July 2010
Community Paper
copyright ©2010 by Community Paper College Park, Inc. All rights reserved.
IT'S ALL STEVE'S.

On June 23, 2010, Tap Room owner Steve Gunter and his longtime business partner divided their business assets up and went their separate ways. Steve Gunter is proud to report he is now the sole owner of "his baby" - The Tap Room at Dubsdread. Steve traded his ownership interest out in Sam Snead's and will no longer be involved with the Maitland store or the concept in general.

Steve reports that his decision to pursue a split was based on many factors, but chief among them was “simply put... personal happiness – over the last 9 years I have simply fallen in love with being at Dubsdread and it has ceased to be a business for me – it is my baby. Life can be really short and I want to enjoy what I do and who I’m with.”

“I have a love affair with our guests, I have a staff of incredibly talented and loyal people who I love to work with. Nothing has the character, history and feel of Dubsdread," Steve said. "

“To be able to come to work every day with the likes of GM Barbara Teal and Banquet Director Cathie Ashby is a dream come true – the awards we have won together and the legacy we are trying to build is genuinely fun and challenging. Cathie has consistently beat out the all the fine hotels for wedding and catering awards; and Barbara is winning a major food award every three months for The Tap Room – who wouldn’t want to be here every day for this? This is FUN!”

Steve has received many phone calls, emails, offers of financial assistance, advice, and just general love and support from friends and customers. "This has been a pretty emotional and trying experience - and I can't thank the College Park community enough for being so supportive."

Community Paper learned early on that there was trouble brewing and heard that there was a possibility that Steve might be forced out at Dubsdread. When we contacted Steve he did indicate that was a possibility, but that he was doing everything in his power to make certain he kept Dubsdread.

We were baffled that there even COULD be a problem, because Tap Room IS Steve Gunter. It is Steve Gunter's welcoming grin, his hugs, his concern for his customer's personal happiness, his devotion to giving us a clean, safe, comfortable place to gather with friends, eat and feel like it's our second home. Steve serves on the board of the College Park Partnership, he has donated space and served on the committees for Taste of College Park AND Feed The Need, and has provided space for countless benefits to help enrich others' lives and much more. Who could imagine Tap Room without him?

“Dubsdread is where I WANT to be – and I will be here as long as the City of Orlando and the people of College Park want me here. That I promise.”

Tap Room is located at 549 W. Par Street, phone 407-650-0100 or visit www.TapRoomAtDubsdread.com.
Click here to see this month's ad.