Kava Social Club to open 24-hour Pinellas Park location in January

Kava Social Club expects to have 15 to 20 people in its Bradenton location at 4 a.m. on a typical night. Owner Ryan Bodie states that by 6 a.m., the customer base shifts as people arrive on their way to work. The business is now replicating these 24-hour operations in Pinellas Park.

The new location will open in January at 9600 66th Street North. This space, previously occupied by True Roots Kava Lounge & Smoke Shop, is 2,100 square feet. It is currently undergoing a full interior renovation that includes the installation of a new tea kitchen.

The Pinellas Park site will serve kava, kratom, THC-infused beverages, kombucha, herbal teas, and coffee 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This expansion adds to a network of more than 50 kava bars across Pinellas County, many of which offer late-night hours and entertainment.

Bodie and his fiancée, Sara Lewis, started the business after spending years at late-night kava bars in St. Petersburg. They initially operated out of a trailer that converted into a tiki-style setup. For roughly nine months, they attended festivals and set up in business parking lots to develop their recipes.

Lewis, a pharmaceutical engineer and microbiologist, assisted in the testing process. The couple conducted blind taste tests with customers at other kava bar patios. Bodie said they tested every brewing temperature and various traditional methods to determine which were effective. It took them about nine months to finalize their base recipes.

The couple opened their first permanent location in Bradenton in early 2020. They later expanded their hours to 24-hour service and hired additional staff. Their menu includes specific blends such as Tropical Wave, which mixes kratom with holy basil, damiana, and loose-leaf yerba mate. The Dawn Patrol combines Sumatra dark roast coffee with a customer's chosen kava blend.

The Pinellas Park interior will feature an island-inspired design influenced by the couple's love of Fiji. The space will include a large mural and a pool table. Bodie noted that the goal is to create an atmosphere that feels like an island but with air conditioning.

At the Bradenton location, weekly chess gatherings evolved into a sponsored team that competes in external events. The business also hosts book clubs, karaoke, trivia, and board game nights. Bodie intends to replicate this community focus in Pinellas Park.

The owners plan to offer classes on preparing kava and kratom at home. Bodie stated that he wants customers to learn proper preparation methods so they can spend money on weekend visits when they choose to go out. He and Lewis aim to eventually operate five to ten family-owned locations across the Tampa Bay area, with St. Petersburg as a primary target.

The renovation on 66th Street is the immediate priority for the team. They are focused on completing the work before the planned January opening.