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 Ahead
SoHo is getting a well-known international arrival. Joe & The Juice, the Danish juice, coffee, and sandwich chain with over 360 locations worldwide, is set to open its first Tampa outpost at 1350 S. Howard Ave., on the site of the former Fresh Kitchen that was destroyed by fire back in 2024. The brand has built a devoted following across the US, partly thanks to its viral Tunacado sandwich, and a 2027 opening is currently planned, subject to rezoning approval.
South Howard Avenue is also getting a fresh chapter in its nightlife story. Good Luck Chuck is set to open in mid-May at 410 S. Howard Ave., the former home of SoHo Saloon, which closed after 14 years earlier this year. Rather than another open-format nightclub, this one has a clear identity; a 23-and-up retro bar built around the greatest hits of the 70s, 80s, and 90s, with a main dance floor, a more relaxed Backstage Room, craft cocktails, and a full food menu. Owner Michael Disser said: “people are thirsty and wanting something new, different, fresh, entertaining.”
The Orlando-born Detroit-style pizza spot SoDough Square, already popular at its St. Pete location on 4th Street North, is heading to South Tampa, with an opening targeted for June. Founded by Detroit native Robert Bair, the concept is built around thick, square pies baked in traditional blue-steel pans from Michigan, with a caramelised frico cheese crust, 24-hour fermented dough, and everything made in-house. The menu also features Coney dogs, wings, and Detroit-style garlic bread.
SouthState Bank, headquartered in Winter Haven and one of the region’s most prominent financial institutions, is planning a significant investment in its home city. The bank has submitted plans for a $17.2 million, five-story Class A office building in the downtown core, which would bring around 125 employees into a new regional operations centre. Construction is set to begin in July, with the building expected to be ready within 12 to 16 months. A rooftop terrace and a pedestrian bridge linking the building to a nearby city parking garage will be among the features on offer.
Port Tampa Bay has landed a $24 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Transportation to fund a major expansion at Port Redwing. The money will go towards extending Berth 300 by 800 feet, creating a berth of 1,300 feet, and when combined with adjacent berths, nearly half a mile of contiguous docking space. That means up to four large bulk carriers can dock simultaneously, cutting wait times and boosting throughput for the dry bulk cargo (granite, limestone, cement, grain) that flows through the port daily. A $16 million local match brings the total project cost to $40 million, with construction set to get underway soon.
Madeira Beach, one of TripAdvisor‘s top-10 beaches in the U.S., is set to welcome a new addition to its shoreline. The Beachmaker is an eight-story condo hotel currently under construction, with completion expected by the end of 2026. The property will offer 161 luxury residences plus ten Marriott Autograph Collection penthouses, sitting on 2.2 acres with 500 feet of Gulf frontage. Amenities include two resort pools, three ocean-view restaurants, a wedding venue, and full four-star hotel services. For those looking to invest in Tampa Bay’s Gulf Coast, preconstruction residences start from the low $700,000s, with penthouses ranging from $3 to $4 million.
High Tech Tampa
Tampa-based insurance brokerage The Baldwin Group has announced a firm-wide rollout of Claude (the AI assistant built by Anthropic) across its entire operation. The NASDAQ-listed company, one of the US’s leading independent insurance brokerages, will use the platform to help its advisors analyse risk, pull together client information more efficiently, and streamline day-to-day workflows. CEO Trevor Baldwin described it as a way to give colleagues “more time and better information” to apply their expertise, rather than replacing it.
St. Petersburg-based Acron Technologies has made another move to strengthen its defence portfolio, acquiring Sightline Intelligence, a specialist in AI-powered, edge-based video processing for autonomous aircraft and other mission-critical platforms. The deal adds real-time target recognition and ultra-low-latency ISR capabilities to Acron’s existing suite of electro-optical and video technologies, removing the need for cloud connectivity in the field. Sightline’s technology is already deployed across more than 30 countries, making this a meaningful step forward for one of Tampa Bay’s growing defence tech players.
Booked Tampa Flights With Spirit? You Have Options
If you had Spirit Airlines flights booked out of Tampa, you’ll already know the news; the budget carrier has shut down all operations after 34 years. Spirit had been handling around 43 outbound flights to six destinations a week from Tampa International, so the gap is real. However, Frontier, Allegiant, and Avelo are all moving quickly to fill the void, snapping up former Spirit routes and offering discounted fares to displaced travellers. Some replacement routes now run through St. Pete-Clearwater, Punta Gorda, and Lakeland airports, so it’s worth checking all options when rebooking.
Ready Stays is Here to Help!
With so much happening across Tampa Bay right now, there’s never been a better time to experience everything this incredible region has to offer. Whether you’re here for work, relocating for a new opportunity, or simply soaking up the Florida sunshine, one thing you’ll want sorted from the start is a great place to stay.
That’s where Ready Stays comes in. We offer fully furnished, all-inclusive apartments and homes across Tampa Bay, everything you need for a comfortable, stress-free stay, all included.
No lengthy contracts, no hassle, just flexible month-to-month rentals backed by a friendly team who genuinely want to make your time in Tampa as enjoyable as possible. We’d love to help you find your home away from home. See you soon!
