Liquor Depot Tampa · Est. 1990

A Family business.
A Tampa institution.

What started as a single store in 1990 is now six locations, one Christmas bar, 140+ barrel picks, and a whole lot of Tampa history.

35+
Years in
business
6
Tampa
locations
140+
Barrel picks
selected
2
Generations
of Lawsons

The story

Our history
1990
Frank Lawson opens the first location
A single store, a lot of ambition, and the beginning of what would become Tampa's most trusted independent liquor group.
2018
Trey Lawson returns to Tampa
After years away, Trey moves home and begins working alongside Frank — learning every corner of the business before taking the reins.
2020
Four stores become one name
Liquor Depot, City Liquors, Pix Liquors, and VIP Liquors unified under a single brand with a new logo and fresh look.
Rebrand
2022
Waters Ave opens — location five
The flagship destination for single barrel releases and release day events, cementing Liquor Depot's reputation in the Tampa whiskey community.
New location
2023
Joy Bar opens
Tampa's only year-round Christmas bar launches inside the Armenia location — and wins Best Dive Bar in Tampa Bay its first year.
Joy Bar · Best Dive Bar 2024
2025
Hillsborough becomes location six
The newest Liquor Depot opens as the closest liquor store to Raymond James Stadium and Steinbrenner Field.
New location
Now
140+ barrels selected. Still family-owned.
Six locations across Tampa Bay. A barrel program that rivals any in Florida. Two generations of Lawsons still showing up every day.

Frank built it.
Trey brought it into a new era.

In 1990, Frank Lawson opened the first location and spent the next three decades quietly building something the neighborhood could rely on. Not flashy. Not a chain. Just good selection, fair prices, and people who actually knew what they were talking about.

At the end of 2018, Frank's son Trey moved back to Tampa and started learning the business from the ground up — side by side with his father for two full years before taking the wheel. In 2020, four stores operating under different names were unified under a single brand: Liquor Depot.

01
Selection over everything
We carry what we'd drink ourselves. That means stocking additive-free tequilas, single barrel whiskeys, and craft spirits you won't find at a big box store — alongside everything you actually need for a Thursday night.
02
Competitive prices, always
Family-owned doesn't mean expensive. We've been part of this community for 35 years and we price accordingly. You shouldn't have to drive to a chain store to get a fair deal.
03
Six locations, one team
Every Liquor Depot location is staffed by people who know what they're talking about. Ask a question and you'll get a real answer, not a shrug toward the shelf.

As seen in

Tampa's talking about us.

Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Dec 2025
Cover feature

How a 2nd-gen entrepreneur revived his family's Tampa liquor stores

A deep dive into how Trey Lawson rebuilt a four-store legacy into Tampa's defining independent bottle shop — through branding, community, and the $20 buzz that has fans lining up for every release.

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Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Oct 2025

Liquor Depot event raises $20K for Mike Alstott Foundation

The sold-out charity barrel event with former Buccaneer Mike Alstott raised $20,000 for Tampa Bay families — the fourth consecutive year of the partnership.

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Business Observer Feb 2025

Tampa liquor store chain grows revenue 25%, store count 50%

How Trey Lawson used social media, single barrel curation, and neighborhood relationships to turn a legacy business into a regional destination.

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Laker Lutz News Jan 2025

Liquor Depot expands in Tampa area

Coverage of the sixth location opening on Hillsborough Ave — the family story, the community mission, and $40K raised for charity across four barrel releases.

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That's So Tampa Dec 2025

Joy Bar is Tampa's wild year-round Christmas dive bar

A full feature on Tampa's only 365-day Christmas bar — back-to-back Best Dive Bar winner and one of Tampa Bay's most distinctive nightlife experiences.

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Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Dec 2024

A naughty elf and whiskey galore: Joy Bar spreads festive fun in Tampa

Christmas comes but once a year — unless you're at Joy Bar. Tampa Bay's only year-round Christmas-themed bar, featured at the height of its first full season.

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