Tenants Eager To Lease Space At Tampa's Newest Walkable Community

TAMPA, FL — It took just 30 seconds for four huge excavators to topple the decrepit five-story office building on Dale Mabry Highway and Himes Avenue in Tampa.

That was followed by the demolition of nine more buildings on the 22-acre site, paving the way for an ambitious mixed-use development intended to bridge the Westshore area with downtown Tampa.

Now, three years later, residents can barely recall the hodgepodge mix of old buildings that once dominated the site.

After more than 20 years in the planning, an underused piece of property has been transformed into a vibrant destination featuring 1.8 million square feet of retail, restaurants, office buildings, hotels and apartments surrounding a 4-acre park and lake.

Designed by master developer Bromley Companies of New York, Midtown Tampa is expected to be built out this year. In the meantime, restaurants and stores that eagerly signed on to be part of the walkable mixed-use community are beginning to welcome customers.

The latest addition is the Shake Shack, slated to open Monday (see related story), one of the businesses that has now claimed 90 percent of the space available for lease in the development.

“When you walk through the project now, it’s pretty amazing the way it’s coming together,” said Kathy Hackshaw, Midtown Tampa’s general manager. “It’s happening just as they said it would, just as was envisioned. It’s truly a city within a city here.”

Sephora Signs On

In addition to Shake Shack, Bromley Companies announced that Sephora will open at the $500 million Midtown Tampa.

“As a preeminent, international beauty brand, Sephora joins our best-in-class collection of personal care, beauty, health and wellness offerings in Midtown,” said Nicholas Haines, CEO of Bromley Companies. “With Sephora, we’re moving quickly toward a fully leased, mixed-use development with a full slate of tenants.”

Known for an extensive product assortment with more than 400 brands and an innovative store design, Sephora is owned by Louis Vuitton’s parent company, LVMH, the French fashion house and luxury goods company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton.

William Dean Chocolates Steps Up

Also signing on at Midtown Tampa is William Dean Chocolates. Based in Belleair Bluffs, the delicacies produced by William Dean Chocolates have been featured in the "Hunger Games" movies and were specially requested by Pope Benedict XVI when he visited America.

Midtown Tampa will be the second location for William Dean Chocolates. The new 1,400-square-foot store will include a separate bakery facility staffed with artisans personally trained by William Dean Chocolates founder William Dean Brown.

In addition to serving its signature artisan chocolates, made by hand in small batches and without preservatives, the Parisian style café will also serve gelato, tarts, cookies and petit gateaus (small plated desserts), eclairs, macarons and puff pastries, along with fresh salads and sandwiches.

“As we considered expansion, no other location in Tampa Bay seemed a better fit for William Dean Chocolates’ second home than Midtown Tampa,” said Brown. “There’s so much energy and excitement surrounding this project, and we can’t wait to be a part of Midtown as we welcome everyone who lives, works or spends the day here.”

William Dean Chocolates secured the last remaining location facing the Midtown Commons green space Joffrey's Coffee & Tea Café.

Emphasis On Health

Wellness is a major focus for Midtown Tampa. Its anchors are the 23,000-square-foot REI (Recreational Equipment Inc.) Co-Op, which opened in March, offering outdoor gear and hiking adventures, and the area's largest Whole Foods Market, scheduled to open in June.

True Food Kitchen, an award-winning restaurant specializing in fresh, seasonal dishes with natural health benefits for vegan, vegetarian, high-protein and gluten-free lifestyles, has also committed to Midtown.

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers chiropractor Tommy Rhee has reserved 3,233 square feet of space for his Midtown Tampa Chiropractic and Wellness Center offering physical therapy, diet, exercise and stress control, regenerative therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, PiezoWave shockwave therapy, active release techniques for tissue tension, musculoskeletal ultrasound, digital X-rays, a hydromassage lounge and more.

Ryde It with Midtown Boba has leased 1,700 square feet for an amphitheater-style indoor cycling studio and boba tea bar.

F45 Training, a fitness franchise backed by actor Mark Wahlberg, will open a training studio in the development.

Body Details will open a studio for its cosmetic laser, tattoo removal and facial treatments.

BevelUp will locate its upscale spa in Midtown Tampa, offering non-invasive facial treatments.

Kale Me Crazy will open its second Florida location in Midtown Tampa. The 1,200-square-foot restaurant offers smoothies, salads and wraps.

These businesses will complement Midtown Tampa’s 4 acres of open green space for yoga, community festivals and concerts and the 3-acre Midtown Lake surrounded by the Watercourse recreation trail.

“With Whole Foods being the go-to grocer for 90 percent of my patients, along with a collection of healthy restaurants, personal services and even a walking trail around the lake, this high-profile location is a perfect fit for me,” Rhee said.

"As an overall project, Midtown Tampa is intentionally designed as a walkable, outdoor lifestyle environment where both individuals and companies will live, work and play at their very best," said Haines.

Going To The Dogs

For the pet owner, Royal Pets Market & Resort will bring 8,000 square feet of veterinary services, boarding, day care and retail merchandise to Midtown Tampa.

“Those who will work, live, shop and play at Midtown now have a high-end destination for their pets, too," Haines said, noting that Midtown Tampa is being promoted as a pet-friendly destination featuring dog-friendly outdoor restaurant seating and an off-leash dog park.

Foodie Heaven

After closing Tampa's first food hall, The Hall on Franklin, in December, Tampa entrepreneur and former professional athlete Jamal Wilson announced he would open a new food hall at Midtown Tampa, featuring a food court and full-service dining with more than 300 seats and a 1,200-square-foot patio. There will also be a private dining room with a private kitchen and a digital golf-driving lane in the food court.

Also announcing plans to open in Midtown Tampa are restaurants BellaBrava: New World Trattoria, Oronzo Honest Italian and Burtons Grille & Bar.

Tampa Bay Chef Chris Ponte of the Ponte Group is keeping details of his new restaurant concept at Midtown Tamps close to the vest. The 5,000-square-foot Midtown Tampa restaurant will feature American cuisine with a French and Italian influence. It will seat 200 guests and include a full bar and lounge, an open kitchen surrounded by glass and a wine cellar with more than 400 selections.

Visit Or Stay

Midtown Tampa is also home to the dual-branded Marriott Aloft and Element Hotel with 226 rooms and a shared 4,900-square-foot rooftop bar, Sal Y Mar, that can comfortably accommodate up to 71 guests inside and 118 outdoors.

Additionally, Midtown Tampa is now leasing apartments at the Crescent Community's 390-unit Novel Midtown Tampa.

Units in the five-story complex will range from $1,600 to $4,473 per month. The complex includes a resort-style swimming pool and a fitness center with free weights, CrossFit equipment, a yoga studio and a spin room.

Also nearing completion is the seven-story, 140,000-square-foot Midtown One office development. Bromley is also finishing up construction of a three-story, 70,000-square-foot office building called The Loft.

“The Midtown development is transformational for the city of Tampa,” said Tampa Mayor Jane Castor. “I often say, ‘Tampa’s going to change more in the next 10 years than it has in my entire lifetime,’ and this project is one of multiple projects that will be a part of transforming Tampa’s tomorrow.”

Bromley Companies, a national real estate developer and investor, partnered with Highwood Properties, Concord Hospitality, CASTO Southeast Realty and Jeffrey R. Anderson Real Estate on Midtown Tampa.

See related stories:

• REI Co-Op Opens New Store At Midtown Tampa
• Outdoor Recreation Store, 3 Restaurants Sign On To Midtown Tampa
• Sal Y Mar Rooftop Bar Now Open in Midtown Tampa
• Plans Unveiled For Boutique Office Space At Midtown Tampa
• Popular Shake Shack Eatery Coming To Midtown Tampa Development