A Collection of Interesting Happenings and Recent Developments That Contribute to the Bright Future of Greater Tampa Bay
by Breanna Gallo
Tampanopoly
A new Tampa-themed version of Monopoly will be hitting the shelves in February of 2024. This board game will feature the most “essential parts of Tampa.” It will also include customized Community Chest, Chance cards and Monopoly money to pay homage to the community.
Tampa is the 22nd city to join the City Monopoly Editions line. The creators of this new edition, Top Trumps USA, are even asking Tampa locals to submit their ideas for a chance to be featured in the game.
The Start of Something New
Peter D’ Abrosca recently launched his startup company, School Shield Security Firm to make school safety stronger. This company offers a film that can be placed over glass, designed to slow down or prevent forced entry from bullets or other weapons.
The startup and its product focus on enhancing the safety of schools, making it stand out from other existing films. The company is planning to start small and work its way up to ensure that as many schools as possible have this film lining their windows.
A Tee-riffic Time
Topgolf is set to open its eighth Florida location in St. Petersburg. This new location will feature 102 outdoor climate-controlled hitting bays across three levels. These bays all have either lounge furniture or high-top tables where groups can gather for a fun golfing experience.
Topgolf prides itself in finding ways to make golf more accessible, diverse and fun for people. They also like to emphasize that it is not just about golf, as they also offer entertainment through their full-service restaurant, rooftop fire pits, music and more. Located in Carillon Office Park, this location offers easy accessibility to those in Greater Tampa Bay.
We all Scream for Ice Cream
Ice Dreammm Shop has been ranked on Yelp’s 100 Best Ice Cream Shops in America. This local shop features house-made waffle cones, handcrafted ice cream, classic root beer floats, brownie sundaes, ice cream pies and more. They even have alcohol-infused and dairy-free ice cream options to appeal to all customers.
Ice Dreammm Shop currently has two locations, one in Lutz and one in Wesley Chapel. Overall, they were ranked number 34 in the country and number seven in the state for being the best ice cream shop.
Sun-Stoppable
Sarasota and Tampa have both been ranked within the top 10 cities that people are moving to in 2023 by PODS, the moving and storage company. With their stunning beaches, quality of life and amazing people, it’s no shock that Sarasota earned second place and Tampa earned ninth.
Florida as a whole saw the largest increase in new residents, earning six areas a ranking within the top 20. A big factor contributing to Florida’s popularity is its economics as residents encounter low tax rates, affordable housing prices and warm weather.
Opa!
A new Mediterranean restaurant, Predalina, is set to open in Water Street Tampa. This restaurant will be 7,000 square feet with a 2,000 square-foot patio and will serve lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Predalina will have an emphasis on seafood and a curated retail selection.
The restaurant is owned by Allison and Blake Casper, the previous owners of the largest McDonald’s franchise in Florida. It will join their many other concepts under their company, Oxford Commons, and will even pull in some inspiration from their other businesses. The name Predalina pays tribute to the Caspers’ great-grandmother who lived in numerous seaside communities.
