Clear Sky Cafe Brings 'Draught Haus' to Dunedin

Clearwater Beach restaurateur Dan Shouvlin likes the vibrancy of Dunedin's Main Street.

That's one of the reasons he's excited to bring his Gastropub venture to the downtown Dunedin scene.

Shouvlin, operating partner of Clear Sky Cafe, a popular Clearwater Beach restaurant, said plans to transform 680 Main St, a corner building fronting downtown's easternmost gateway, into the “Clear Sky Draught Haus” are moving right along.

The former Living Room location, where Main Street meets State Road 580, is presently gutted and undergoing a complete architectural remodel, Shouvlin said during a phone interview Friday afternoon.

"You won't recognize it when we're done," he said.

The up-and-coming Dunedin Gastropub, modeled after a popular dining trend in many metropolitan cities like San Francisco, Toronto, New York and Chicago, will be food-focused, with a fresh chef-driven, pub grub menu, Shouvlin said, rattling off examples like artisan flatbread sandwiches, gourmet pizzas, unique burgers, short ribs and plenty of vegetarian options.

Of course, as the name implies, the menu will be complemented by high-end craft beers. He plans to include 24 taps and another 20 bottled choices.

Shouvlin, who is also CEO of Frenchy's Corporation, is tentatively aiming for a Sept. 1 open date, pending any delays.

And Clear Sky Cafe fans need not worry. The award-winning eatery on Mandalay Avenue will not be moving as a result of the expansion.

Shouvlin's news comes on the heels of the Dunedin local planning agency’s unanimous approval for the Gateway Project, a mixed-use, residential and retail development for a nearby vacant, 4.1-acre prime downtown parcel, which has attracted interest from Palm Harbor's popular Lucky Dill Deli. The development is being touted as the “first of its kind in the city” and the start of a new architecture and development trend for Main Street and other Dunedin corridors.

Clear Sky Draught Haus is not the only expansion for the restaurateur.

A spokeswoman for Frenchy’s also confirmed the company's interest in purchasing the Island Outpost Restaurant, known for its Key West-style dining, on Dunedin Causeway this week.

Shouvlin remained tight-lipped about the plans regarding that possible purchase.

"Anything can happen," he said.

• Will Frenchy's Buy Island Outpost?
• Gateway Project Is Start of New Trend, City Says
• Lucky Dill Interested in Dunedin Gateway Location