French cuisine coming to Water Street Tampa
Boulon Brasserie is planned to open this summer on the ground floor of Water Street Tampa’s Thousand & One office tower. The French restaurant, bar and cafe will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Expect locally sourced ingredients, fresh-caught seafood and modern twists on classic French pastries. Behind the new concept is Tampa-based Next Level Brands, the parent company of Forbici Modern Italian.
Tampa Riverwalk to add luxury hotel, residence
A five-star hotel topped with residences is in the works at Tampa Riverwalk’s center. Pendry Tampa plans to open in 2024, the new California-based brand by Montage International announced this fall in partnership with South Florida-based Two Roads Development. Plans include 220 hotel rooms, 207 residences with one to three bedrooms starting in the $900,000s, a restaurant, rooftop pools and 11,000 square feet of meeting space.
Two new ice cream joints open
Two small-batch ice cream shops arrived in December 2021. Brooklyn-based OddFellows Ice Cream Co., with recipes by James Beard Award- Nominee Chef Sam Mason, opened in Hyde Park. Tampa-based Chill Bros. Ice Cream added its third location in the city at South Tampa’s Epicurean Hotel, which also houses Chill Bros.’s new production facility.
Visit Tampa Bay closest strongest fiscal year
Visit Tampa Bay set its new record in tourism development collections as it closed out its fiscal year this fall. The local tourism marketing nonprofit reported $38.4 million in year-end hotel collections, a 7% increase from the previous year. Hotel occupancy for the fiscal year closed out at 61.8%, a 13.15% increase since 2020. Early signs indicate continued success this fiscal year.
Water Street Tampa announces final tower in Phase 1
Water Street Tampa will round out its first phase of development with Asher apartment tower at 1050 Water Street, Strategic Property Partners announced in December. Pre-leasing begins in January with move-ins slated for March. SPP partnered with Philadelphia’s Method Co. to bring its high-end extended stay concept, ROOST Apartment Hotel, inside Asher, opening in Spring.
International artist to exhibit felt supermarket
Internationally renowned British artist Lucy Sparrow will kick off a month-long immersive exhibit Jan. 20 in Water Street Tampa. Her most ambitious project, Tampa Fresh Foods will feature 50,000-plus felt creations in a supermarket made entirely of felt, presented by the Vinik Family Foundation in partnership with Art Production Fund. Visitors can build felt Cuban sandwiches and shop the temperature-controlled cigar humidor.
Tampa named 2nd best large college city in U.S.
WalletHub ranked Tampa the second- best large college city in the U.S. and No. 12 among colleges of all sizes for 2022. Austin, Texas, took the top spot. WalletHub compared over 400 cities, grouped by size, based on 30 factors related to academic, social and economic growth potential. Large cities were considered those with more than 300,000 people.
Missed what happened last month? Check out Front Desk: December 2021
