SOUL FOOD STREET KITCHEN moved into Armature Works’ rotating stall in the Heights Public Market. This vendor sells down-home cuisine such as Nashville hot boiled peanuts, chicken and dumplings, and shrimp and sausage gumbo. Soul Food Street Kitchen will remain at this location through early spring.
The first PUBLIX store to open on a college campus debuted at the University of South Florida in early December. The 28,000 square-ft store is located on the corner of Fletcher Avenue and USF Palm Drive and is open to the public. This on-campus Publix features a multitude of grab-and-go options, bike racks and indoor and outdoor seating.

REMEDY, a new hangout spot in Downtown Tampa owned by Derek and Jen Iavarone of the neigh-boring Malio’s Prime Steakhouse, opened just above the Tampa River-walk, next to Curtis Hixon Park. The patio serves as a location for passersby to stop in, grab a drink or a bite to eat and take a load off. Remedy’s menu focuses on caviar, raw bar options — like oysters and shrimp cocktails — and flatbreads.
Tampa was named the country’s second-best large COLLEGE CITY, and seventh best overall, in WalletHub’s 2019 Best College Towns & Cities in America report. The web-site judged over 400 cities of various sizes according to three main factors: wallet friendliness, social environment and academic and economic opportunities. The cities were further judged based on metrics like the rate of job growth.

Two new restaurants spearheaded by restaurateur Richard Sandoval are projected to open in the Tampa MARRIOTT WATERSIDE HOTEL & MARINA in 2019. Garrison Tavern is slated to replace Champions Sports Bar, and another restaurant will be added off the rear lobby. Both additions will add street-level access and outdoor seating areas to the hotel.

LYFT AND UBER recently named the Tampa locations where the rideshare apps’ drivers most often drop off and pick up riders. Franklin Manor was named the most visited bar and Hyde Park the most visited late night neighborhood on Lyft. Uber named SoHo’s MacDinton’s as the top drop-off location, followed by the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Raymond James Stadium, American Social and International Plaza.

Tampa stationery and paper goods store THE PAPER SEAHORSE opened in Ybor City’s historic district, sharing a space on Seventh Avenue. The new pop-up shop, called Frivolous Dry Goods, is Wild West-themed and carries typewriters, European fountain pens, travelers notebooks, cards and other paper-based goods.
Tampa Bay-area burger chain BURGER MONGER is renovating its five local restaurants and updating its brand. Burger Monger is adding a lineup of 10 new burgers to the menu, plus additional milkshakes and sides like sweet potato fries and onion rings.
BRIGHTLINE, soon to be Virgin Trains USA, gained state approval to negotiate for the right-of-way leases necessary to create the service. The $1.7 billion privately financed project hopes to launch service in 2021, with a Tampa station near downtown and possible stops in Lakeland and Walt Disney World, eventually connecting to South Florida.