07/21/2026
Dear Bar fly family & friends,
To all of our friends, supporters, and the Safety Harbor community, we have some important news to share about the future of Bar fly.
After a lot of thought and consideration, we made the decision that the time was right to sell our Safety Harbor location so we could scale down our operations and focus our time, energy, and resources on growing Bar fly at our newest location in Palm Harbor.
An important part of that decision was also about the future of Bar fly as a family business. We want to bring our son into the business, give him the opportunity to learn it alongside us, and take an active role in helping run and grow Bar fly Palm Harbor. By focusing our efforts on one location, we’ll be able to work together as a family, teach him the business we’ve built over the years, and give the next generation an opportunity to help shape where Bar fly goes from here.
Once we made the decision to sell Safety Harbor, we reached out to Frenchy’s Restaurant Group to see if they had an interest in purchasing the location. We felt that if we were going to pass the torch to someone new, it was important that it be a local restaurant group that understands and values the community.
We are now under contract with Frenchy’s, with the sale scheduled to close on July 31st. Our final day of service as Bar fly Safety Harbor will be Thursday, July 30th.
As is often the case with a transition like this, changes will need to be made. Following the closing, Frenchy’s plans to temporarily close the location while they begin renovations and prepare to bring a new Frenchy’s restaurant to Safety Harbor.
One of the most important considerations throughout this entire process has been our employees, the people who have worked beside us, supported Bar fly, and helped make our Safety Harbor location what it is today.
From the beginning, both Bar fly and Frenchy’s have believed that our staff should be taken care of. Together, we structured the deal in a way that makes it possible for us to provide severance packages to our employees and recognize the loyalty, hard work, and dedication they have given Bar fly over the years.
Throughout this process, Frenchy’s has shown us that they genuinely care about our staff and the Safety Harbor community. That has meant a great deal to us and has given us confidence that we are passing this location on to a local restaurant group that understands how special this community is.
Safety Harbor has given Bar fly an incredible amount of support over the years, and for that, we will always be grateful. As Frenchy’s begins their new chapter here, we hope everyone will welcome them and show them the same incredible support that you have shown us.
And while our chapter in Safety Harbor is coming to an end, Bar fly isn’t going anywhere.
The Bar fly name and brand will continue at our newest location in Palm Harbor. We’re excited to focus on growing Bar fly Palm Harbor, working together as a family, and continuing the great food, cold drinks, live music, familiar faces, and laid-back coastal vibes that have always been at the heart of who we are.
To every employee, customer, musician, friend, and supporter who has been part of Bar fly Safety Harbor, THANK YOU!
You made this place what it is, and the memories and friendships made here will always be part of the Bar fly story.
Come raise a glass with us and celebrate the good times before our final day of service on Thursday, July 30th.
Then we hope you’ll continue the journey with us at Bar fly Palm Harbor and join us in welcoming and supporting Frenchy’s as they begin their own new chapter in Safety Harbor.
Thank you, Safety Harbor. 🍻🎣
Here’s to the memories we’ve made, family, new beginnings, and the next generation of Bar fly.
Cheers,
Jeff, Celeste & Ethan Finn
