Showgirls, a bikini bar that has been open for three years on the corner of Mt. Carmel Rd. and S.R. 60, has shut down and will be reopening just in time for the Super Bowl.
David Langsam, who works at Kings Realty, purchased the building with his business partners, brothers Chris and Mike Jordan and renamed it The Hi-Life Bar and Grill. Langsam and his partners are also the owners of Manhattan Mortgage, Kings Realty and Property Management and Kings Executive Limo – all in Brandon. Langsam plans to open the bar and grill on February 1, the day of the Super Bowl. He estimates there will be about 16 televisions in the bar, but says it’s not really going to be a sports bar. “Yes, we are going to carry a complete sports package like the NFL Ticket, but I consider us more of an ‘entertainment venue’,” he said.
Other plans for the building include a full kitchen, which is currently being built. Langsam said the menu will include things like nachos, chicken wings, hamburgers and sandwiches. He will also have a kid’s menu and smaller portions of the regular menu available. The kitchen may not be finished in time for the February 1 opening, in which case, Langsam will only serve appetizers and will only be open from 4 p.m.-3 a.m. Once the kitchen is up and running, The Hi-Life Bar and Grill will be open from 11:30 a.m.- 3 a.m. seven days a week.
Langsam said he will most likely hire a magician or balloon entertainment for children. He said he would like to get involved with local schools to do school spirit nights and sponsor baseball and softball teams. He will also have a Kids Eat Free night. “We want to be a part of the community.”
Owner of Belleza Salon & Spa, which is in the same plaza as the bar, Janice Wymer said she’s glad to see the change. She hopes it will bring more business for the whole plaza. “We’ve only been here for a few years, but we’ve only had a few walk-ins, especially at night, it was scary with that bar over there. For the girls working here at night, too,” she said.
Although, Langsam said, that after 9 p.m., the bar and grill will turn more adult. The music will be louder and the dance floor will open up. One night a week, he said there will be a ladies’ night.
The entire building is approximately 6,000 sq. ft., but Langsam estimates that the front of house will be about 4,200 sq. ft. He has purchased 28-30 tables for the building, but will also have outdoor patio seating. He says the county permitted them to build a deck outside which will face Mt. Carmel Rd. and wrap around to S.R. 60, and servers will be available outside. He also said that there will be no smoking inside, so people who want to smoke may do so outside. The deck area will also be known as a “wet zone,” where patrons are able to take their drinks with them outside as well.
For more information on The Hi-Life Bar and Grill, e-mail Langsam at dave@thehi-life.com. A Website is currently under construction.
