The Rainbow Tavern, 807 Memorial Blvd.

The Rainbow Tavern was built in the fall of 1941 by Nick and Lucille Brown at 807 Memorial Highway, now known as 3015 Kennedy Boulevard. The establishment offered a lively mix of Spanish, Italian, and American cuisine, paired with nightly dancing to the sounds of live orchestras. Architecturally, the building stands as a relic of a bygone era—its rounded facade and drive-up window foreshadowed the rise of the modern drive-thru.

At the time, Memorial Highway was still sparsely developed, but the tavern quickly drew attention. Within weeks of its January 1942 opening, a nearby couple filed a complaint seeking an injunction to shut it down due to noise. The judge denied the request, instead recommending that the plaintiffs move their home farther back on the property and plant a hedge of trees to serve as a buffer.

Records indicate that the Rainbow Tavern closed its doors around 1952.

Cracker Village Liquors, Restaurant, and Lounge opened in the spot in 1954.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved

The Rainbow Tavern in Tampa. Circa early 1940s. Robertson and Fresh.. Courtesy of the University of South Florida Digital Collection