Year: 2025

Who pays for Tampa’s New Year’s Eve fireworks? Fireworks light up Tampa Bay as a Starship cruise vessel passes the downtown waterfront during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Fireworks light up Tampa Bay as a Starship cruise vessel passes the downtown waterfront during New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Who pays for Tampa’s New Year’s Eve fireworks?

Chuck Merlis December 31, 2025

Tampa’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are privately funded by local businesses, not the city, a nearly 20-year...

Tampa Bay’s Top Companies No. 5: First Watch Restaurant Group Aerial view of downtown Tampa and the Hillsborough River highlighting First Watch Restaurant Group as part of TBBW’s Biggest Companies in Tampa Bay series.

Aerial view of downtown Tampa and the Hillsborough River highlighting First Watch Restaurant Group as part of TBBW’s Biggest Companies in Tampa Bay series.

Tampa Bay’s Top Companies No. 5: First Watch Restaurant Group

Chuck Merlis December 30, 2025

Part of TBBW’s ongoing Tampa Bay Top Companies series, spotlighting major employers across the region without ranking...

How a Tampa company built a bar crawl business at scale Three founders of Tampa-based Downtown Crawlers pose inside a bar, reflecting the company’s growth from a Gasparilla event to operations in 28 cities.

Three founders of Tampa-based Downtown Crawlers pose inside a bar, reflecting the company’s growth from a Gasparilla event to operations in 28 cities.

How a Tampa company built a bar crawl business at scale

Chuck Merlis December 30, 2025

A Tampa company scaled a bar crawl model nationwide, with Gasparilla serving as its largest annual test...

Tiny Tap Tavern sold after more than 70 years Exterior of Tiny Tap Tavern in Tampa with signage visible after the longtime neighborhood bar was sold.

Exterior of Tiny Tap Tavern in Tampa with signage visible after the longtime neighborhood bar was sold.

Tiny Tap Tavern sold after more than 70 years

Chuck Merlis December 29, 2025

After more than 70 years, Tiny Tap Tavern has been sold, with plans to preserve its legacy...

The real estate developments shaping Tampa Bay in 2026 Downtown Tampa skyline with office towers and palm trees under a blue sky, illustrating major real estate projects shaping Tampa Bay.

Downtown Tampa skyline with office towers and palm trees under a blue sky, illustrating major real estate projects shaping Tampa Bay.

The real estate developments shaping Tampa Bay in 2026

Chuck Merlis December 29, 2025

The projects defining where Tampa Bay’s growth, capital and urban density are headed in 2026.

Why Eskuad sees field operations as tech’s next frontier Eskuad field operations platform displayed across desktop and mobile devices, showing offline reporting tools designed for remote industrial environments.

Eskuad field operations platform displayed across desktop and mobile devices, showing offline reporting tools designed for remote industrial environments.

Why Eskuad sees field operations as tech’s next frontier

Chuck Merlis December 29, 2025

Tampa-based Eskuad is building technology for the world where work actually happens, far from Wi-Fi, dashboards and...

Why Tampa remains an early-stage luxury condo market Interior rendering of a luxury condominium at ONE Tampa, showing an open living and dining space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Tampa.

Interior rendering of a luxury condominium at ONE Tampa, showing an open living and dining space with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking downtown Tampa.

Why Tampa remains an early-stage luxury condo market

Chuck Merlis December 29, 2025

A look at why Tampa’s luxury condo market may be closer to the beginning than the peak,...

Why Lions World Vision Institute is moving beyond mobile care Rendering of Lions World Vision Institute’s planned Vision Health Center interior in Ybor City, showing a reception area, exam spaces and families receiving care.

Rendering of Lions World Vision Institute’s planned Vision Health Center interior in Ybor City, showing a reception area, exam spaces and families receiving care.

Why Lions World Vision Institute is moving beyond mobile care

Chuck Merlis December 29, 2025

After years of mobile screenings, Lions World Vision Institute is building a permanent vision care hub to...

Tampa Bay’s Top Companies No. 4: Bloomin’ Brands Aerial view of downtown Tampa and the Hillsborough River, home to Bloomin’ Brands headquarters.

Aerial view of downtown Tampa and the Hillsborough River, home to Bloomin’ Brands headquarters.

Tampa Bay’s Top Companies No. 4: Bloomin’ Brands

Chuck Merlis December 29, 2025

Part of TBBW’s ongoing Tampa Bay Top Companies series, spotlighting major employers across the region without ranking...

Tampa’s International Plaza refinanced with $551M loan International Plaza shopping mall in Tampa, Florida, where Simon Property Group refinanced the property with a new institutional loan

International Plaza shopping mall in Tampa, Florida, where Simon Property Group refinanced the property with a new institutional loan

Tampa’s International Plaza refinanced with $551M loan

Chuck Merlis December 24, 2025

International Plaza secures a $551M refinancing, reinforcing Tampa Bay’s position as a market for top-performing retail assets.