Walk-On's, now open in Midtown Tampa, has growth ambitions in Tampa Bay
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jul 8, 2022

The leadership of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux had high expectations for its first Tampa location — and it didn’t disappoint.

The Midtown Tampa location, which opened June 20, set a record for highest opening-day sales out of the chain’s 65 locations. Walk-On’s also has Tampa Bay area locations in Wesley Chapel and Lakeland. CEO Brandon Landry told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that he sees room for “a handful” of regional locations.

“Our real estate team is looking in Brandon and other parts of the area,” he said.

The typical Walk-On’s location is between 7,000 and 7,500 square feet; the Lakeland location, at 7,100 square feet, was the first of a new prototype to open during the peak of the pandemic. Each location employs roughly 200 people and features scores of TV screens to keep tabs on any and all sporting events.

The food — which Landry says comprises 80% of Walk-On’s sales, an unusually high percentage for a sports bar — is the star of the show. There are typical bar bites like boneless wings and cheese fries, but the chain is also known for its Louisiana specialties.

The restaurant was launched in Baton Rouge in 2002 and is co-owned by Landry and former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Boudin balls, made of fried spicy pork and rice, are on the menu alongside a Walk-On’s spin on devils on horseback: fried shrimp, cream cheese and pickled jalapeños wrapped in bacon. There’s also a Cajun ribeye and bayou pasta (crawfish cream sauce, fried shrimp, linguine).

Walk-On’s is betting that those dishes will be a hit in Tampa Bay.

“The farther we get from Louisiana, the more Louisiana cuisine we sell,” Landry said.