One of Beach Drive’s longest-running institutions is stepping into a new future. Courigan’s Irish Pub, located at 1 Beach Drive, has sold to new ownership, with the transition expected to begin soon.

As so much of downtown and Beach Drive has changed over the nearly two decades since Courigan’s opened – and especially in the last several years – owner Sam Martin was the steady hand guiding the beloved watering hole through all of St. Pete’s stages of growth. Now, the retired Air Force vet is reportedly stepping away – the beginning of new roads for Martin and Courigan’s alike.

We expect that the pub itself, at the corner of 1st Avenue South and Beach Drive, will remain as Courigan’s for at least the short term, just under new ownership. After all, St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner – a great time to be one of only two Irish pubs downtown. However, the long term future is bit more uncertain, at least for now.

Certainly, new ownership could capitalize on the name, as well as already having everything in place, and continue the Courigan’s tradition, just with their own style. Or, they might see the shifting tides in downtown St. Pete as reason to try something new in the space, which resides in a fantastic location adjacent to the waterfront, Rowdies games, the Saturday Morning Market and Pioneer Park, not to mention all the residential towers going up and bringing new tenants to the immediate neighborhood.

Whatever the future may hold, the news brings with it an excellent opportunity to celebrate a St. Pete staple. With more and more of the longtime locals haunts shuttering, patronizing the ones we have left is more important than ever. And Courigan’s certainly stands out as one that took an earlier chance than most on downtown, survived some hard years in the Florida economy, and emerged as a favorite for locals even before St. Pete’s boom.

Courigan’s may live on for years to come. Or, of course, it may not. Either way, we’ll raise a pint to 18 great years, and perhaps a second pint for whatever new roads the future may hold. For those interested, a group of old Courigan’s regulars are organizing something of an impromptu party in honor of Martin, Courigan’s, and the pub’s history on Thursday night.

Stay tuned to I Love the Burg for updates on future plans for Courigan’s.