Diversity : Development News

Invision Tampa, the city’s master planning effort that started in 2010, is now focusing on the "West River" neighborhoods along the HIllsborough River in downtown Tampa.  During a public workshop June 11, Mayor Bob Buckhorn announced that the Tampa Housing Authority would be a partner in this work.  "This is the beginning of the plan right here, it starts with you," the Mayor told community members. 

The total planning area is 128 acres in which approximately 80 percent is owned by various government agencies. The remaining 44 acres is owned by the Tampa Housing Authority and is occupied by the North Boulevard Apartments.  The planning team leaders, Peter Sechler of AECOM, Barry Long of Urban Design Associates, and Sandra Moore of Urban Strategies, presented notions of new development, redevelopment, improved safety, added retail amenities, an increase in the potential for jobs, and a more pedestrian friendly neighborhood environment. The overall conversation focused on the "West River" area becoming a “choice community.” 

Invision Tampa, the Center City Plan, will serve as a blue print for the next 25 years. The overarching theme is the river at the center of the city surrounded by strong neighborhoods.  "If you’re going to have a healthy downtown, you have to have healthy neighborhoods -- like spokes on a wheel," says Buckhorn. 

The inclusion of participatory public outreach in the planning and design of neighborhoods is growing in popularity across the country. It is important for citizens to share their vision for the future of their communities and to build consensus for future development in order to take stake in the city’s future.

Citizens will have an opportunity to share comments for the Center City Plan at a City Council Workshop
Thursday, June 20.  Community feedback about the "West River" will be discussed at Blake High School on July 18.  Comments and ideas for Invision Tampa can be made through the Virtual Town Hall.

Writer: Taryn Sabia
Source: Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Invision Tampa

After two years of fundraising efforts and months of work, the Adamo Drive Mural project is making progress toward completion.

The approximately $30,000 project is expected to enhance the appeal of the Ybor City Historic District, transforming industrial weather-beaten portions of Adamo Drive into a work of art representing the culture, heritage and vitality of both Ybor City and Tampa; the mural covers the rear exterior of a 370-by-35-foot space on the 12,000-square-foot Fabricated Products Building at 17th Street and Adamo Drive.

“Art projects such as these not only help to illustrate a rich history and bring students, artists and residents together, but they can stimulate a renewal of energy in urban areas,” says Dave Scott, the project's organizer. “Recently, several major cities such as Omaha, Nebraska and Chattanooga, Tennessee have embraced similar art projects as a smart investment to attract potential investors, visitors and residents. I hope this mural is the spark that helps ignite a greater spirit of renewal in Ybor and the downtown area.”

Spanning two blocks, project organizers believe the Adamo Drive Mural to be one of the largest outdoor murals in the state of Florida. Designed by local artist Mike Parker, the mural depicts the vitality of Ybor City, focusing on the people and families that continue to make the neighborhood what it is today: One continuously welcoming and embracing new ideas, businesses and faces.

“The mural is a tribute to the history of Ybor City. It even reflects the character of the neighborhood today; it’s bright, interesting, and forward-looking,” says Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn. “Public art projects like this are an important economic driver and help us define Ybor as a creative place.”

As part of the preplanning process for the project, Parker taught a class at  Hillsborough Community College where students immersed themselves into the history, heritage and current feel of the Ybor City neighborhood. Through research of the neighborhood and interviews with residents, Parker and the HCC students were able to integrate the results into a mural that tells the story of Ybor City.

“We too often forget that Tampa has one of the greatest examples of people embracing the 'American Dream',” Scott says. “The mural can be an inspiration to all of us to make the most of our talent and potential -- an important perspective for the renaissance of Ybor and the growth of the Tampa Bay area.”

An on-site dedication by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn and local community leaders is planned for the community-driven project on Tuesday, May 21st at 2 p.m.

In addition to the City of Tampa and Ybor City Development Corporation, the project has been supported by local businesses including the Columbia Restaurant, Rotary International, Kimmins Contracting Corp., Vykin Corp., Actsoft Inc., Hoffman Porges Gallery, Fabricated Products, Ybor City Round Table, Protective Coating Solutions, Inc., Safway Scaffolding and Acccess Solutions, Corrosion Specialties, Inc., Sherwin-Willliams, Ring Power's Cat Rental Store, Glendale Painting Corp., Empire Paint, Brandon School of Dance Arts, Salem Enterprise Solutions, Radiant Oil, Bad Monkey Ybor, Special Forces Motorcycle Club, Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club and La Gaceta.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Sources: Dave Scott, Adamo Drive Mural; Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn

A new Italian restaurant will soon make its way to Grand Central at Kennedy in the Channel District.

Located at 1120 E. Kennedy Blvd. across from Pour House, the 1,900-square-foot Cena Restaurant will provide Channel District residents and visitors a modern, fresh and simple Italian dining experience. Italian for the word "dinner,'' Cena plans to provide dining from the roots with real ingredients, traditional dishes and attentive service.

Former Sidebern's chef de cuisine Michael Buttacavoli will act as executive chef at the new restaurant, whipping up dishes like spaghetti and veal, pork or beef meatballs; duck confit; shrimp scampi; pan seared steak; braised oxtail gnocchi; and lobster risotto, to name a few.

"The food is to die for,'' says Grand Central at Kennedy developer Ken Stoltenberg of Susan Bianchi and Romeo Patron's new concept.

Stoltenberg approached dining aficionados Bianchi and Patron of South Tampa's Bianchi's Enoteca-- who met while working at Bern's Fine Wine & Spirits-- in hopes of developing an interesting dining concept for Grand Central at Kennedy.

"The area is growing tremendously and we are excited to be a part of the development of the entire downtown Tampa area,'' says Bianchi. "I think there's a huge market with a really great cross section of people living in downtown and the Channel District.''

Plans call for a soft opening of the 40-seat restaurant on Friday, March 15th, with hours running Wednesday through Sunday.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Ken Stoltenberg, Grand Central at Kennedy; Susan Bianchi, Cena Restaurant

Offering fresh, globally inspired Korean, Thai and Spanish cuisine, Anise Global Gastrobar is now open on Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa.

Located on the bottom floor of Skypoint Condos, at 777 N. Ashley Dr., Anise is on the opposite side of Taps Restaurant Bar & Lounge, occupying the 2,500-square-foot former site of the Point Bistro & Lounge.

"If you look around, we seem to have a great influx of ethnic restaurants in the downtown area,'' says Angela Ruth, director of marketplace development at the Tampa Downtown Partnership. "There's a lot of people of different ethnicities traveling, finding food that they like and bringing it back to Tampa to share with residents and visitors. It's really a neat thing.''

Owners Kevin and Xuan Hurt say they plan to play with global flavors and recipes, offering an eclectic menu of rice bowls, salads and a variety of steamed buns including pork belly with kimchi and shrimp with spicy green papaya slaw and ginger aioli. The Hurts plan to offer craft beers, boutique wines and both traditional, as well as innovative, cocktails at their new concept.

Featuring indoor and outdoor seating, the approximately 90-seat restaurant includes Parisian influences in the interior décor by Doxa Home designer Jaime Rogers. The plan is to serve lunch and dinner Monday through Friday with brunch, dinner and a late-night menu offered on weekends; to-go picnic baskets will be made available for customers to enjoy at open-air spaces in downtown, such as Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

"It seems just as one restaurant opens up in downtown, there's another and another,'' Ruth says. "It's almost like clockwork, which is wonderful.''

Prior to Anise, Xuan previously partnered with downtown Tampa's Bamboozle Cafe for more than two years, worked as manager of Ciro's Speakeasy and Supper Club in South Tampa and ran local Tampa Bay area food truck Stinky Bunz.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Angela Ruth, Tampa Downtown Partnership

The scent of decadent, made-to-order crepes served in a relaxing, vintage-inspired cafe with indoor and outdoor seating will soon be part of Tampa's growing urban scene along Kennedy Boulevard west of downtown.

Flying Pan, one of the Tampa Bay region's newest franchises, will soon offer crepes, fresh omelets, waffles, pancakes, soups, salads and paninis made with fresh, whole ingredients for breakfast, lunch and dinner in a fast-casual restaurant seating nearly 100 people.

“With customers being able to see their food being prepared -- their crepes cooked right in front of them on the griddle -- a visit to the Flying Pan will be entertaining and visual. Not to mention, you'll have the aroma of the fresh crepes,” says Misann Ellmaker, company spokeswoman and Walker Brands brand manager. Walker Brands provides public relations, marketing and advertising for Flying Pan.

In 2001, the Flying Pan's ownership group, BFC Retail Group, started what was called the Crepe Cafe in Australia. According to Ellmaker, the concept moved from Australia to the Middle East with 30 locations before looking to expand in the United States.

“In putting their plans together, they wanted to come up with a new brand that translated well into the American market,” Ellmaker says. “They chose Tampa as their first U.S. location because they really wanted a testing ground with a broad demographic -- a mix of tourism and residents varying in income and age.”

Flying Pan will feature breakfast crepes like the Fruity Museli with granola, greek yogurt, fresh fruits and mixed berries; lunch crepes like the Flyin' BLT with bacon, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and Dijonaise sauce; and dessert crepes like Apple Pie with apple compote, butter, white sugar, cinnamon, whipped cream and vanilla ice cream.

The menu will also feature one-of-a-kind omelets, waffles, pancakes, soups, salads, paninis and specialty coffee, smoothies and tea. Vegetarian options are available and the griddle-cooked crepes will not be cooked in oil or butter.

“The menu is so dangerous,” says Ellmaker. “But what I really like is that you can come at any time of the day and find something: On your way to work for breakfast, at lunchtime for a meeting or dinner with family or a date. It's so versatile.”

BFC Retail Group's goal with the Flying Pan is to have 10 franchise agreements signed by the end of 2014.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Misann Ellmaker, Walker Brands

Sarasota's HuB, a creative and collaborative space and community allowing entrepreneurs to come together to develop ideas and contribute toward building a new economy and culture, has opened a new space.

Since 2009, HuB has been active in promoting big ideas in the Sarasota area and their renovation of a 10,000-square-foot building at 1680 Fruitville Rd. is continuing to embrace that concept by housing innovative tech companies, entrepreneurs and creative/tech start ups. HuB founder Rich Swier Jr. worked on the renovation with Sarasota's HOYT Architects and Biter Enterprises.

“We're looking to create a new economy based on creativity,” Swier says. “We wanted to be more centrally located -- downtown -- near a vibrant, creative community.”

The first floor of HuB's new space houses Florida Shores Bank with the second, third and fourth floors offering workspace to tech companies; the third floor is also home to an incubator/collaborative space to local entrepreneurs and startups. A full production studio, bar and event space are among some of the building's features.

A grand opening event for the new Fruitville Road location was hosted on December 8th, featuring a digital show in collaboration with Sarasota's own Ringling College of Art and Design.

Each month, HuB hosts the Entrepreneur Symposium, imviting memebers to network, discuss and share thoughts on entrepreneurship in a non-traditional setting. The Tech Symposium is also hosted monthly, covering a wide range of topics around technology from implementation to innovation.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Rich Swier Jr., HuB

A funky new community theater space has made its way to Tampa's Kennedy Boulevard.

Located across the street from local favorite Buddy Brew, Powerstories' new 1,000-square-foot space at 2105 W. Kennedy Blvd. is part of the Biscayne Lighting building near Tampa's South Howard Avenue.

Featuring 12-foot ceilings and a large glass storefront, owner Fran Powers couldn't be more pleased with the new location for her nonprofit agency with the mission of staging the true stories of women and girls to open minds and hearts.

“Location, location, location -- it's easy access for individuals living in all parts of Tampa,” Powers says. “The owners are delightful to work with and are truly delighted that we're using their space for such a meaningful mission.”

Powers, who believes that the discovery and the telling of autobiographical stories creates new success, invests our lives with more meaning and connects us vitally with others, says the size of the new space allows Powerstories to move forward with its mission, established in March 2003, without being a financial burden.

Working with Keith Arsenault of Tampa's IAEG Inc. International, Powers and the theater consulting group are in the process of transforming the small $3,000 space into a very versatile 30-seat theater. Currently, the space can be utilized for workshops, rehearsals and open mic nights. An additional $15,000 will be invested to get the space ready for theater season, including the addition and installation of lighting and curtain systems, chairs, risers and a new floor.

“Powerstories will be an incubator space for new and young talent: A new live theater providing quality and rich entertainment can certainly enliven an area,” Powers says. “We envision an active little theater where folks are coming and going and are committed to making this a special, bright jewel in the Tampa Bay area.”

Every other Thursday night, Powerstories opens its doors to the public to allow the community to share and listen to true stories during “Open Mic True Stories Nights.”

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberain
Source: Fran Powers, Powerstories

A new residential development of urban apartments is in the works for the North Hyde Park neighborhood of Tampa.

Located just west of the University of Tampa at 403 N. Rome Ave., NoHo Flats at North Hyde Park is a 311-unit urban apartment project developed by Atlanta-based Pollack Shores Real Estate Group; the 7-building complex is slated to feature state-of-the-art amenities in an active part of of the city just west of downtown.

“The property is adjacent to 20 acres owned by Tampa General Hospital, which plans to build a major rehab center there,” says Ben Lee, principal of Schifino Lee Advertising and Branding, who is working with developers on the project.

Pollack Shores purchased the NoHo Flats development site for $4.8 million from Tampa-based Hyde Park Realty Group months ago. Upon completion of the project, the area is envisioned as similar to the South Hyde Park neighborhood.

Promoting a lifestyle of urban living, NoHo Flats will feature vertical bike racks for tenant use while a linear park and streetscape with sidewalks, streetlights, trees, benches and landscaping will be included in the construction of the project; the park will be open to the public.

In addition, Pollack Shores will lend support to build a community center at Vila Brothers Park, less than one mile from the development.

A fountain courtyard with fire pits, a fitness center including a multipurpose yoga/spin room, an outdoor pet area and large indoor clubroom with bar are among the lifestyle amenities to be offered at NoHo Flats. More than 90 on-street parking spots are to be built for public and tenants' guests to use. Interior unit features include custom cabinets, quartz countertops, faux wood flooring, custom tile and stainless steel appliances.

The project will break ground on October 24th and is expected to see completion by late 2013.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Ben Lee, Schifino Lee Advertising and Branding

With a mission to provide the highest quality, innovative, compassionate and nonjudgmental health care services to youth in an environment tailored to specific and unique needs, the new Ybor Youth Clinic will open on October 15th.

Sponsored by USF Health and the Lazydays Employee Foundation, the clinic, located at 1315 E. Seventh Ave., Suite 104, will concentrate on treating patients ages 13- to 24-years-old with at-risk behavior, including those who are homeless; HIV positive; gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth (GLBTQ); and/or have been sexually exploited.

“Physicians from the USF Health Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Adolescent Medicine Division will staff the clinic, along with community physicians and USF medical student volunteers,” says USF Director of Public Affairs Anne DeLotto Baier. “Plans call for other health professions students to eventually rotate through the facility to gain the knowledge and skills needed to work with these vulnerable problems.”

The clinic is currently open for work on outreach programs, research and surveys.

A grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in September, featuring speakers such as Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner, Medical Director for the Hillsborough County Health Department Douglas A. Holt, M.D., President of the Lazydays Employee Foundation Randy Lay and Lewis A. Barness Endowed Chair Professor and Chair of Pediatrics for USF Health Patricia Emmanuel, M.D.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Anne DeLotto Baier, USF

In an attempt to bring good retail karma to downtown Tampa, new pop-up retail shops are opening in association with Fashion Week Tampa Bay.

Karma: The Shops at Franklin, located in The Vault at the Franklin Exchange building at 611 N. Franklin St., will celebrate a ribbon cutting ceremony by City of Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn on Thursday, Sept. 20th, at 3 p.m. Karma will focus on the local independent businesses.

“Retail is seriously lacking in downtown,” says Monica Varner, owner of Elan Event Studio and organizer of Karma. “Downtown could really use some shopping to get folks out of their offices during the day; not to mention, downtown just needs energy, in general. A pop-up shop might spark some vendors to try the downtown retail market with low risk.”

With pop-up retail shops currently increasing in popularity in major metropolitan cities such as New York and Los Angeles, as well as during Fashion Weeks throughout the country, Varner thought it would be interesting to have a block of stores and people choosing downtown Tampa as a shopping destination in an attempt to promote more business.

“A big goal is to spark interest in retail, show that there is an interest in it and encourage retailers to open a shop and move into downtown Tampa,” she says. “Retail therapy is good karma for downtown and the pop-up shop is a good tie into Fashion Week, helping designers get some additional exposure in showing their products.”

Clothing, handbags, jewelry and other accessories will be featured at Karma: The Shops at Franklin, as well a massage and hair salon, tying in local retail to the week-long Fashion Week Tampa Bay event which will consist of multiple runway shows, boutique vendor exhibits and fashion-focused activities.

“I'm just trying to change downtown Tampa, one event at a time,” Varner says.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Monica Varner, Elan Event Studio

A successful Christian-based coffeehouse in Lutz, a commuter town in Hillsborough County north of Tampa, is making plans for expansion and has opened a second store in Palm Harbor, north of Clearwater in Pinellas County.

With the motto "More Than Just a Coffeehouse,'' Organic Life Coffeehouse offers fresh homemade baked goods, salads and wraps made with organic and locally purchased vegetables, all natural smoothies, and organic fair trade coffee. By day, you'll find a myriad of customers, including business folks conducting one-on-one meetings, people in corners on laptops and moms with their toddlers enjoying a treat. Some evenings live entertainment is added to the mix.

The coffeehouse off of State Road 54 in Lutz has a strong community focus, making it a favored location for group meetings. It was these meetings that sparked the expansion that will include offices and meeting space.

"We have a lot of groups of 10 or 12 people come in, and we don't get a lot of walk-in traffic during that time,'' says Glenn Deller, co-partner and co-owner.

He says he expansion is the result of community partnerships. A storefront a few doors down became vacant, and Deller convinced the children's consignment store next door to move there, making the adjacent space available. A local School of Ministry is financing some of the build out and placing an office in the new space. Local church members are donating time and services.

"We're very happy to be taking care of youth groups, doing community fundraisers, and assisting the community,'' says Deller.

Groups of 10 or more will be able to reserve space for meetings, provided they place a minimum food order while there. The meeting space is scheduled to open in mid-September or early October.

Organic Life's second location is at 35263 U.S. Hwy. 19 N. in Palm Harbor. This was made possible by a financial investment by Deller’s mother and father-in law, Joanne and Larry Davidson, who will be running the second location. Joanne Davidson does a majority of the baking for the current store, and the second location will provide economies of scale for both places. Most of the menu is the same, but the space is smaller with not as much live entertainment.

Writer: Megan Hendricks
Source: Glenn Deller, Organic Life Coffeehouse

A new community center opens in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood of Tampa.

Located at 1000 E. Eskimo Ave. between Eskimo and Okaloosa Avenues, the $2.5 million, 16,000-square-foot Springhill Park Community Center will be the location of the middle school component of the Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA's Neighborhood of Promise Initiative (NOPI) efforts.

Featuring work by Tampa artist Susan Gott, the new community center provides academic support and mentoring opportunities for children transitioning into middle school in the Sulphur Springs neighborhood. A gymnasium, warming kitchen, computer classroom, multipurpose room, splash pad, playground and sports field will be made available to community members, replacing a once rundown block previously devoted to a baseball field.

In addition, the Virginia Rivers Creative Arts Studio will call the new Springhill Community Center home, offering three classrooms and a performance workshop dedicated to theater and performing arts programs.

“This [effort] will continue to strengthen the foundation of our community,” says Mike McCollum, operations executive director of the Promise Initiative.

Funded by Community Investment Tax, the new center will focus on serving social, recreational, health and educational needs through a variety of programs and classes in the economically challenged Sulphur Springs neighborhood.

According to McCollum, the only way to eradicate generational poverty is to implement a complete wraparound model that works to address the systematic issues plaguing low-income communities.

Apart from establishing the new Springhill Park Community Center, NOPI is making additional investments in Sulphur Springs, including the recent opening of Layla's House, a new community center designed to provide assistance to low-income families.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Mike McCollum, NOPI

Located just around the corner from a Starbucks on Fowler Avenue in Tampa, Felicitous Coffee & Tea House celebrates the meaning of its name with success and a recently renovated patio.

Living up to the definition of its name -- pleasing, delightful, fortunate, happy, lucky and apt -- Felicitous, at 11706 N. 51st St. in Tampa, is a quaint coffee shop that relocated from Lutz. The shop is now inside of a fewer than 1,000-square-foot 1940s Florida bungalow with original wood floors and historic windows.

“I chose this location because it was a cute bungalow that was commercially zoned, within walking distance of the University of South Florida, off the beaten path from all of the other strip mall stores and needed to be renovated very badly,” says owner Rani Chehal.

Chehal, an interior designer who specializes in designing floor plans, was up to the challenge, renovating the little blue house that was once a rental property and, later, a hair salon. Over eight weeks, Chehal renovated Felicitous into what it is today: a bright, welcoming, decorative building featuring eclectic furniture and one-of-a-kind artwork.

“When renovating and getting ready to open this location, I had two things in mind: An economical budget and designing with comfort and coziness,” Chehal says.

Recently, stone pavers were installed on a new outdoor patio, where events such as open mic and poetry nights are hosted. The coffee and tea shop also hosts yoga on the lawn, game nights, food truck rallies and pet adoption events.

“I hope to see a day when Tampa has become a community of residents that are choosing to shop and dine mainly at independent businesses,” Chehal says. “Hopefully, that will become the norm here in Florida as you see in more progressive cities and states.”

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Rani Chahel, Felcitious Coffee & Tea House

With expected completion quickly approaching, prep work and design input has begun on the Adamo Drive Mural Project in Ybor City.

A two-part project, the approximately $30,000 Adamo Drive Mural Project will make an attempt to enhance the appeal of the Ybor City Historic District, transforming industrial weather-beaten portions of Adamo Drive into a work of art representing the culture, heritage and vitality of both Ybor City and Tampa.

In March, volunteers began prepping the 12,000-square-foot surface for the first mural located on the exterior of the Fabricated Products building at 17th Street and Adamo Drive. Once the surface is clean and free of loose paint, a primer/sealer will be applied followed by an acrylic base coat.

“Basically, work is ongoing at the site to deal with corrosion issues and flaking paint,” says Dave Scott, the project's organizer. “Artist Mike Parker and coatings expert Kevin Schweikhart have done most of the work themselves: A series of sand-blasting, anti-corrosion treatments and a priming layer. It's a big project.”

Scott says Parker and a group of Hillsborough Community College students involved in the project have immersed themselves into the history, heritage and current feel of the Ybor City neighborhood, leading to potential design concepts.

“Parker is about ready to go into his 'cave' to get something on paper,” Scott says. “This typically takes about three days to get a satisfactory approach.”

The mural's design is expected to be complete by April 14th, when a public meeting will be held with the Barrio Latino Commission. The Ybor City Development Corporation is working to with City of Tampa to get Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn to paint the first stroke once image production begins.

“It seems as if this may be the largest mural in the state of Florida when it's all said and done,” Scott says.

Completion is slated for the end of June 2012.

Significant contributions to the project have been made by the City of Tampa, Robin Nigh and Melissa Lebaron of the City of Tampa Art Programs Division, Sherwin Williams, Vykin Corporation, the Columbia Restaurant, Kimmons Contracting Corporation and the Rotary Club of Ybor City.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: David Scott, Adamo Drive Mural Project

College Hunks Hauling Junk and College Hunks Moving will soon call Ybor City home.

With its headquarters currently located in a 1,300-square-foot space at 4836 W. Gandy Blvd. in South Tampa, the moving and hauling company will invest approximately $1 million into renovating a 10,000-square-foot space in Ybor.

“We're so pumped to be a part of re-energizing the area,” says President and Co-Founder Nick Friedman. “Part of our mission as a company is to help our community. This is a great way to help Tampa grow into a well-deserved leadership role among other cities looking for innovative ways to reinvigorate its residents and structures alike.”

With the capacity to house three additional levels on top floors, the new global headquarters has the potential to become a more than 30,000-square-foot workspace to house College Hunks' corporate staff and approximately 50 employees working at the local Tampa branch.

According to Friedman, College Hunks plans to transform the Ybor City space into an upbeat, unique work environment. Upon completion of the renovation, the company will have nearly seven times its current space with plans to double its total of 350 employees over the next three years.

“Ybor is the cultural and historic heart of Tampa and our company shares many qualities with the area: Vibrance, entrepreneurship and innovation,” says CEO and Co-Founder Omar Soliman. “These are the qualities that set us apart from other companies in the industry, so what better place than Ybor City for our national brand to call 'home?'”

College Hunks now serves 40 markets in 24 states including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Washington D.C. And Los Angeles. The company plans to move into its new Ybor City headquarters by mid-summer of 2012.

Writer: Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Nick Friedman and Omar Soliman, College Hunks