Retail & Hospitality

Outback opening new Lakewood Ranch restaurant Nov. 11 Exterior of Outback Steakhouse restaurant with red logo and stone facade

Outback opening new Lakewood Ranch restaurant Nov. 11

Chuck Merlis November 10, 2025

Outback expands to Lakewood Ranch with new jobs, community giving and a nod to its Tampa beginnings.

Wagamama moving its U.S. headquarters to Tampa Exterior of a Wagamama restaurant with its name in bold lettering above the entrance, featuring signage for noodles, dumplings, ramen, craft cocktails and fresh juices.

Exterior of a Wagamama restaurant with its name in bold lettering above the entrance, featuring signage for noodles, dumplings, ramen, craft cocktails and fresh juices.

Wagamama moving its U.S. headquarters to Tampa

Chuck Merlis November 5, 2025

Wagamama relocates its U.S. headquarters to Tampa, reinforcing the city’s rise as a national hub for business...

Hooters Clearwater-based founders regain full ownership of brand Exterior view of the Original Hooters restaurant in Clearwater, Florida, showing its multi-level building with palm trees and bikes parked outside.

Exterior view of the Original Hooters restaurant in Clearwater, Florida, showing its multi-level building with palm trees and bikes parked outside.

Hooters Clearwater-based founders regain full ownership of brand

Chuck Merlis November 3, 2025

Clearwater’s Original Hooters founders reclaim the global brand and revive the local spirit that started it all.

Che Vita opens in downtown Tampa with Italian Flair Interior of Che Vita restaurant at Hilton Tampa Downtown featuring wood tables, blue glassware and natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows

Interior of Che Vita restaurant at Hilton Tampa Downtown featuring wood tables, blue glassware and natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows

Che Vita opens in downtown Tampa with Italian Flair

Barbara Lynch October 31, 2025

Che Vita brings bold Southern Italian flavor to downtown Tampa.

Tampa-based Melting Pot brings fondue to grocery stores nationwide Melting Pot at Home fondue packages beside a pot of melted cheese with bread and vegetables arranged on a table

Melting Pot at Home fondue packages beside a pot of melted cheese with bread and vegetables arranged on a table

Tampa-based Melting Pot brings fondue to grocery stores nationwide

Chuck Merlis October 28, 2025

Melting Pot brings its signature fondue to Publix shelves in the brand’s largest retail expansion to date.

Bojangles returns to Tampa Bay Nov. 4 with new restaurant Exterior of a Bojangles restaurant in Pinellas Park, featuring the signature red “Bo” logo on a white building with an orange awning and tree in the foreground.

Bojangles returns to Tampa Bay Nov. 4 with new restaurant

Chuck Merlis October 27, 2025

Bojangles opens its first Tampa Bay restaurant in Pinellas Park on November 4, expanding its Southern roots...

Downtown St. Pete’s EVO nears capacity with health-focused tenants A 23-story mixed-use tower named EVO rises above downtown St. Petersburg, featuring modern architecture, glass balconies, and surrounding midrise developments under clear blue skies.

A 23-story mixed-use tower named EVO rises above downtown St. Petersburg, featuring modern architecture, glass balconies, and surrounding midrise developments under clear blue skies.

Downtown St. Pete’s EVO nears capacity with health-focused tenants

Chuck Merlis October 27, 2025

EVO’s new tenants bring wellness-focused energy to downtown St. Pete, leaving just one retail space available.

Investors snap up West Tampa Pollo Campero for $3M Aerial view of a newly built Pollo Campero restaurant in West Tampa, located next to a Chipotle and across from a Target and Lowe’s shopping center on West Waters Avenue. Several cars are parked in the lot under a bright, sunny sky.

Aerial view of a newly built Pollo Campero restaurant in West Tampa, located next to a Chipotle and across from a Target and Lowe’s shopping center on West Waters Avenue. Several cars are parked in the lot under a bright, sunny sky.

Investors snap up West Tampa Pollo Campero for $3M

Chuck Merlis October 23, 2025

A $3.06 million sale of Pollo Campero highlights rising investor confidence in Tampa’s restaurant real estate market.

Inside the $12.7 million sale of Tampa’s Buccaneer Square Five Below and Aldi storefronts at Buccaneer Square in Tampa, Florida

Inside the $12.7 million sale of Tampa’s Buccaneer Square

Chuck Merlis October 20, 2025

The $12.7 million sale of Tampa’s Buccaneer Square highlights investor demand and confidence in Florida’s retail real...

Inside Jackson’s Bistro’s Harbour Island transformation Exterior and interior views of Jackson’s Bistro on Harbour Island showing the waterfront restaurant amid a major renovation and redesign in Tampa.