Business & Tech
The Pub Crawler: Capogna’s Dugout
The Clearwater restaurant plays an active role in the community for nearly 40 years.
Capogna’s Dugout stands out as a rare breed among the modern-day family sports bars.
It features no gimmicky themes. No noisy karaoke contests to ruin your Friday night out. And instead of shamelessly seeking support from the community, the owners happily give back to it.
What Capogna’s also offers is great food, a family-friendly atmosphere, and a devotion to Clearwater teams and causes that help the restaurant form a special bond with residents.
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“We’re geared toward families and sports fans,” co-owner Stefani Capogna said. “But we also like to help with schools a lot, and give back to the community.”
Giving back includes feeding the Clearwater High football and baseball teams before and after games; supplying catered meals at discount prices for local schools and events; and hiring students from Clearwater schools to help work in the restaurant.
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Started in 1973 by Art Capogna and his wife Margie, Capogna’s evolved from an average-sized sports bar into a multi-purpose lounge and restaurant. After Art’s passing in 1994, his four children - Al, Chris, Mike and Stefani – kept his dream alive by taking over the family business.
Today the Dugout seats 240, features 25 TVs, and employs 65 people. The walls of the place are lined with pictures, mirrors and other sports-related memorabilia; many items are signed by famous "fans," including Joe DiMaggio, Bear Bryant, Tommy Lasorda and Bobby Bowden.
One of the best features of Capogna’s, aside from the atmosphere, is the food. Known for mouth-watering pizza and delicious authentic Italian meals, they also serve wings, burgers, hoagies and steaks.
Meal specials rotate daily, and the full liquor bar offers 2-for-1 well drinks all day long, as well as $1.25 domestic drafts and $2 domestic bottles during Happy Hour (4 to 7 p.m.).
If you come to Capogna’s on a Friday night during high school football season, you might just see the entire Tornadoes team sitting together for a postgame meal.
Just don’t expect to find a karaoke microphone.
1653 Gulf to Bay Blvd
Hours: From 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday to Thursday; from 11 a.m. to midnight Friday; from noon to 11p.m. Saturday; and from noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.
Phone: (727) 441-4791
