Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s take a look at everything that’s happening in the Tampa Bay area, what’s coming up in the next few weeks and months, and how Ready Stays is here for your month-to-month rental needs in Tampa.
Tampa Looks Forward
A startup based in St. Petersburg, Lonestar Data Holdings, has successfully raised $6.6 million during a recent seed-plus fundraising round. The company is ‘dedicated to protecting’ data and, according to its website, provides revolutionary resiliency by flying secure data storage spacecraft at the Earth Moon L1 Lagrange Point, connecting line of sight to the facilities of data center partners on Earth. Lonestar has also appointed a new CEO. Steve Eisele has 15 years of experience in launch and satellite, and led Virgin Orbit global sales from start-up through IPO.
A new partnership between two healthcare leaders will provide access to specialist cancer care in Tampa and beyond. Oncologists from Tampa General Hospital will work from Hollis Cancer Center as part of a new agreement aimed to increase subspecialized cancer care across the region. Danielle Drummond, MS, FACHE, president and CEO of Lakeland Regional Health, said: “We are very excited to collaborate with the TGH Cancer Institute, which is widely recognized as a national leader in cancer care and research.” Even more patients will now have access to specialized care close to home at the Hollis Cancer Center. Dr. Abraham Schwarzberg, executive vice president, chief of oncology and co-vice president of Clinical and Translational Research, TGH | USF Office of Clinical Research, said TGH is “excited to partner with an organization that shares our values and strategic priorities for the future of cancer care.”
Avelo Airlines has announced that it plans to expand its presence at Lakeland Linder International Airport as part of a wider strategic reorganization. Not only will the airline move two additional aircraft (Boeing Next-Generation 737-800s) to the airport, in doing so it will also create 40 jobs. A spokesperson for the airline, Courtney Goff, said: “Central Florida and Lakeland will play an increasing key role in Avelo’s network, underscoring the region’s strategic value and the airline’s expanding investment in local travelers and crewmembers.”
South Florida coffee chain, Cali Coffee, has announced plans to redevelop the site of a former Checkers restaurant in St. Pete into a drive-thru coffee shop. The location, 3775 66th Street North, is next to HCA Florida St. Petersburg Hospital. Cali Coffee offers such delicacies as the similarly West Coast-themed “Beverly”, “Baywatch” and “Nirvana”, all featuring a selection of syrups and flavorings, and all of which are customizable. The menu also features cakes, pastries, and muffins.
Rejoice, bagel lovers! 2026 has brought forth the first Jeff’s Bagel Run branch in Tampa. Located at 3810 W. Neptune St., this location will be the first of many in the Tampa area for the company founded in 2016. Diners can enjoy bagel flavors like blueberry, cacio e pepe, jalapeño cheddar, and asiago, as well as a variety of spreads, coffees and sweet treats.
A $125 million project to ‘nourish’ nine beaches in Pinellas County is wrapping up. The project, which aimed to add sand to the shoreline following erosion caused by last year’s hurricanes, was originally expected to take six months. Visit St. Pete-Clearwater President and CEO Brian Lowack explained that 2.5 million cubic yards of sand had been added to the county’s beaches during the project, finishing with Sunset Beach in Treasure Island. Lowack said that “the team really strapped up their boots, and they got it done in record time.” As if you needed an excuse to get to the beach…
Tampa Loves Tech!
Walmart is going to be bringing super fast delivery drones to its stores in Tampa. By mid-2026, residents can expect to receive packages (up to a certain size) from participating Walmart Supercenters in as little as 15 minutes. The drone delivery service is operated in partnership with Google affiliate company Wing Aviation. The drones will be able to deliver parcels up to 2.5 pounds at a 6-mile radius of participating stores. They have a top speed of 65 miles per hour, and fly with absolute precision.
Ready Stays is Here to Help!
Whether you’re coming to Tampa to enjoy the many projects in action, to benefit from advancements in medicine and technology, or just to soak up some sun on our newly-nourished beaches, Ready Stays has the perfect fully furnished rental apartment that will truly make your trip.
More cost-effective than an Airbnb and infinitely more homely than a hotel, Ready Stays has properties across Tampa Bay, meaning you can get to wherever you need to be in and around the city during your stay.
We offer contract-free stays, so you don’t need to be tied into staying any longer than you want to be. We provide everything you’ll need for a safe, secure, comfortable stay, including WiFi, utilities, kitchenware, beds, dressers, storage solutions and more.
Get in touch with our friendly, helpful team today on 813-358-1538. We can’t wait to welcome you to Tampa Bay soon!
