Cody's, Sea Dog join forces in Clearwater

CLEARWATER

The familiar roadside signs are there. An aged, clapboard facade gives that roadhouse feel. That and the peanuts on the floor.

For the most part it's still the same Cody's Roadhouse, except this one has a Sea Dog craft brewery attached to it.

After a recent merger of the Clearwater outlets of the two chains, the marriage is working and could bring changes most notably Sea Dog craft beers to other Cody's franchises.

"Cody's has an aging clientele but we could use a little element of something new and exciting," said Mark Weber, manager with the restaurant chain. "This could be something unique."

Sea Dog Brewing Company opened its first Florida operations two years ago in an expansive building off U.S. 19 and Enterprise Road.

It was the first expansion for the Maine brewery into Florida. A location in Orlando opened next. While the craft beer was flowing, problems brewed inside. There were constant menu changes and the cavernous bar never seemed full.

There were struggles from the start partly because of the construction along U.S. 19, said Dan Bolduc, spokesman for Sea Dog in Florida.

The brewpub closed in May 2014 and reopened with the new concept Oct. 6 when the owners of Sea Dog, who own the building, bought the Cody's franchise and moved it about 50 feet.

A hallway filled with Sea Dog T-shirts and other items connects the tasting room with the roadhouse restaurant. Here there are no peanuts on the floor. There are rich leather couches and some TVs it's like a humidor meets a living room. Mug club mugs hang on the wall beneath the shiny beer taps.

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Cody's, Sea Dog join forces in Clearwater