Rum Runners

The first Rum Runners Restaurant & Dueling Piano Bar was opened in an old 2 story building located at 601 East Michigan Ave, in Downtown Lansing, Michigan on June 1 st, 1996. This particular property was located directly across the street from a new minor league baseball stadium, Oldsmobile Park. A perfect location for the launching of a new concept! Over the years, the restaurant was transformed into a high energy dance club and piano bar. In 1998, the second Rum Runners Restaurant & Dueling Piano Bar location was opened in Raleigh, North Carolina. The early years of Rum Runners were a huge hit in the Michigan and North Carolina markets as few people in these areas had ever experienced a dueling piano bar before. The Raleigh Rum Runners was relocated downtown to City Market and was reopened as Rum Runners Dueling Piano Bar & Grill in 2001. This location is still going strong today! As time went on, Rum Runners sold some franchise locations for a period of time including a location in Ft. Wayne, Indiana that is still operating today. In 2002, a leasing agent from Sandestin, Florida contacted Rum Runners about opening a location in a newly developed commercial property called The Village of Baytowne Wharf. A deal was struck and the new Rum Runners Dueling Piano Bar & Grill opened to huge crowds in June of 2003. This location has grown year after year and is now our flagship Tropical Island Grill & Dueling Piano Bar located in Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort! The newest Rum Runners Tropical Island Grill & Dueling Piano Bar opened in Panama City Beach at Pier Park on March 15th, 2012. This location is featured among other major brands in a high profile shopping and entertainment district located directly on Panama City Beach. Please continue to watch for a new Rum Runners location to open near you!