Ozona Tavern Opens at Former J.C. Craver's Location

J.C. Craver's Bar and Grill is gone forever. 

A new restaurant called the Ozona Tavern opened Tuesday at the location of the former J.C. Craver's on Orange Street in Ozona.

J.C. Craver's original owners, Vince and Kelly LaMattina, are the owners of Ozona Tavern. They decided to retire the J.C. Craver's concept.

"J.C. Cravers was more known for the live music venue. We were much bigger," said Vince LaMattina.

"Our concept has changed. It's more of a cute, quaint community tavern, that's the aim that we're going for," he added.

"The menu is completely different. It's more of a homestyle feel," said Kelly LaMattina.

"We're going to head more into the craft beers," she said, adding that Ozona Tavern also offers NFL Ticket broadcasts.

It's a big transition from J.C. Craver's Bar and Grill, which the LaMattinas had sold to Nigel and Lisa Foster last January. The Fosters ran into difficulties and wound up closing J.C. Craver's. The LaMattinas had first option to take the restaurant back, so they did.

"I guess, during that transition period, the zoning department sent us a letter saying we were no longer allowed to function as a 150-seat restaurant, that we can function as a 50-seat restaurant," said Vince. 

The restaurant is now smaller and has a coat of new paint inside along with new furniture, which makes the interior look more bright and cheery. The original staff at J.C. Craver's was hired back and they've helped with renovations.

As for entertainment, Ozona Tavern will have live music, but it will be on a much smaller scale with one or two-piece bands and acoustical performers.

"This, I think turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It was hard to swallow in the beginning because we put our heart and soul into J.C. Craver's, but I think this is just a blessing in disguise for us, where things will work out much better in the end for us and the community as well," said Vince LaMattina.

"We're very excited," his wife, Kelly, added.

Ozona Tavern is located at 191 Orange Street, Palm Harbor, (no phone number listed yet)

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