Briefs
Headlines and short briefs from the Tampa Bay Certified editorial desk. 214 published.
Briefs
50 items
FOOD · TREASURE ISLAND
Kaia Bowls opens in the former Vine and Grind space on 107th Avenue in Treasure Island
The chain's seventh Tampa Bay unit takes the 1,300-square-foot spot and introduces the brand's first dedicated espresso program.
Aug 18, 2026
FOOD · YBOR CITY
Tommy's Chophouse opens at Kress Contemporary in Ybor City
Kenneth Emery's Foodi Group debuts a steakhouse at 1622 E. Seventh Ave., with an all-electric kitchen and a federal vault private dining room in progress.
Aug 17, 2026
FOOD · SEMINOLE
Buddy Brew opens first Pinellas County counter at Sprouts on Seminole Boulevard
Dave and Susan Ward's Tampa roasting brand crosses the bay into Pinellas, anchoring a ten-location Sprouts deal across the region.
Aug 17, 2026
EVENTS · ST. PETE
On High Fest debuts at Spa Beach Park on Aug. 28, days after its Oregon launch
The Reggae Rise Up team brings Pepper, The Movement, and Surfer Girl to the St. Pete Pier for an all-ages show.
Aug 16, 2026
EVENTS · PALM HARBOR
Rest and Re-Create holds Stillness by the Shore at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor
Rest and Re-Create, co-founded by a St. Pete psychologist and an epidemiologist, hosts its signature retreat at Innisbrook Oct. 9–11.
Aug 15, 2026
FOOD · YBOR CITY
Former Barcelona Wine Bar chef Victor Lopez opens D'Rose Gastrobar in Ybor
Lopez, who ran Barcelona Wine Bar's kitchen, opens a 130-seat Colombian gastrobar at 2238 E. Seventh Ave. in Ybor City.
Aug 14, 2026
FOOD · SOHO
Ciccio Restaurant Group revives Meeting House at 901 S. Howard, opening Aug. 20
Ciccio takes over 901 S. Howard two months after Daily Eats closed, restoring the name the address held for more than 50 years.
Aug 14, 2026
FOOD · SOHO
Meeting House returns to 901 S. Howard Ave. under Ciccio Restaurant Group
The SoHo address Daily Eats left in June reopens August 20 with the same staff and a new burger program.
Aug 14, 2026
OPENINGS · ST. PETE
Rare Body Studio opens third location on Dr. MLK St. N in St. Pete
The Cadillac and Chair Pilates studio pairs with a DRINK LX cafe at its September address at 290 Dr. MLK St. N.
Aug 12, 2026
FOOD · GRAND CENTRAL DISTRICT
Nah Dogs opens first brick-and-mortar on 22nd Street South in Grand Central
Jeff and Jenny Howe's seven-year-old vegan hot dog cart opens its first fixed room at 18 22nd St. S. in St. Pete.
Aug 12, 2026
EVENTS · LAKELAND
Cajun Creole Festival takes over Lakeland Square Mall on Aug. 15
The second annual event runs free Saturday from 4 to 9 p.m. at 3800 US Hwy 98 N with crawfish, live blues, and a family program.
Aug 11, 2026
FOOD · PINELLAS PARK
Sushi Yama opens in the former WingHouse at 7790 U.S. 19 N in Pinellas Park
The 200-seat all-you-can-eat concept debuted July 18 after a year and a half of renovation.
Aug 11, 2026
EVENTS · DADE CITY
Scream-A-Geddon opens Aug. 29 in Dade City with a $2.5 million midway rebuild
The 60-acre Dade City horror park opens Aug. 29 for select nights through Nov. 1, backed by a $2.5 million midway rebuild.
Aug 10, 2026
OPENINGS
Con Amor brings a serious masa program to Seminole Heights
Chef Taylor Dillon's Tampa restaurant grinds nixtamalized corn in house, and makes that masa available to other local kitchens.
Aug 10, 2026
FOOD · SARASOTA
Bissinger's opens its third Florida address at Sarasota's University Town Center
The Paris-founded chocolatier cut the ribbon on July 23, taking a first-floor space outside Saks Fifth Avenue.
Aug 7, 2026
OPENINGS · DOWNTOWN TAMPA
Straz Center debuts 160-piece Banksy collection in Downtown Tampa
The venue's Instagram claims 160-plus authenticated Banksy works — including a signed Mona Lisa — are valued at more than $35 million.
Aug 3, 2026
FOOD · PINELLAS PARK
Dave's Hot Chicken opens third Tampa Bay location on Park Blvd in Pinellas Park
The Nashville-style chain opens its second Pinellas County location August 6, backed by investors including Samuel L. Jackson.
Aug 3, 2026
OPENINGS · HYDE PARK
Ralph Lauren opens at Hyde Park Village, bringing Purple Label to West Snow Ave
The brand's Tampa store debuted July 28 at 1609 W Snow Ave, joining LoveShackFancy and Hill House Home at the West Snow Avenue corridor.
Aug 2, 2026
EVENTS · GRAND CENTRAL DISTRICT
Grand Central District marks 100 years with a tasting night at Coastal Creative
Taste of Grand Central: Cheers to 100 Years brings a dozen district restaurants to Coastal Creative on September 17.
Aug 1, 2026
EVENTS · DOWNTOWN TAMPA
MetroCon brings 15,000 fans to the Tampa Convention Center July 31–Aug. 2
The anime convention, running since 2003, fills three days with cosplay contests, voice actor panels, and a 10,000-sq-ft arcade.
Jul 29, 2026
FOOD · WEST TAMPA
West Tampa's Boozy Pig Butchery & Kitchen lands on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Aug. 7
Andrew Tambuzzo's Cypress Street butchery airs on Food Network's long-running series Friday, Aug. 7 at 9 p.m.
Jul 29, 2026
FOOD
Wright's Gourmet House heads to Brandon and Wesley Chapel after 63 years on Dale Mabry
The South Tampa deli, acquired by Caspers Company in 2024, plans hub-style locations in Brandon and Wesley Chapel.
Jul 28, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
Rewind St. Pete opens in the former Who's On First space on 1st Avenue North
The '90s and 2000s throwback bar opens August 1 at 119 1st Avenue North in downtown St. Pete.
Jul 24, 2026
REAL ESTATE
Rays release Gensler and Populous master plan for a 100-acre ballpark district
The team's four-district concept calls for 400,000 sq ft of retail and dining, a 4-star convention hotel, and a Hillsborough College campus.
Jul 24, 2026
REAL ESTATE · WATER STREET TAMPA
Strategic Property Partners plans 452 units at Water Street and Cumberland
The 452-unit tower from Nichols Architects targets a spring 2027 groundbreaking and late-2029 delivery.
Jul 22, 2026
FOOD · KENNETH CITY
Lala Café opens in Kenneth City with Vietnamese coffee and a duck-themed interior
The café at 4416 66th St. N holds its grand opening July 25 and 26, serving Vietnamese coffee, ceremonial-grade matcha, and handcrafted lattes.
Jul 20, 2026
REAL ESTATE · WEST ST. PETE
Azalea Gateway breaks ground on Raytheon's 29-acre west St. Pete site in September
The $200 million, 1,000-unit project on a long-vacant Pinellas Trail parcel won city approval in 2023.
Jul 19, 2026
REAL ESTATE · DOWNTOWN ST. PETERSBURG
Stock Development buys the former Times building and Tramor for $32.5M
The Naples developer paid $32.5 million for 1.8 acres downtown and will raze the storm-damaged Times tower for a condo high-rise.
Jul 16, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
LX Coffee brings its 24-karat gold lattes to a first downtown St. Pete storefront
Natalie and Andrey Matsuk are graduating LX Coffee from a 2024 mobile cart to a black-and-gold café on Dr. MLK Jr. Street North, opening this fall.
Jul 15, 2026
OPENINGS · WESTSHORE
Dolce & Gabbana headlines eleven new retailers coming to International Plaza
The Westshore mall's 50,000-square-foot open-air expansion, part of a $250 million Simon reinvestment across three flagship centers, brings seven brands new to the Tampa market, opening through the fall.
Jul 14, 2026
OPENINGS · ST. PETE
Velvet Coupe Pours a Sustainable, Organic List in the EDGE District
A 30-seat wine lounge holding every wine and beer it pours to sustainable or organic opened June 4 at 25 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street South.
Jul 14, 2026
FOOD · SOUTH ST. PETE
Café Ora debuts this fall in South St. Pete's two-block redevelopment
Café Ora, a café and Thursday jazz venue, plans fall 2026 as the first tenant in a two-block South St. Pete redevelopment.
Jul 13, 2026
REAL ESTATE · DALE MABRY
Populous reveals interior of Rays' $2.3 billion Forever Home at Dale Mabry
New renderings show the 30,000-seat glass-roofed ballpark planned for Dale Mabry and the 2029 season.
Jul 11, 2026
FOOD · SOUTH TAMPA
Big Ray's Fish Camp earns its second Michelin nod on Interbay Boulevard
Chef Nick Cruz's South Tampa seafood shack has landed on Michelin's national seafood shack list for the second year running.
Jul 4, 2026
FOOD · TAMPA
Chicago's Baba Saj Mediterranean brings halal shawarma to Cypress Glen Lane
The Chicago Palestinian restaurant founded in 2013 is targeting 13585 Cypress Glen Lane for its first Florida opening.
Jul 3, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
Rreal Tacos acquires the former Red Mesa Cantina building in Downtown St. Pete
The Atlanta-founded, employee-owned taco brand plans a three-level, 800-seat flagship targeting an early 2027 opening.
Jul 1, 2026
FOOD · SOHO
Michael Disser opens Howard & Platt in the former TC Choy's at South Howard and Platt
Disser's third SoHo concept takes the 6,325-sq-ft TC Choy's corner at South Howard and Platt, slated to open this July.
Jun 25, 2026
EVENTS · DOWNTOWN TAMPA
DJ Redness Launches a Weekly Thursday Residency at 511 Franklin
The Tampa DJ and producer brings his open-format sound to the downtown venue starting June 25, with no cover at the door.
Jun 24, 2026
FOOD · ST. PETE
Naked Farmer takes over former EVOS space on 4th Street North in St. Pete
The farm-to-table chain's second St. Pete location will be its 4th Tampa Bay outpost and 8th statewide, planned for summer 2026.
Jun 23, 2026
FOOD · DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
Chef Jeremy Duclut opens Marcel in the former Left Bank Bistro space in downtown St. Pete
The French-inspired Marcel takes over the former Left Bank Bistro with a roughly 25-dish menu planned for September.
Jun 19, 2026
FOOD · TAMPA HEIGHTS
Café Rialto opens inside Tampa Heights' 102-year-old Rialto Theatre
The historic movie palace's ground floor now houses a walk-in café and a reservations-only afternoon tearoom.
Jun 17, 2026
OPENINGS · ST. PETE BEACH
Postcard Inn reopens as The Luce on St. Pete Beach
The 1950s-era Gulf-front hotel has rebranded and reopened following renovations tied to Hurricane Helene's impact on the island.
Jun 17, 2026
FOOD · ST. PETE
Good Intentions closes in St. Pete after four years as a vegan and community anchor
The plant-based restaurant and LGBTQ+ gathering space cited ongoing economic challenges in its closing announcement.
Jun 15, 2026
OPENINGS · WEST ST. PETE
PGA TOUR Superstore opens its first Pinellas County store in west St. Pete
The 29,600-square-foot store in the Crosswinds Shopping Center is the chain's twelfth in Florida and second in Tampa Bay, ten months after it signed the lease on the former Bealls space.
Jun 12, 2026
OPENINGS · ST. PETE
PGA TOUR Superstore debuts at Crosswinds Shopping Center, Pinellas County's first
The 29,600-square-foot golf retailer opens June 13 at 2020 66th Street, St. Pete, as the chain's twelfth Florida location.
Jun 12, 2026
REAL ESTATE · DOWNTOWN ST. PETE
Waldorf Astoria Residences clears $200M in presales on St. Pete's waterfront
The 50-story tower has secured over $200 million in presales, including a record $27 million penthouse, before breaking ground.
Jun 12, 2026
FOOD · SOUTH TAMPA
Ivry. opens on Dale Mabry with pistachio lattes and a Middle Eastern café menu
Areej and Jareer debuted the South Tampa café in May with za'atar flatbreads, crème brûlée donuts, and specialty espresso drinks.
Jun 11, 2026
FOOD · PINELLAS PARK
Sisters Kim Vo and Tammy Lien open Oou Cha on 34th Street North in Pinellas Park
Vo and Lien open Oou Cha at 6251 34th St N in Pinellas Park with overseas-sourced teas and single-cultivar Okumidori matcha.
Jun 11, 2026
NEIGHBORHOODS
Howard Frankland Bridge sees elevated summer crash activity as daily crossings top 170,000
The I-275 bay crossing between Tampa and St. Petersburg concentrates crash risk on a four-mile open-water stretch with no alternate routes.
Jun 10, 2026
FOOD · BRANDON
Better Blend opens first Florida storefront in Brandon
Franchisees Mike and Hillary Faustini debut the Kentucky protein-smoothie chain at 955 East Brandon Boulevard.
Jun 9, 2026