Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine

12/01/2025

Trey Lawson did not plan on running his family’s liquor stores. That changed when his dad called in 2018 and said he was selling. Trey moved back to Tampa and stepped into the business he grew up in. He rebranded four stores under a single name, expanded to six locations and grew revenue by about 25% as he modernized operations and gave the brand a fresh identity.

The biggest shift came from how he connected with customers. Trey runs all the social accounts himself and has built a loyal following around Liquor Depot’s single barrel releases. People line up the day before to get a bottle. He also turned a family bar into Joy Bar, which is Tampa’s only year-round Christmas bar. Locals donate decorations from their homes and the $20 buzz became part of the bar’s appeal. His charity barrel work with Mike Alstott has raised more than $50K for the foundation. Other special releases support USF’s NIL program.

Today, Trey leads six stores and two bars, employing more than 40 people. He focuses on consistency, customer experience and building something that lasts. He still thinks about the yellow vans his dad once parked out front and says the freedom to try is what shaped him. Trey did not just come home to run a business. He came home to continue a story his family had built over 35 years and grow it for the next generation.

FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/4vk953jk

12/01/2025

Grove Park Shopping Center in Lakeland has been sold after more than 60 years as a Polk County staple. The 120K square-foot center is anchored by Publix, CVS, Dollar Tree and Humanitary Medical Center and remains fully leased. Publix rebuilt its store in 2019, giving the center a fresh footprint and reinforcing long-term stability.

The site was initially developed in 1960 by Publix founder George Jenkins as a model for a new kind of neighborhood shopping center. It was once called Southgate Shopping Center and appeared in the film Edward Scissorhands. Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, Longpoint Partners, and the buyer is a private entity tied to Daniel Halberstein.

This sale stands out because grocery-anchored retail remains one of Florida’s strongest asset classes. Publix leases are considered among the safest income streams in the state, which has pushed investors toward centers with strong anchors and infill locations. Grove Park remains a daily needs hub for Lakeland as the area continues to grow.

FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/v2rx2h97

12/01/2025

A major Southeast developer is making another move in Tampa Bay’s multifamily market with Prospect Highland Oaks, a new 324-unit luxury community planned for the Brandon submarket. Carter and Brook Farm Group are partnering on the project as demand keeps rising on Tampa’s east side, driven by population growth, steady job expansion and a Tampa real estate market short on new supply. The site is less than a mile from JPMorgan Chase and Citigroup, two of the area’s largest employers.

The community will sit near the I-75 and Route 574 interchange and will offer modern amenities, strong connectivity and access to major employment centers. Carter says the project reflects its long-term approach to Tampa development and thoughtful planning in high-growth areas. The team includes Mill Green Capital and Fundrise on equity, Ameris Bank on construction financing, Oxford Properties as general contractor and Preston Partnership as architect.

Carter has delivered several notable Florida real estate projects, including NINE15 in downtown Tampa, The DeSOTA in Sarasota, and Story Wesley Chapel. Prospect Highland Oaks continues that footprint as the firm expands into new communities across the region. As capital tightens and interest in new construction stays strong, projects with clear fundamentals are shaping Tampa Bay development in a meaningful way.

READ THE FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/3rtmkan3

12/01/2025

Dr. Ali grew up in Karachi watching his father treat patients from a car and his mother fight for those with no voice. As a child he carried private trauma and the shame that followed it, but he also learned to read people before they spoke and to see that real medicine starts with presence. At a patient’s bedside he heard a dying man say that what eased his fear was not the drugs. It was being seen, heard and no longer alone. That moment became his yardstick for success.

Violence and loss tested that belief. Ali led student charities during political unrest, saw his family clinic burned and was kidnapped and beaten. He left for the United States with $1,700, working in labs by day and cleaning floors at night. In Boston and later Tampa he trained as a physician while teaching himself accounting, project management and process improvement. He learned that empathy and efficiency can live together and that structure can protect people instead of trapping them.

From that conviction he built Pioneer Medical Group, a Tampa-based system that now spans multiple regions and employs hundreds of clinicians. During Covid he and his partners went 45 days without pay so they would not lay off staff. Today he runs the company with simple rules. Every decision must serve relevance integrity and impact. No one who works with him should ever feel unseen. For Ali, success is not measured by revenue. It is measured by whether one more person feels safe respected and seen because of the work his team does.

FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/vjdvne6r

11/26/2025

UTampa is moving ahead with a new 200k-square-foot science building on the Hillsborough River. The project will replace several older campus buildings and add modern labs, teaching space and collaborative areas for students and faculty

The building will stand six stories tall with red brick on the west side and full glass facing the river. HDR Architects is targeting LEED Silver and Barr and Barr expects the build to take about 18 months once construction starts

This continues UTampa’s push to expand its riverfront campus and keep up with fast rising enrollment. It also strengthens the science programs that many students rely on as the university grows

FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/nnhbxzcv

11/25/2025

Landmark Properties just broke ground on The Mark Tampa, a six story student housing project right next to USF. It will bring more than 800 beds, a rooftop pool deck, study spaces and a long amenity list to the University Square area.

The team also donated $10,000 to The Lions World Vision Institute during the event, which does important work restoring sight around the world.

This project is another signal that national developers still see long term demand in North Tampa as the USF area keeps growing.

FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/mu2v562j

A new luxury student housing project with 800 plus beds has broken ground near USF. The six story community will bring modern amenities and more options for students.

11/25/2025

USF is taking another big step in real estate education. The Muma College of Business is moving forward with new graduate concentrations and a proposed Master of Science in Real Estate that could launch in 2027.

Student interest is already strong and industry leaders are helping shape the curriculum. A new Real Estate Center is also in development to support speakers, events and partnerships across Tampa Bay.

It’s another sign of how fast the region is growing and how much demand there is for talent in real estate, development and analytics.

FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/36ny98n3

USF is expanding its real estate offerings with new graduate concentrations and a proposed master’s program targeted for 2027, backed by industry leaders.

11/25/2025

Nicci Bucher is the new President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg, and she is leading with a clear priority: belonging. In her first two weeks, she has been in classrooms, neighborhoods and community meetings to understand how the YMCA can serve more families across St. Pete.

Her approach centers on partnerships, early learning and bringing programs directly into neighborhoods where they are needed most. She says belonging will guide how the YMCA grows and how it supports children, families and older adults.

Read the full TBBW interview for insight into her leadership approach and the Y’s next chapter.

🔗 FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/yf74u5rb

New YMCA of Greater St. Petersburg CEO Nicci Bucher is prioritizing belonging, partnerships and community-focused growth in her first weeks on the job.

11/24/2025

TBBW's November CEO Connect at Aqua at Westshore Yacht Club brought together leaders from across Tampa Bay to hear from Ashley Butler, owner of Ice Cold Air and TBBW’s November cover star.

Ashley spoke about leadership, growth and purpose, sharing how early struggle shaped her work ethic and how mentorship helped her build a $12 million company that supports about 100 people.

She also talked about the reality of leadership loneliness, the power of relationships and why giving back to the next generation is one of the most important investments a business owner can make.

Full recap: https://tinyurl.com/4nbsu8h7

Ashley Butler shares insight on leadership growth purpose and community impact during TBBW’s CEO Connect at Aqua at Westshore Yacht Club in Tampa.

11/24/2025

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch sat down with TBBW to share major updates on the city’s biggest priorities, including tech migration, transportation, resilience funding and the future of the Gas Plant District.

St. Pete is entering a defining period of growth. National founders continue to relocate here, infrastructure investments are accelerating and long-awaited redevelopment is moving forward. Mayor Welch says the next 24 months will shape the city’s economic future.

READ THE FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/msh3vxbe

St. Pete Mayor Ken Welch spoke with TBBW about tech growth, resilience funding, transportation challenges and the future of the Gas Plant District. Here are the key takeaways.

11/21/2025

St. Petersburg just finished installing the final roof panel at Tropicana Field ahead of schedule, marking a major milestone in the city’s push to get the stadium ready for the Rays’ 2026 return.

Mayor Ken Welch praised the work and noted that interior repairs are already underway, including new turf, audio and visual upgrades, sports lighting and other key systems. The city has approved $59.6M for the full repair package.

This comes as the Rays’ new ownership group evaluates long-term stadium sites across Tampa Bay.

Full story here ⬇️

St. Petersburg finished the Tropicana Field roof ahead of schedule as the Rays push for a new stadium. Interior repairs continue with a $59.6M budget.

11/21/2025

A California investor bought two Tampa Bay properties for $10M in a 1031 exchange and boosted cash flow by 40%.

The deal includes a Primrose School in Tampa and a Monticciolo Dental clinic in Lakewood Ranch. Both are long term NNN assets with corporate tenants and annual rent increases.

More West Coast investors are moving capital into Florida for newer assets, higher income and an income tax free market.

FULL STORY: https://tinyurl.com/456hy4xb

A California investor bought two triple net leased Florida properties for $10M, including a Primrose School in Tampa and a dental clinic in Lakewood Ranch. Here is what the deal means for Tampa Bay real estate.