What does Tampa need?

TampaMike · November 9th, 2009, 05:16 AM

We need to come up with ideas on what Tampa needs once the economy returns. If it's 6 months from now or 3 more years, once the economy starts flowing in the right direction, we need to be ready. It can be anything and everything. From retail to hotels and companies.

I'll start off.

Tampa needs a Apple store. And not just a Apple store, but one of them fancy ones.

tampamobster21 · November 9th, 2009, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TampaMike

We need to come up with ideas on what Tampa needs once the economy returns. If it's 6 months from now or 3 more years, once the economy starts flowing in the right direction, we need to be ready. It can be anything and everything. From retail to hotels and companies.

I'll start off.

Tampa needs a Apple store. And not just a Apple store, but one of them fancy ones.

Like the one in Boston and New York.

tampasteve · November 9th, 2009, 01:31 PM

Transit, transit, transit. That and a first class hotel like a Ritz or Four Seasons.

Steve

kevinkagy · November 9th, 2009, 04:24 PM

Tampa needs to build the light rail system it's proposing. Tampa also needs to control suburban sprawl and focus on increasing its density within the city limits.

JBrisco · November 9th, 2009, 10:15 PM

They really need to fill in empty blocks in the core and high density areas.

CubanBread · November 10th, 2009, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TampaMike

We need to come up with ideas on what Tampa needs once the economy returns. If it's 6 months from now or 3 more years, once the economy starts flowing in the right direction, we need to be ready. It can be anything and everything. From retail to hotels and companies.

I'll start off.

Tampa needs a Apple store. And not just a Apple store, but one of them fancy ones.

Holy crap they get fancier? I went to the one at International and was intimidated, it was big everything was white, there was a 4 hour wait to get help with an iphone, The employees had wings, they rode around on clouds. one of them touched me on the forehead, I left the store crying,... but my cold was gone.

Jahi98 · November 10th, 2009, 02:29 AM

Light rail! Light rail! Light rail! And the accompanying TODs.

The companies will come. Would love to see more or better branding for the whole metro area. It needs to generate some excitement about itself. Comparable cities/metros are beating Tampa Bay in their ability to generate buzz.

Would like to see another high-profile retail/mixed-use development like that one proposed for the Westshore area -- bring some new, upscale retail establishments to the area.

The city/metro also needs a 5-star hotel, or two.

TampaMike · November 10th, 2009, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CubanBread

Holy crap they get fancier? I went to the one at International and was intimidated, it was big everything was white, there was a 4 hour wait to get help with an iphone, The employees had wings, they rode around on clouds. one of them touched me on the forehead, I left the store crying,... but my cold was gone.

Sadly, I didn't even realize there was one at International Plaza.

Even if there is one there, a independent store would be nice aswell. Like Chicago's Apple store would be a nice example for what I imagine. Something like NYC seems too much for Tampa and can't see Apple spending the amount of money to build that somewhere like Tampa. Imagine Chicago's Apple Store in Tampa, with all the products on the first floor, coffee shop on second, and open roof with green garden and seating for customers.

Chicago Apple Store

I agree with the 5-Star Hotel. Be nice to maybe get Four Seasons to come back and propose something further north, maybe across I-275 to hopefully avoid some height limits. I emailed a hotel chain a couple months back, but got the response of Tampa being looked over a couple times and are interested in the Miami/Orlando area first. Which I agree about Miami, but think the Orlando market seems drained from all the hotels in the area. Or maybe a Mandarin Oriental.

tampamobster21 · November 10th, 2009, 05:37 AM

This is the Boston Apple Store. I really like it.

TampaMike · November 10th, 2009, 05:47 AM

Something like that would work on the side of the Kress building. Something like what I posted would do better in Channelside,

kevinkagy · November 10th, 2009, 08:04 AM

This is Apple's most prominent store here in Miami. This one is on Lincoln Road in South Beach.

image hosted on flickr

tampasteve · November 10th, 2009, 01:43 PM

I could see a 4-5 star hotel coming in the next up turn. We almost had a Ritz, Four Seasons, and a W (IIRC). I would most like to see any of these brands open a tower in the DT area, or even Ybor. I could actually see one picking up the Trump site for a bargain.

An Apple store would be cool too, the one in International is a big step up from the Brandon one. Maybe in the Channelside area.

I would also love to get an H&M store, likely in International, but Chanelside or even Ybor would be cool.

Steve

FLAWDA-FELLA · November 10th, 2009, 01:56 PM

More national/international exposure, a vibrant downtown, light rail and at least a 600-700 footer!!!

TampaMike · November 10th, 2009, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLAWDA-FELLA

More national/international exposure, a vibrant downtown, light rail and at least a 600-700 footer!!!

Yeah, a 700 footer would be nice in Tampa. Shame that POA is still around though.

TampaMike · November 10th, 2009, 03:29 PM

And I'm still waiting for our Hard Rock Cafe

tampasteve · November 10th, 2009, 03:38 PM

A 700 foot tower would be nice, but density and a good street scene are what make a city. I would like more retail and restaurants in the DT core. This of course is dependent on more residents, which should come in the next economic expansion.

At least we can check off a grocery store in DT finally.

Steve

jonknee · November 10th, 2009, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TampaMike

Sadly, I didn't even realize there was one at International Plaza.

It's one of the older Apple stores actually (and was just closed for a while to completely rehab). It opened with the mall in 2001. Brandon has a store too.

JBrisco · November 10th, 2009, 06:25 PM

Why don't we have a hard rock cafe? Ybor is a perfect spot for one. Hell Even the HARD ROCK HOTEL is a good spot for one. I don't understand that.

***I-275westcoastfl*** · November 10th, 2009, 10:28 PM

Do we mean Tampa or the entire metro in this thread?

TampaMike · November 10th, 2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I-275westcoastfl

Do we mean Tampa or the entire metro in this thread?

I just wanted to keep it with Tampa. I thought if we added St. Petersburg and Clearwater to it, it would get too confusing. Maybe if we made seperate threads, with moderators approval, it would seem more organized.

One of the things I do is send out emails to businesses not in Tampa. Either national retailers or local retailers and restaurants located in a fairly large city and just promote Tampa and why Tampa would be a good investment.

November 9th, 2009, 05:16 AM	#1
TampaMike Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 6,140 Likes (Received): 5	What does Tampa need? We need to come up with ideas on what Tampa needs once the economy returns. If it's 6 months from now or 3 more years, once the economy starts flowing in the right direction, we need to be ready. It can be anything and everything. From retail to hotels and companies. I'll start off. Tampa needs a Apple store. And not just a Apple store, but one of them fancy ones. __________________ Corporations Are People Too - Mitt Romney For the People that dress up like Corporations.

November 9th, 2009, 01:31 PM	#3
tampasteve Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 2,363 Likes (Received): 2	Transit, transit, transit. That and a first class hotel like a Ritz or Four Seasons. Steve __________________ Homer: Face it, Marge, Catholics rule! We got Boston, South America, the good part of Ireland, and we're makin' serious inroads in Mozambique, baby! "My badger's gonna unleash hell on your ass. Badgertastic!"

November 9th, 2009, 04:24 PM	#4
kevinkagy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,552 Likes (Received): 0	Tampa needs to build the light rail system it's proposing. Tampa also needs to control suburban sprawl and focus on increasing its density within the city limits. __________________ Florida International University GOLDEN PANTHERS!

November 10th, 2009, 02:29 AM	#7
Jahi98 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 806 Likes (Received): 0	Light rail! Light rail! Light rail! And the accompanying TODs. The companies will come. Would love to see more or better branding for the whole metro area. It needs to generate some excitement about itself. Comparable cities/metros are beating Tampa Bay in their ability to generate buzz. Would like to see another high-profile retail/mixed-use development like that one proposed for the Westshore area -- bring some new, upscale retail establishments to the area. The city/metro also needs a 5-star hotel, or two. __________________ I bleed Orange and Green! The Urban Advisor

November 10th, 2009, 05:37 AM	#9
tampamobster21 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 1,336 Likes (Received): 0	This is the Boston Apple Store. I really like it. __________________ Jacques Derrida (1930 - 2004) To pretend, I actually do the thing: I have therefore only pretended to pretend.

November 9th, 2009, 10:15 PM	#5
JBrisco USF Architecture Student Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa, FLA Posts: 1,525 Likes (Received): 0	They really need to fill in empty blocks in the core and high density areas.

November 10th, 2009, 05:47 AM	#10
TampaMike Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 6,140 Likes (Received): 5	Something like that would work on the side of the Kress building. Something like what I posted would do better in Channelside, __________________ Corporations Are People Too - Mitt Romney For the People that dress up like Corporations.

November 10th, 2009, 08:04 AM	#11
kevinkagy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,552 Likes (Received): 0	This is Apple's most prominent store here in Miami. This one is on Lincoln Road in South Beach. image hosted on flickr __________________ Florida International University GOLDEN PANTHERS!

November 10th, 2009, 01:43 PM	#12
tampasteve Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 2,363 Likes (Received): 2	I could see a 4-5 star hotel coming in the next up turn. We almost had a Ritz, Four Seasons, and a W (IIRC). I would most like to see any of these brands open a tower in the DT area, or even Ybor. I could actually see one picking up the Trump site for a bargain. An Apple store would be cool too, the one in International is a big step up from the Brandon one. Maybe in the Channelside area. I would also love to get an H&M store, likely in International, but Chanelside or even Ybor would be cool. Steve __________________ Homer: Face it, Marge, Catholics rule! We got Boston, South America, the good part of Ireland, and we're makin' serious inroads in Mozambique, baby! "My badger's gonna unleash hell on your ass. Badgertastic!"

November 10th, 2009, 01:56 PM	#13
FLAWDA-FELLA Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tampa/Jacksonville Posts: 2,135 Likes (Received): 12	More national/international exposure, a vibrant downtown, light rail and at least a 600-700 footer!!!

November 10th, 2009, 03:29 PM	#15
TampaMike Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 6,140 Likes (Received): 5	And I'm still waiting for our Hard Rock Cafe __________________ Corporations Are People Too - Mitt Romney For the People that dress up like Corporations.

November 10th, 2009, 03:38 PM	#16
tampasteve Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Tampa Posts: 2,363 Likes (Received): 2	A 700 foot tower would be nice, but density and a good street scene are what make a city. I would like more retail and restaurants in the DT core. This of course is dependent on more residents, which should come in the next economic expansion. At least we can check off a grocery store in DT finally. Steve __________________ Homer: Face it, Marge, Catholics rule! We got Boston, South America, the good part of Ireland, and we're makin' serious inroads in Mozambique, baby! "My badger's gonna unleash hell on your ass. Badgertastic!"

November 10th, 2009, 06:25 PM	#18
JBrisco USF Architecture Student Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Tampa, FLA Posts: 1,525 Likes (Received): 0	Why don't we have a hard rock cafe? Ybor is a perfect spot for one. Hell Even the HARD ROCK HOTEL is a good spot for one. I don't understand that.

November 10th, 2009, 10:28 PM	#19
*I-275westcoastfl* Jestem Hardkorem Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Clearwater, Florida Posts: 5,537 Likes (Received): 28	Do we mean Tampa or the entire metro in this thread?

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