On August 15th of last year, Lucy Ziegler received a devastating letter. Hops and Props’ lease at the St. Pete Museum of History would not be renewed. The beer bar and café that had been a staple of downtown St. Pete since 2014 would have to find a new home.

“It was really tough,” says Ziegler. “After running a business behind the construction fence of the St. Pete Pier for two years, and then enduring a shutdown from the pandemic, we thought we could see the light at the end of the tunnel. But instead, we were told to pack up and leave.”

Luckily, Ziegler and her son, Eric Starr, have found a home for their new business, Hops 2.0, at 225 2nd Avenue North in downtown St. Pete. The 3,500 square foot space was formerly occupied by Pour Taproom, which closed in September 2020.

“We couldn’t be more excited about our new location,” says Ziegler. “Hops 2.0 is much larger, which gives us the ability to host more live music and offer a greater selection of food. We are also excited to provide a beautiful location for meetings and events.”

Hops 2.0 will serve around 28 beers on tap and an even larger selection available in bottles and cans. The beer menu will have a heavy emphasis on American brewed craft beer, especially those made locally in Tampa Bay.

As for food options, Hops 2.0 will have a much larger menu than its predecessor. The new menu is still being finalized but old favorites such as the smoked meatloaf, brisket, and bacon mac and cheese will still be available.

At St. Pete Rising, we can’t think of a more perfect night out than dinner, drinks, and live music at Hops 2.0 and then walking next door to see a movie at St. Pete’s only indie movie theater, Green Light Cinema.

Hops and Props’ current location at the St Pete Museum of History will close in September. Hops 2.0 is expected to open at their new, larger space at 225 2nd Avenue North in May or June. Be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram to be notified about the preopening party!