you for 12 years of support”—marking the end of an era. Ducky’s lease is up, and with it, the laughter and late-night mini-bowling matches that made it such a rare gem in the Tampa scene.
Evan Longoria, the man behind the bar, now stands on the brink of his own finale, retiring from Major League Baseball. Coincidence? Maybe. But in stories like these, timing always matters.
Visit the official Ducky’s website and stay connected via their Instagram for future updates.
Longoria: The Legend Who Built More Than a Career
To Tampa Bay Rays fans, Evan Longoria isn’t just a name—they call him “the greatest player in franchise history.” This week, as Ducky’s shutters close, Longoria prepares to walk off the field one last time. He’ll sign a one-day contract with the Rays on June 7, closing a career with poetic symmetry.
It’s no stretch to imagine that as Longoria retires from the diamond, he’s also stepping away from the day-to-day heartbeat of Ducky’s. It’s as if the bar and the ballplayer were sharing the same soul, and when one departs, the other does too.
Sports bars may be common, but Ducky’s was different—you could feel the legacy in every drink poured and every frame played.
What Made Ducky’s… Ducky’s
Tucked away on 1719 W Kennedy Blvd., this wasn’t just another bar. It was where Tampa locals mingled with sports royalty, where mini-bowling alleys echoed with nostalgia, and where crab cakes met baseball caps.
When Ducky’s Deck made its way into Tropicana Field in 2016, the brand became a stadium staple. You could grab turkey wraps, a fresh salad, or a chilled beer between innings—until the Deck disappeared along with the field’s upgrades. But the flavor of Ducky’s lingered.
What bar lets you bowl in loafers? What place serves cocktails with a side of curveball history? Ducky’s did.
Still Flying—The Airport Outpost Lives On
But wait. The lights haven’t gone out entirely. Like a phoenix flickering in an unlikely place, Ducky’s lives on—in the A Terminal at Tampa International Airport. If you’re flying through, you’ll still be able to savor a final toast to Longoria’s legacy and Ducky’s charm.
Whether it’s a crab cake before boarding or a cold one during a layover, the spirit of this Tampa legend survives in the terminal’s steady hum. If you squint, maybe you’ll even see a ghostly frame or two roll down a phantom mini-bowling lane.
The End? Or Just a Transition?
Something poetic lingers in the air when institutions like this fold. In Stephen King’s Maine, small towns lose diners, factories, lives—and the echoes stay behind. Maybe that’s true for Tampa now.
Ducky’s isn’t just closing—it’s becoming a memory. One you’ll feel every time you drive past 1719 W Kennedy, or hear Longoria’s name during a nostalgic Rays broadcast. The mini-bowling lanes may be silent, but the cheers live on in Tampa’s bones.
Want More Like This?
Stay tuned—because Tampa’s landscape is always shifting, and its stories are never finished. Who knows what’ll rise where Ducky’s once stood? A rooftop bar? A microbrewery? Or something else entirely, born from the ashes of a baseball legend’s dream.
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