Jr's Story

I was born in Howard Beach, Queens, New York—where food, family, and local bars were a way of life. I learned early on what makes a great neighborhood spot: good people, great food, and a place that feels like home. Over the years, I’ve cooked in busy kitchens, owned pizzerias and Italian restaurants, and spent plenty of time building places where people could gather, eat well, and enjoy themselves.

I moved to Florida 21 years ago—10 years on the east coast, and the last 11 here on the west coast. I started with three food trucks, then bought a breakfast-and-lunch diner in Largo, and later took over a beer-and-wine bar on Seminole Boulevard called Rendezvous. I turned it into a full-liquor bar and gave it a new name: The Boulevard Pub & Grub.

After eight years of running that bar, I thought I was ready to hang it up. I sold the place—and just 11 days later, I knew I wasn’t done. Creating places for people to come together has always been in my blood, and I wasn’t ready to walk away from that.

That’s when JR’s Pub & Grub came to life in beautiful Clearwater, Florida.

JR’s is the kind of place built on experience and passion—a neighborhood spot where the food is always fresh, the drinks are strong, and everyone feels like part of the family.