Tampa Bay Business News and Top Stories

It wasn’t a spreadsheet or a business plan that sealed the decision for Maryann Ferenc and Chef Marty Blitz. It was a feeling. Standing inside Casa Gomez, one of the historic buildings at the center of Ybor City’s revitalization, the two looked at each other—tears in their eyes. After nearly four decades building Mise en

Commercial Residential Aluminum, a Venice-based provider of outdoor aluminum products for residential and commercial use, has been acquired by Garden City Equity, the companies announced. Hyde Park Capital served as the exclusive investment banker on the deal. Founded in 1992, CRA operates three facilities across the state and produces patio enclosures, fencing, railings and other

Avison Young arranges a $5M sale of Fountain Plaza, a West Tampa retail center on MacDill Avenue.

Sirata Beach Resort has completed a $25 million renovation of its guest rooms, suites, lobby and fitness center. The beachfront property, which has been a staple along the Gulf Coast since the 1960s, is owned and managed by Columbia Sussex. The property will transition into a Tapestry Collection by Hilton property, following the completion of

A new listing in Siesta Key combines privacy and waterfront access. Located at 4315 Mangrove Place, the six-bedroom, six-bathroom estate sits on South Cocoanut Bayou Island, a private residential enclave with only four homes. The asking price is $15.95 million. The home includes a separate guest house, with its own elevator, more than 7,000 square

Most pool company owners don’t grow up riding tractors through Israeli farmland, pioneering a lawn mowing business at age 11 or establishing call centers in Nicaragua. But Shai Egosi has never done things the conventional way. The turnaround chief executive, and exiting owner, of Pool Perfection in Largo, Egosi has built a reputation in Tampa

The Tampa Bay Innovation Center has named Rebecca Brown its new chief executive officer. Brown, a former Goldman Sachs executive and founder of Core Satellite Partners, has more than 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, finance and innovation. Best known for co-founding the consumer brand Solemates and mentoring tech founders through Tampa Bay Wave, Brown

Tampa Bay Business and Wealth held its July CEO Connect with Robert “Bob” Stahl, of Stahl & Associates, in Clearwater. Sponsors of the evening included Raymond James, Susan Terry Foundation and Spartan Contracting Co. The event was hosted by CAN Community Health. Photos by Tacy Briggs-Troncoso

The Viceroy Residences Clearwater Beach has unveiled its Grand Penthouse, a $12 million full-floor residence. Developed by BH3 Management and U.S. Development, the Viceroy Residences mark the hospitality brand’s first branded residential living project on Florida’s west coast. The development will include 86 private residences, across two nine-story towers, delivering resort-style amenities. Sales have launched

A 13,000-square-foot retail building, near downtown Sarasota, has sold for $7 million to 5 Point Equity. The property, at 1427 S Tamiami Trail, which sits on 1.35 acres, includes tenants such as Integrated Dental of Florida, Playa Bowls, Curaleaf Dispensary and Verizon. The buyer owns the adjacent Baymont by Wyndham Sarasota hotel, at 1425 S

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. James “Hammer” Hartsell has joined the Saint Leo University Board of Trustees, bringing with him not only a lifetime of military and public service, but also a deeply personal reason for doing so. Hartsell’s late son, Evin B. Hartsell, graduated from Saint Leo, in 2015, with a degree in

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa has received a Cultural Impact Award from Casinos.com, recognizing its charitable work, disaster response and ongoing support for the Tampa Bay community. Voted Florida’s top tribal casino, by residents across four U.S. states and three Canadian provinces, the resort was one of just seven properties in North America