Talk continues to swirl about what's to become of the Rocky Point location of Crabby Bill's that was sold several months ago to hotelier Ben Mallah.
The persistent buzz is that Hulk Hogan is being brought in, that the restaurant name will be changed to Hogan's and a reality television show will be filmed on site on the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Crabby Bill's CEO Matt Loder Sr. confirms that Mallah is a friend of Hogan's and they are in business discussions.
Robert Uzzillia, longtime Tampa Bay area chef and music promoter, has been hired by Mallah to develop restaurant concepts. Three weeks ago the duo opened Kingfish Grill and Tap House at 3580 Ulmerton Road in Clearwater at the site of the former Primo's. About the Crabby Bill's/Hogan's rumor, Uzzillia says only, "There's nothing I can say right now. Either way, we are changing the concept there. It's under major construction right now. We're doing a $1 million renovation."
Mallah also was mum about the Hogan deal, but he recently built Hogan's Beach Shop for his celebrity wrestler friend, which launched the first weekend in September at the Pelican Shops at 483 Mandalay Ave. in Clearwater Beach. Perhaps a restaurant collaboration is not far behind.
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