TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A well-known bar in Tallahassee's Midtown area will be closing soon but not before a final celebration.
For ten years, there's been a party just about every night at Krewe De Gras Midtown Tavern.
Chris and Stephanie Eldridge opened the bar on Sixth and Monroe in 2009.
They said their mission was bigger than the drinks they sold.
"We wanted to be involved with different aspects of the community and not just be the best bar," Chris said.
Over the years, Krewe has teamed up with community groups, celebrated teachers and raised money for people and causes they care about.
"All in total, we were over $800,000 raised since we've been open," Chris said.
The bar has welcomed traveling bands, local drag queens, and just about anyone who's come through the door, but those days are winding down.
With their lease ending later this year, the Eldridges said they're ready to close this chapter in their lives.
"We love everybody we've met here, everything we've been able to do, but it's just time. We knew it was time," Stephanie said.
"We've wanted it to be a family atmosphere, and quite honestly, we got what we wanted," Chris said. "That's been the wealthiest we've become from the business ... is the people and the relationships we built. Not money, not other things, but we've got a lot of very dear friends now that we would have never met, never had had we not opened this place."
After the Eldridges decided this would be the end, customers started leaving their marks and signing their names on the walls. Chris and Stephanie said in their ten years here, Krewe has been more than just a bar.
"Our employees literally called us 'Mom' and 'Dad,' and we obviously can't do anything without their work," Chris said.
A place with a lot of memories will get to add a few more before it closes. After a decade in business, Krewe's final day will be the one that inspired its theme.
"With Mardi Gras being our big event, we thought, 'Why not go out with a big bang?'" Stephanie said.
"Everybody can come into any place and get a drink. It's the people you want to sit and hang out with -- want to sit and talk to and that sort of thing," Chris said, "and that's what we've been lucky enough to have for ten years."
The Eldridges said they're taking this opportunity to spend more time with their family and focus on other passion projects.
Krewe will close on Mardi Gras (Tuesday, March 5) for a tenth and final time. Leading up to the final day, the bar will have its annual multi-day celebration, including a crawfish boil, masquerade party and live entertainment.
The building will be available to sublease, starting March 6.
