Coronavirus: Tampa’s Armature Works closing at 10 p.m. tonight ‘until further notice’

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TAMPA — The Armature Works says it is closing at 10 p.m. Monday until further notice to “take a proactive role in the ongoing efforts to slow and contain the transmission” of the new coronavirus.

''In addition, we also will suspend all delivery and take out options to further decrease the probability for spreading the virus," the business said in an announcement signed “the team at Armature Works” and sent by chief marketing officer Eric Blankenship. “Finally, all public and private events will also be suspended.”

Developers Chas Bruck and Adam Harden created the 73,000-square-foot mixed-use project through a $20 million renovation of an old factory and streetcar barn at 1910 N Ola Ave., which overlooks the Hillsborough River and the downtown Tampa skyline.

Since opening in 2018, the Armature Works has been one of the Tampa Bay area’s most popular waterfront gathering spots, attracting crowds day and night.

The company also said: "We care deeply about our team members and their families and understand the impact these closures make on their lives. We are actively working on a plan to compensate our team members for missed work. We hope to share this information with them in the next few days.

“We do apologize for the inconvenience, but we believe this is in the best interests for all those involved."

In a related announcement, BE1 Concepts, the Tampa company that runs six of the restaurants at the Armature Works, said it is closing all 13 of its restaurants, which include Ciro’s Speakeasy & Supper Club on Bayshore Boulevard in Tampa; Sea Critters Café at Pass-a-Grille in St. Petersburg; four Boca Kitchen, Bar & Markets in Tampa, Brandon, Sarasota and Winter Park; and Atlantic Beer & Oyster and Park Social in Winter Park.

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