Published December 3, 2014
Age:
37
Bio:
Born in Venice, FL, Kostas has spent the last decade as a commercial real estate broker with CBRE. His team recently helped Amazon acquire land in Riverview and Lakeland.
Philanthropic efforts:
Kostas is a member of Bay Area Advisors, which 10 years ago founded the Martinis for Moffitt fundraiser.
When I’m not in the office:
I’m riding my Cannondale. I recently bought a bike from Flying Fish and that’s all I want to do now.
Life motto:
Make it happen.
Why did you move to South Tampa:
I moved to Orlando after I graduated from FSU. But I’m a beach boy, and I missed the water. I used to hang in Tampa on the weekends, and I loved where it was going from a business mindset. I love the atmosphere here. It’s a small town, but it has potential of a great city.
Where do you take out-of-town guests to show off the city:
SoHo for Ciccio’s and The Lodge; Timpano’s, Eddie V’s, Taps in downtown, Curtis Hixon Park, Fly Bar, Ciro’s Speakeasy, the new Aloft hotel. Of course Ybor has great lunches at El Puerto or Carmine’s. I love Hula Bay on the water and Elmer’s on MacDill. Harbour Island is great for a date. And Council Oak at the Hard Rock Casino is a hidden gem.
If you could nominate someone else for this recognition:
Aaron Davis of Hillsborough Title. He’s 39 and has grown his company leaps and bounds.
What would you be doing if you weren’t doing this:
If I knew then what I know now, I would have gotten into something more active. I would have gotten into something with the water, an adventurous kind of job. I remember when I was going to college, the first few semesters I called my best friend’s mom from Venice and said I want to be an archaeologist. I wanted to wear shorts and cool shirts all day. That seems like who does that. She told me to pick a better major (laughs).
Best meal in town:
Charlie’s Steak House
Best thing I can cook:
Stuffed tomatoes and peppers
Guilty pleasure at the mall:
Frozen yogurt or milkshakes
Favorite movie:
Scarface and Good Will Hunting
Favorite album:
Anything by Pennywise
Last book I read:
Steve Jobs’ biography
How I spend the holidays:
I stay here and spend it with best friends.
Dream vacation:
Same thing as dream retirement: on a tropical beach with a Corona. Either Fiji or the Bahamas, as long as there’s a beach and there’s a steel drum playing.
If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive:
Warren Buffet
