Tampa Bay Business News and Top Stories

Precision Build has acquired Tampa Steel Erecting Company, a longtime Tampa-based steel fabricator known for its work on major infrastructure and architectural projects, including the geodesic dome at Epcot’s Spaceship Earth. Tampa Steel Erecting Company, founded in 1945 and owned by the Clark family since its inception, will now be wholly owned by Precision Build.

Tampa Bay Business and Wealth held its March CEO Connect with Chon Nguyen, a serial entrepreneur based in Tampa, with several active ventures. Npserspective and Republic Bank sponsored the event. JC Newman Cigar Co, in Ybor City, hosted the event. Photos by Tacy Briggs-Troncoso

The second-largest planetarium in the United States is now open at Tampa’s Museum of Science & Industry. Daily space and science shows are now included in general admission. MOSI’s new Digital Dome Theatre—an 82-foot-wide, 330-seat venue—replaces the museum’s previous 46-seat planetarium, featuring a 10,000-square-foot NanoSeam screen and an 8K projection system. Each show begins with

From poverty in Maine to building a $110B wealth management firm, Shirl Penney’s rise is reshaping Tampa Bay’s financial landscape.

Hooters Inc. and Hoot Owl Restaurants, two of the largest Hooters franchisees, have agreed in principle to acquire more than 100 company-owned restaurants from Hooters of America. The buyer group includes original Hooters founders and franchisees who currently operate about 30% of the brand’s franchised domestic locations. These operators run 14 of the top 30

Pat Geraghty will step down as president and chief executive officer of GuideWell and Florida Blue, at the end of 2025. Geraghty has led the organization since 2011, overseeing its transformation from Florida’s largest health insurer into a national health solutions enterprise with operations across the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Under his

Kolter Urban and BH Group have opened the sales gallery for Olana Naples Residences, an exclusive beachfront development, offering 12 estate-sized homes, starting at $30 million. Located at 294 14th Avenue South, the gallery showcases the project’s design and features, including a display kitchen by Champalimaud Design, a scale model and an interactive 360-degree virtual

Basis Industrial, a privately held real estate owner and operator, based in Delray Beach, has acquired a portfolio of five business parks in the Tampa Bay area, for $60 million. The acquisition, which closed March 19, adds 472,512 square feet to Basis’ holdings and doubles its footprint in the Tampa metropolitan area. Basis now owns

Cirque St. Armands Beachside, a new boutique hotel inspired by Sarasota’s circus heritage, has officially opened on Florida’s west coast. Located steps from Lido Beach, the 135-room hotel features a design that blends Art Deco and circus-inspired elements including striped columns, ornate feather chandeliers and vintage circus posters. The hotel is part of the Opal

Kolter Group has announced a new luxury development, at 1000 Boulevard of the Arts, in Sarasota, featuring residential condominiums and a full-service Hyatt Centric Harborside hotel. Construction is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. Located in Sarasota’s waterfront district, at Quay Commons and Boulevard of the Arts, the development will offer direct

The Whitaker Group plans to relocate its Social Status retail store to a new, larger space in Tampa’s historic Ybor City neighborhood. The move from Hyde Park to Ybor City is scheduled for spring, 2025. The new 2,794-square-foot store, located at 1318 E 7th Ave., will be near landmarks significant to Tampa’s Cuban heritage including

David W. Jezek, president and chief executive officer of the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, will retire at the end of this year. Jezek’s retirement will conclude a 42-year professional YMCA career across Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Florida. Jezek joined the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg in 2008 and oversaw organizational growth. Under his leadership,