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Mr. Dunderbak's Hops To New Tampa

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By LENORA LAKE

llake@tampatrib.com

Published: January 14, 2009

UNIVERSITY AREA - Mr. Dunderbak's, a 35-year staple at University Mall, is moving.

The restaurant and beer garden will leave by the end of the month and relocate soon afterward in the Oak Ramble Shopping Center on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The restaurant owner, Jim Ellis, was out of town and not available for comment. However, Tom Locke, the mall's general manager, and restaurant staff confirmed the business is moving.

Also, the new space at 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. has a sign for the business and the beer club that meets at the restaurant. The new spot in the 7-year-old strip center has been the home to other restaurants such as Savino's, Primadonna Trattoria North and most recently China Grill.

"We hate to see them go," Locke said. "But in this economy, it is the weirdest thing. It has grown to such a business that it has to go beyond the mall and its hours."

"The beer business and its beer club have quite a following and they restaurant patrons don't want to leave when the mall closes."

Mr. Dunderbak's, Sears and Mr. Man are the three original tenants of the mall, Locke said.

The mall management is talking to possible tenants for the space.

"It probably would be a beer and wine sports bar," Locke said.

Two other spaces at the mall closed Jan. 1. Steve & Barry's closed nationally and Starbucks closed its mall location.

Locke said the mall is in negotiations for those sites. However, it is likely the Steve & Barry's building, which once housed JCPenney's, would be demolished and rebuilt for a new major tenant, he said.

Correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851.

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