Current - Season II

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ELEVATING LIFE’S POSSIBILITIES → SEASON II 202324
→ COVER COURTESY OF Brick Creative Raybon
at
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ISSN 2578-2053

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MASTHEAD

Life and the Party

Healing Heights

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Easy Like Sunday The Women-Owned Businesses of Water Street Tampa End of the Line

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Becoming the Thunder

08 → PLAY → BE EAT & → DRINK 14 22 60 100
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48 60 80 68 90 100
Cigar City
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Seeing
Stars
JUJMO
In Vino Veritas
Going
Green
GET LOST, FIND WATER STREET TAMPA
“Whichever path you choose, whatever route, Sundays here are easy—as they should be.”

FROM ‘EASY LIKE SUNDAY’

Life and the Party

Ryan Brown, The Tampa EDITION’s Director of Culture and Entertainment, is connected.

On a cool night last October, every security professional in Florida over 6 feet, 5 inches tall and weighing at least 275 pounds was on the clock in the Water Street Tampa neighborhood. They stood at the entrances to The Tampa EDITION where people lined the block, hoping to find their name on a list during grand opening weekend. Inside, Tampa’s first five-star hotel was crawling with actors, models, designers, musicians, and magazine editors, many of whom had just left Amalie Arena after a private concert from Lenny Kravitz.

More of that hulking security detail manned every elevator on the ground level of the 26-story, 172room hotel with 38-residences, leaving anyone who managed to get in still trying to gain further access to the rooftop bar, seven restaurants, and elusive Punch Room. Someone needed this wristband, or that one, or had to be escorted by so-and-so just to get through to the next layer of sentinels.

PHOTOS BY Adrian O’Farrill and Foto Bohemia

And inside the third, back chamber of the EDITION Arts Club, the deepest pocket of the exclusivity that night, Q-Tip, co-founder of legendary hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest, was bathed in red light and the twinkle of disco balls as he worked a DJ set for no more than 100 people who danced without a care in the world as they sipped on free booze and bumped elbows in what felt like the epicenter of a culture shift in downtown Tampa.

Standing there, just a few feet to the right of Tip, casually chatting up Michelin star chef John Fraser (of Lilac, Nix and Dovetail), was another six-footsomething guy who was too skinny to be security, but entirely too handsome, sharp-dressed, and, well, sober and in-tune with the details of the room, to be there on accident.

“I’m glad I found Ryan,” Frank Roberts told Current, about Ryan Brown, Director of Culture

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and Entertainment at The Tampa EDITION. There aren’t many like him. In fact, there are just four other people in North America who have a similar job, and only about 20 who do it worldwide (the chain has 16 hotels open, with six more on the way).

Roberts started barbacking in New York City before launching the Sunday party at Lotus on West 14th Street, then opening Gramercy Park’s Rose Bar alongside Studio 54 co-founder Ian Schrager. Once the Director of Culture and Entertainment at the New York EDITION, he now travels the globe opening hotels in his role as Vice President of Brand Experience for EDITION Hotels worldwide.

The requirements for those in the Director of Culture and Entertainment role?

“They’ve got to have a large Rolodex and be in good standing with their community,” Roberts said.

Brown has both, after spending his life in Tampa. But as executives, they also have to get along with the rest of hotel leadership, maintain a 90-day calendar (all while making sure the EDITION stays ahead of trends), and ensure the brand is profitable, too. “All of that work defines the programming and cultural vision for that property,” Roberts added.

The number one rule, though, is to just be nice. Anyone who gives off the nightlife, club-guy, vibe simply cannot do the job.

So, yes, Brown knows the hotel’s regulars, and its residents, and interfaces with them, but he also caters to A-listers staying at the EDITION, whether they want to be seen or simply enjoy a quiet dinner on a private patio. After setting that up, Brown might play stage manager and find new ways to improve the aesthetics of the Arts Club or rooftop, tweaking little details, or tucking away a speaker wire, all to improve the guest experience.

“There is that element of bringing people together, but a lot of people think that the role is all about partying—it really isn’t,” Roberts said.

Born and raised in Tampa, Brown came of age in a house on the corner of Habana Avenue and Platt Street before graduating from Plant High and then Bethune-Cookman University. After coming home from college, Brown was studying for the LSAT when Sing and Kevin Hurt—family friends who

were over to watch football, offered him a job at their soon-to-open restaurant Anise.

At that point, Brown had barbacked at places like the since-shuttered Amphitheatre in Ybor City, but at Anise—which will go down as one of downtown Tampa’s pioneer restaurants—he got to dip his toes into more high-level service.

“I think that Anise was ahead of his time in a lot of ways. But it was my introduction to a really high level of service,” Brown says.

Through his time there, he built up that Rolodex of contacts, working with other up-and-coming local movers and shakers on not just live entertainment, but food and drink events featuring high end wine and spirits. Those connections helped him grow, and he’s remained connected to those roots in his new role. Whether it was a sommelier teaching him about different varietals, or a DJ inviting him to Hyde Park to get a deeper knowledge of house music, Brown was moving around Tampa, absorbing every bit of information he could.

“Fast forward, and a lot of those people that I met during that time, over there, there. I’ve chatted to them about coming in here. So it’s full circle now,” he says.

Brown took other stops at other high-end staples like Mandarin Heights, but at Anise, he also crossed paths with another mentor, Ro Patel, and eventually took over the cocktail program. It was Patel that connected Brown with the job at The Tampa EDITION.

Patel—one of Tampa’s first cocktail kings—only knew that the hotel was looking for someone who was connected in Tampa. Brown was in search of a new challenge, a job that could let him be happy executing a larger scale vision.

“Frank looked through the camera lens during that interview and just told me, ‘Your job is to intertwine the culture of Tampa with the various food and beverage venues that we have in the hotel,’” Brown says about his interview. His mind started to race around that strategy, and he immediately started thinking of everyone in his life he could plug in. Roberts picked up on the excitement right away.

16 LIFE AND THE PARTY
→ Ryan Brown is the man behind the parties galore at The Tampa EDITION

“He looked at me and asked, ‘Are you feeling this right now? I think we’re vibing,’” Brown says, smiling. They were, and now at EDITION, Brown gets to marry the depth of his food and beverage background with a venue that’s asked him to showcase the whole of Tampa’s unique creative culture to the world.

At his office Brown shares his simple vision for an upcoming activation, one that sheds light on how he sees his new job.

“The event has to be impacted by the community as much as the event impacts the community,” Brown says, alluding to all the locals he wants to bring into the spotlight with national talent traveling in. “That’s the kind of footprint it has to have.”

Roberts, and in many ways, the rest of Tampa, may have just found Ryan Brown, but it’s pretty cool to know that a guy like him has also been standing here, and standing up for the city, all along.

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LIFE AND THE PARTY

Healing Heights

Drink from the Well(ness) of Water Street Tampa.

Water Street Tampa is the perfect place for a day centered around wellness, restoration, and relaxation. If you’re looking to spend a day in self care or living for a treat-yourself moment, it’s exactly where you’re meant to be.

With so many wellness-minded businesses to choose from, it can feel impossible to know where to begin your day of mindfulness. The perfect launchpad, though, just may live at the center of this bright and bustling community. When you enter Spa by JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, you can’t help but feel a wave of relief. Natural light pours in from the spa’s lounge as you look out at downtown Tampa’s humble skyline, and cucumber water and house made granola bars are just some of the healthy snacks for all who enter.

With 10 spacious treatment rooms, an exclusive rooftop whirlpool, and an entire menu of tranquil

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treatments to help cure what ails you, it’s impossible not to let go of some stress here, and surrender to the present moment.

Carve out a few hours for the spa’s customizable massage where you decide on pressure and pace and choose from a range of add-ons that include aromatherapy enhancements, high grade CBD oil, Himalayan salt stones, hand and foot scrubs, or a scalp pressure point massage to conclude the session.

The Spa also offers one of the newest innovations in skincare treatments, the Transdermal Infusion Facial, which uses the high-end technology of the JETPEEL to provide pain-free, non-invasive solutions to dry and dull skin by way of pressurized oxygen that creates tiny microchannels to deliver nutrients to the dermal layer of the skin. It also includes lymphatic drainage, exfoliation, and a customized infusion.

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If you decide to leave heaven and stretch your legs, you might make your way to the Meridian Greenway for fresh air, or the Tampa Riverwalk for a group class on the water. Because Water Street Tampa was designed to be accessible from all directions, no matter your mode of transportation, the neighborhood is set up to promote ease of use and access. And if you’re into blades, you’ll find a smooth surface to roll through on the Greenway.

By the time you finish walking, running, or taking your pup to play at the Meridian Dog Run, you might be ready to recharge with a cool smoothie or açai bowl from FitBowl Co., housed in a colorful shipping container in Sparkman Wharf. Try the Dragonness, a blend of dragon fruit, pineapple, banana, and almond milk topped with shreds of coconut and high-in-antioxidant Goji berries. Their menu caters to those who may prefer non-dairy options, and offers cold brew for a pick-me-up, too.

Keep the self-care train going and consider swinging by MiniLuxe for a hydrating manicure. A little

pampering goes a long way, and a Recharge Manicure is the perfect move at this boutique nail salon focused on clean products and practices. The luxury Recharge Manicure utilizes crystals, pairing high vibrational crystal frequency with the restorative qualities of CBD. This award-winning manicure includes soaking, shaping, and detailed cuticle care that will leave your hands feeling brand new. With this one, you’ll also receive an extended moisturizing massage with a rose quartz crystal massager and can choose from an array of colors to match your mood.

One of the many alluring aspects of Water Street Tampa is its flexibility. No matter what journey you create for your day, you’re bound to enjoy it. And, if you struggle with concrete planning, you can walk through the neighborhood with a clean slate, an open mind, and a discovery mindset. Wellness looks different for each of us; here, there are so many ways to heal.

26 HEALING HEIGHTS → Spa at JW

Easy Like Sunday

The Market at Water Street Tampa has a flavor for every taste.

The day starts early for The Market at Water Street Tampa’s 60+ vendors who cart trays of succulents, arrange glass jars of local, raw honey, and greet the neighborhood’s many pups who are out with their paw-parents on their morning walks. But at 8:30AM some of the city’s residents may still be sleeping in, or getting up slowly, savoring Sunday’s gradual rise.

Outside, a blocked-off section of Water Street bustles with vendors, loading boxes of goods out of cars and into shaded tents—the air still cool enough, the smell of kettle corn being freshly popped and bagged nearby.

Miriam Shapiro is one of these vendors setting up shop, placing organic cucumbers in a wicker basket among rows and rows of brightly colored produce: purple fairytale eggplants, bundles of green bok

choy, fresh Florida oranges, pink dragon fruit, and perfectly ripe, red beefsteak tomatoes.

Shapiro is AquaOrganics’ market manager and says they’ve been coming to The Market at Water Street Tampa since its inception.

“The customers here come looking for the freshest organic produce,” she says. “They try to stay as local as possible, and we’re glad to provide produce that’s exactly that.”

AquaOrganics is located just a hop-skip away in Lakeland and was one of the first aquaponic farms in the state, staking this claim in 2007.

“Our system is more sustainable,” Shapiro explains. “Aquaponics combines hydroponic growing and aquaculture, creating a recirculating system where

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the fish in this environment are providing the nutrients for the plants.”

Just down the way, market goers find Sandy Hein and Amber Wilson of Roots and Ritual Ayurveda Apothecary handing out samples of dark golden, raw honey sourced from Tampa bees and handpacked by the owners themselves.

Hein and Wilson are both beekeepers and ayurvedic practitioners located just five minutes away from Water Street Tampa in neighboring Seminole Heights.

Wilson explains the health benefits for people consuming some of their products: “The best thing for allergies is raw, local honey,” she says. “And if you can get wildflower, that’s the best—the bees are getting a very biodiverse diet, snacking on everything around the city. So, when locals consume this honey, their systems are benefiting from the bees’ work, fending off allergies due to that little bit of exposure.”

Also, bonus: it tastes great.

From there, set slightly above the street’s red brick road, is hard-not-to-notice Marin and Dottie Drew’s vintage camper plant boutique surrounded by bohemian rattan furniture and lush greenery for market goers to take home.

The sisters, who own the aptly-named Tampanian Vintage Jungle, are fifth-generation Tampanians.

“We got the camper in 2016, gutted the whole thing, remodeled it, and took it to San Francisco and back,” Dottie says. “In 2020, we found work at a small plant nursery and had the idea to start our own business out of our camper!”

Now, the sisters see tons of foot traffic at every Market they go to, noticing visitors to Tampa as well as new customers from other parts of the city, too.

“To see Tampa grow in the ways that it has and continues to is really cool,” says Marin. “Water Street [Tampa] is the new central point, and we’re here to keep the Tampa charm.”

After a morning full of walking and traversing the city, brunch might sound like a good idea. And here, it’s hard to choose between the many spots serving up cold drinks and semi-indulgent fare. There’s a ton to choose from, and not just from the vendors themselves.

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EASY LIKE SUNDAY

Popping into Boulon Brasserie for freshly baked chocolate croissants, gently torched French onion soup, lightly fried blue crab beignets, and a refreshing cocktail from the joint’s talented bartenders is an easy choice.

Or you could find yourself at the newly opened Predalina for light and flaky pistachio crema baklava, a seaside tonic (free of spirits), the Greek chicken in warm pita with tzatziki, or steak and eggs with green harissa and crispy potatoes.

The Market at Water Street Tampa takes place every third Sunday of the month, and—in addition to the 60+ vendors whose focus is on wellness, food, and fresh, local, handcrafted, fair-trade, vintage and eco-friendly products—there’s also public art and live entertainment throughout the neighborhood, including unique community partnerships with local non-profits and rotating artisans.

Whichever path you choose, whatever route, Sundays here are easy—as they should be.

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EASY LIKE SUNDAY
→ Baklava at Predalina
A family owned plant-shop dedicated to sharing our love of plants with our community. We are two brothers, Sam and Aaron, that proudly call Tampa home. www.yuravinebros.com FIND US AT 1059 WATER STREET TAMPA, FL 33602

Cigar City

Once considered the cigar capital of the world, Ybor City’s origins include a mix of Cuban, Italian, and Spanish cultures.

Though visitors to Tampa are drawn to its sleek new hotels, trendy restaurants, and luxe retail stores, the city’s historical and cultural roots can be traced back to the red-brick roads of Ybor City, and the people who built it.

Named after its founder, cigar-maker Vincente Martinez Ybor, Ybor City was founded in 1885 and attracted Cuban, Italian, and Spanish immigrants who found work in cigar rolling, and homes, or casitas, provided to workers at cost. It was here where the Cuban sandwich was born, where liquor was bootlegged, races rigged, and where some of the finest hand-rolled cigars are still made today.

Ybor found that Tampa’s humidity and proximity to Cuba (where he imported tobacco from) was perfect, and he purchased 40 acres of land, setting

up his cigar factory in the swampland. By the early 1900s, 200 factories were producing over a million cigars a day, earning Ybor City the name “Cigar City.”

Down North 16th Street, El Reloj, a three-story brick clock tower that spans one city-block long is home to J.C. Newman Cigar Co., America’s oldest family-owned premium cigar company, and the last operating cigar factory in Tampa, Florida.

Holden Rasmussen, the factory’s resident historian, confirms.

“We’re Ybor City’s last premium cigar factory,” says Rasmussen. “Competitors were either consolidated or moved overseas. Cigar City, U.S.A., baby. Fifteen million cigars a year, handmade and made by 70-year-old, hand-operated machines.”

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The 113-year-old building is frozen in time and operates exactly as it has for the past 70 years.”

Julius Caesar Newman, founder of the company, hailed from Slovakia and set up shop rolling cigars with $50 worth of tobacco and a handmade cigar table in his Cleveland basement with his cousins being his first employees. The family grocer was his first customer. Newman fell in love with Cuban tobacco and knew he had to make a move.

“Everyone knew that if you wanted a really good cigar, it had to be pure Cuban,” Rasmussen says.

And so, Newman moved the company to Tampa and into El Reloj, the clock tower factory, because Tampa had the best Cuban tobacco and a flourishing Cuban community.

“Everything you needed was right down the street,” Rasmussen says. “If you were a kid just getting out of school and you needed to go meet grandma, you’d walk over to El Reloj where she’d be getting done with her shift, hand-rolling cigars.”

The 113-year-old building is frozen in time and operates exactly as it has for the past 70 years. The original wood floors are somehow still sturdy, the original brick, still strong. Even the clock tower still rings.

Outside, a population of 500 chickens and roosters (originally kept by Cubans) still roam wild and are protected by the city and supported by the Ybor Misfits Micro sanctuary, a small, volunteer-run chicken rescue.

But back inside, Rasmussen takes visitors down to a warm, muggy basement, to the vault that smells of caramel, nuts, and wood.

“We were a mob town once upon a time,” he explains.

“They’d rig the races and run rum up the states.

If we didn’t want to get robbed, we had to use this trap door,” he says, opening a small wooden door at the end of a narrow hallway. “It’s a testament to how long we’ve been in the game.”

When Prohibition took effect in January 1920, Ybor City was home to roughly 76 saloons which outlawed overnight. The result of the law that prohibited the sale, production, or transportation of alcohol were speakeasies that sprung up along 7th Avenue in Ybor City. One of the most famous speakeasies was The Eagle Club, also known as the Key Club. Membership was invite-only, and prospective members had to be interviewed to certify their financial and social standing. Once members were admitted, they were given a key that would unlock a door at street level that led to a second door where a secret password had to be uttered to enter.

In the basement’s vault, Rasmussen shows off a giant cigar made for the King of Spain back in the ‘20s, a King cigar, and some pre-embargo Cuesta Reys. He starts to whisper because a news crew is nearby, getting B-roll of the oldest hand-rolled cigars in the world that live here.

On the second floor, a cellophane machine from 1947 wraps cigars in shiny plastic. The second floor is straight out of the 1950s, and in another room, Rasmussen stands in front of a long room with rows and rows of brown rusted, mint green handoperated machines, men and women sitting at them, pumping out wrappers for precise slicing.

“The machines are old school,” Rasmussen says. “If these break, they can be really difficult and expensive to fix.

On the third and top floor, six hand rollers sit at wooden cigar-rolling tables.

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CIGAR CITY “
→ A rooster crows in Ybor

Ybor City’s historic district includes roughly 950 buildings, many of which are on the U.S. Register for Historical Places, and a stroll through the neighborhood promises cobblestone streets, charming casitas, and wrought iron balcony storefronts reminiscent of architecture found in New Orleans. Many of Ybor City’s original cigar factories, parlors, and theaters are still standing, a testimony to the visionaries who built the city.

There’s plenty of new life in Ybor City, too. The recently opened Hotel Haya is named after cigar factory owner and pioneer, Ignacio Haya, and the property has thoughtful details that celebrate Haya’s legacy, including the hotel’s signature restaurant, Flor Fina, which translates to delicate flower, an inscription Haya would include in his cigar boxes.

Hotel Haya is also located on the former site of Ybor City’s first Cuban cafe, Las Novedades, which opened in 1890, and architects have preserved the building’s original interior and textiles. The rest of the property has a relaxed, boho design coupled with nostalgic touches like exposed brick walls, a courtyard pool featuring Italian tile, and a repurposed Haya sign—all tributes to Ybor City’s earliest pioneers.

Peter Wright, the hotel’s GM explains the dedication to preserving the city’s architectural history.

“For Las Novedades, an event space we are revitalizing, we’re really just getting it up to code and preserving all of its raw space, original brick, and stained-glass windows from the early 1900s,” he says. “It’s the little details—the replica Goya tiles we found behind the walls—that we want guests to enjoy when they experience this place.”

Wright also mentions the new Gas Worx project that officially began this year with the intent to connect Ybor City with the Channel District, utilizing the land to promote connectivity via multi-use trails and a new stop for the TECO streetcar.

“We’re all connected,” Wright says. “And this transitoriented project will only connect us further. Two years from now you’re going to see a lot of change here, but you’ll also see the preservation of our history in the process.”

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Becoming the Thunder

Tampa Bay area residents bring energy and enthusiasm to season opener in Thunder Alley.

For Tampa Bay Lightning fans, Thunder Alley is a treasured pregame ritual. Fans arrive at the heart of Water Street Tampa in the plaza outside Amalie Arena an hour or two before the game, down beers in Corona Cantina and the Cigar City Taproom, people watch, take family photos in the oversized Adirondack selfie chair, and wait for ThunderBug to count them down into the arena.

Fans came from all over the Tampa Bay area to see the Lightning’s home opener. Current met folks from Lakeland, St. Pete, Brandon, and Tampa in Thunder Alley. All sang the same tune, one rife with good vibes, good beer, and good people-watching. Most of all, they appreciated being among others who share their passion for Lightning hockey.

Here, a choice crop of photos from the beginning of the season, one we hope—like ‘04, 2020, and 2021 before it—ends with the team hoisting the Stanley Cup.

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→ Fans and flag bearers feed off the creative energy provided by Jonathan Borofsky’s Lightning sculpture. When Borofsky finished building the 75-foot-tallsculpture in 1997, it became the tallest sculpture in the state of Florida. While it’s no longer the tallest sculpture in the state, Borofsky’s “Lightning” is still the tallest sculpture in the City of Tampa and remains one of Tampa’s landmark works of public art.

→ ThunderBug beats his drum, counting down from 10, as fans anxiously await their moment to enter the arena.

→ Tito and Raakeebah Mann came from Brandon, Florida to see the season opener. “I just love the game of hockey. Period,” says Tito, who hopes the Lightning will bring home another Stanley Cup this year. “This is my first game,” says Raakeebah. “I love the excitement.”

→ A 9-foot-tall bronze statue of former Lightning team captain Dave Andreychuk by Tampa sculptor Steven Dickey marks the entrance to Thunder Alley and commemorates the Lightning’s first Stanley Cup win against the Calgary Flames in 2004.

BECOMING THE THUNDER 54
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REPLENISH AT WATER STREET TAMPA
“Tampa took home its first-ever Michelin stars this May 2023, gaining recognition for three innovative concepts: Koya, Lilac, and Rocca.”
BRYCE BONSACK OF ROCCA FROM ‘SEEING STARS’

Seeing Stars

The illustrious culinary award from Michelin comes to Tampa. Three times. Three!

Tampa took home its first-ever Michelin stars this May 2023, at the Michelin Guide Awards Ceremony held in Miami, gaining recognition for three innovative concepts: Koya, Lilac, and Rocca. The city was responsible for three of just four stars awarded to Florida restaurants at the ceremony, and the audience broke out into chants: “TAMPA! TAMPA!,” clearly approving the city’s rise in rank.

The three Chefs responsible for the honors—Chef Eric Fralick of Koya, Chef John Fraser of Lilac, and Chef Bryce Bonsack of Rocca—brought back their red and white Michelin trophies and black Chef jackets after being officially initiated into one of the highest and most esteemed echelons of culinary excellence in the world. Any Tampa native will tell you that our food scene has been underrated for a while with hidden gems

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→ Koya Chef Eric Fralick.

sprinkled across the city and some of the best food hiding in small strip plazas or tucked away in the heart of historic Ybor. But Michelin’s latest tour is proving that this is just the tip of the iceberg, and Tampa’s food scene is well worth the trip.

KOYA

Chef Eric Fralick and his wife, Adriana, are humble with a small team of just six (including themselves), preparing an intimate, hyper seasonal tasting course for just eight guests each evening at Koya.

Chef Fralick’s culinary journey began in New York.

“Right out of high school, I started in fine dining Italian on the service side, FOH,” Chef Fralick says. “And then I got so interested in the chefs and the kitchen—that’s where I steered towards.”

Fralick then cooked his way through college, working in delicatessens in New York, and making bagels.

“My roommates in New York were all from Japan,” Fralick says, “and they were like ‘hey, come to Japan.’ All three had different restaurants in Japan—sushi, ramenya, izakaya—so I got to spend five years training with them, and that was a lot of fun.”

Back in the States, Fralick met his wife, whom he gives credit for his being where he is today, and who grew up right here in Tampa. This brought them back down to the sunshine state where they opened their first restaurant together, Noble Rice, in 2016.

“With Noble Rice, we wanted to break stereotypes,” he says. “Every Japanese restaurant has miso soup and edamame. So, we didn’t put that on the menu. At most sushi places, everything’s just fried with layers upon layers of sauces, and you don’t actually get to experience the fish.”

For guests at Noble Rice and especially at Koya, the experience is quite different.

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SEEING STARS

It’s an incredible feeling.”

“The fish that we bring in,” Fralick says, “it’s a really intricate part of what our restaurant does.”

Fralick says he gets to tell this story to guests who dine at Koya every night.

“We have a buyer inside Toyosu Market—the largest fish auction in the entire world. So having that buyer in the market allows me to communicate with him, text him, call him every day to find out what the very best is.”

Fish is hyper seasonal, so having boots on the ground to help bring in the best of the best is nice for Fralick and guests at Koya.

Every Tuesday and Wednesday, Fralick drives to Tampa International Airport to pick up the fish flown in from Japan for the restaurant.

“There’s nobody coming to drop it off. I’m the one who goes. I’ve been elected,” he laughs.

It’s Fralick’s meticulous sourcing of ingredients and smart pairings that make Koya unlike any other Japanese restaurant for miles, and he and the small team have been elated post-Michelin star.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” Fralick says.

Guests and Michelin critics have high praise for Koya’s level of detail and attention paid to sourcing the freshest ingredients and creating fun pairings— no surprise for those who have a bite.

“We obviously work very hard, but our goal is to be ourselves,” says Fralick.

ROCCA

Rumor has it that Chef Bryce Bonsack of Rocca buys more fish sauce than any other restaurant in the area for his modern take on Italian pastas, where dishes also include local ingredients rooted in the area, tying Thai, Southeast Vietnamese, Southeast

Asian, and Latin influences together in a bouquet of flavors restaurant-goers may have never had in one bite.

Bonsack has weathered more than a few storms with Rocca—the pandemic, a kitchen fire, a flood— and he wears every hat from psychologist to his staff, to mechanic when fixtures break, along with, of course, being head Chef of Rocca, his baby.

Bonsack is a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America, and has worked alongside some of New York’s finest at Corton in Manhattan and Blanca in Brooklyn. Originally, Bonsack got stuck with pasta when no one else wanted to do it, due to its finicky temperament. He grew to be quite good with it, and soon became the kitchen’s pasta expert, sought after for questions and answers by his fellow cooks and chefs.

But that Brooklyn grind led to burn out, and the paths were: take a job offered by French Laundry for a year (and be able to work in any kitchen afterwards) or keep the nose to the grindstone and ultimately reach zero percent creativity/functionality.

Bonsack forged another path, though, which started with moving back to Tampa where he grew up, and in with his parents. It was here where Bonsack started to be able to breathe a little, noticing that no one in Tampa was really doing pasta right. He cooked for a few investors who were willing, then and there, to open their wallets. But he knew he wasn’t ready just yet.

So he moved overseas for what he calls his finishing school, falling in with the Rocca family who own and run a 100+ year-old restaurant nestled in a castle on private property in Monforte d’Alba, Italy, where their domesticated wolves roam free, an icon Bonsack has brought to the Rocca logo, along with the family name (which he asked permission to use before coming back). “Sure, you can use it,” they’d said. “Just no spaghetti and meatballs or pineapple pizza.”

Deal.

“I knew how to cook already when I got to Italy; I knew how to make pasta,” Bonsack says. “In New York, I was making pasta every day and that standard became instilled in me. But Italy gave me time to reflect on my own voice, which was cultivated with the help of the Rocca family, but also as I became a traveler to the different regions, experiencing food as they do there—as a sort of mindset. It gave me confidence.”

And now, even on a weekday night, small groups of people congregate outside of Rocca in Tampa Heights just before 5PM, waiting for the door to open, taking the reservations they’ve had for weeks or months as they’ve waited to try what Bonsack says is “a very different restaurant than anywhere you’d see in Italy.” Inside, the staff floats seamlessly, and the place feels like a train that runs on time with orders placed in full so guests can sit back, chat, and enjoy the ride.

“There is an ethos and an understanding of what Italian food is, what the flavor profiles are,” Bonsack says. “And Rocca is a little bit of a reflection of that, but there’s also a lot of influences that are not Italian at all that are Southeast Vietnamese, Thai, Southeast Asian. There’s a lot of Latin influences. And you know, I’m actually not even Italian; I’m part Colombian from my mother’s side, so it’s nuanced in ways that might not be abundantly clear to guests. In a weird way, it all makes sense—and it doesn’t need to be in their face.”

As for the star, Bonsack says he’s still pinching himself a little bit.

“We’re obviously thrilled and we’re honored. We’ve just been always trying to get better every day,” he says. “I know that’s a little generic, but it’s the truth.”

LILAC

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Chef John Fraser is no stranger to the Michelin star, receiving one for eight consecutive years for his New York restaurant Dovetail. Fraser’s food tends to sprout from nostalgia, inspiration percolating from early memories of the neighborhood bars he grew up near in and around California. He’s also known for making vegetables taste really freaking good, with an eat from the earth focus on produce.

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SEEING STARS
→ The Raviolini del Plin at Rocca.

Fraser brings Lilac to Tampa’s first five-star hotel, The Tampa EDITION, and the food here, he says, is designed to be comforting and approachable. Lilac is Eastern Mediterranean-forward, pulling in local and seasonal ingredients for fresh new menu items. With restaurants in NYC’s Times Square EDITION and LA’s West Hollywood EDITION, along with his NYC-based hospitality group, JF restaurants, Fraser’s got his hands full.

But he likes what he sees here, telling Edible Tampa Bay that, in larger cities, “there’s a lot more competition. I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Tampa,” he adds, “and I really like it.”

Fraser says his team in Tampa is excited about using the products that are from the city and the Gulf. “Much of what we do is about health and wellness and vegetable-forward cooking. We start with the season and the context—what’s coming out of the ground and what’s coming out of the sea,” Fraser told Edible Tampa Bay.

“There are a lot of great restaurants and a lot of curious people here,” says Fraser of Tampa. “And that’s what I consider the vibration of a great food city.”

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SEEING STARS
→ Left: The dining room at Lilac. Above: Chef John Frasier plates a Michelin-worthy dish. Photos by Nikolas Koenig.

In Vino Veritas

No wine before it’s time… It’s time.

Strolling down Water Street, you might just breeze past Wine on Water, nestled snugly between Yura Vine plant shop and Small Giant Bar & Restaurant. But once you step inside, you’ll be greeted by a mesmerizing sight: rows upon rows of meticulously selected bottles and a library ladder that wouldn’t be out of place in Belle’s sanctuary from Beauty and the Beast. This is a place that’s impossible to forget, especially after you’ve indulged in a tantalizing tasting.

The mastermind behind this vinous oasis, the sommelier extraordinaire, is Jen Bingham. With open arms, she invites people from all walks of life to share in the discovery of new, intriguing bottles. Bingham’s love affair with the greater Tampa Bay Area began with her brainchild, Cru Cellars, which

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PHOTOS → The impressive wine collection at Wine on Water.

she co-owns with husband Torrey. They set sail on this voyage in 2010, and it has since burgeoned into a haven of exciting concepts, including Wine on Water.

“We’re absolutely smitten with our spot on Water Street,” Bingham exclaims. “I’ll never forget the moment we peeled the paper off our windows back in February, and I gazed out at the neighborhood. It was the realization of our dream come to vibrant life.”

This new establishment houses over 200 styles of fermented grape juice, spanning the spectrum from Beaujolais to orange (skin-contact) pinot gris— guaranteed to tantalize every palate.

In her early 20s, Bingham embarked on a life-changing journey to Australia, where her passion for wine was kindled. She traversed through countless wineries, and it was there that she found the spark that ignited her passion. Today, she has turned that passion into a thriving career, dedicated to exploring and celebrating the world of varietals.

Recalling her early days in the wine world, working at a Chicago hotel, Bingham reminisces, “I was at a wine bar on Michigan Ave, and I couldn’t help but think: hotels come with a lot of red tape. I knew I could create a more intimate, spirited experience.”

In 2009, Bingham made her way to Florida with dreams of bringing her wine shop vision to life. The following year, she opened Cru Cellars, a space where people could embark on a journey of wine exploration in a fun and low-pressure way.

It was this initial vision that gave birth to her other thriving concepts. Bouzy in Hyde Park welcomes guests to a warm, bubbly champagne and cocktail bar, offering exquisite cuvées and caviar alongside Michel Forget’s Brut Champagne. Meanwhile, Small Giant, her “little bar” and restaurant “with a big heart” concept located just a stone’s throw from Wine on Water, provides a cozy haven where patrons can savor thin-crust, Columbus-style pizza and unwind after a long day’s toil.

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IN VINO VERITAS

→ Previous page:

Jen Bingham, Sommelier extraordinaire and owner of Wine on Water, Small Giant + more. This page: The sign for Wine on Water.

But wine is Bingham’s true passion, and she’s an open book when it comes to sharing her love. “When we talk about old-world wineries, we have to remember that these vineyards have been lovingly tended to for generations. They’ve been the lifeblood of these small families, handed down through the ages. That’s where it all begins for me.”

Bingham elaborates on her quest for sustainability and quality as she and her team curate a collection that’s refreshingly new, harmonious, and exhilarating for guests and customers.

At Wine on Water, both locals and visitors are treated to a direct somm-to-guest experience, along with weekly events like the Wine Divvy. Every Monday, patrons handpick a bottle, grab a glass, take a seat on the patio, savor their wine, connect with fellow enthusiasts, and then delve into another guest’s selection. The shop boasts an extensive array of unique bottles, offering a gateway to explore myriad wine regions.

“Over the last thirteen years in the world of wine, we’ve showcased everything from small-batch wonders to organic, biodynamic gems,” Bingham reflects. “These artisanal family wineries and their unwavering dedication to their craft have left an indelible mark on the industry in the past five years. It’s astonishing to witness the prolific influence of these artisans and how they’re changing the game.”

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IN VINO VERITAS
BE CONNECTED – BE ENERGIZED
“With time, her passion merged with continued efforts to enhance her skills and make herself known, and she began to see results.”
FROM ‘JUJMO

CELEBRATES’

Jujmo Celebrates Color, Community, and Joy

The Filipino-American artist’s goal is to make work that makes the world brighter.

In Jujmo’s cheerful artworks, color takes center stage. Plants, flowers, animals, and fictional characters are rendered in bright yellow, pink, purple, and green hues, and every detail showcases the artist’s skill to brighten up spaces and inspire joy.

It’s hard to believe that, as a young child growing up in a military family, the Filipino-American illustrator, whose real name is Cheryl Weber, didn’t consider the possibility of pursuing a creative career. Instead, she imagined she’d follow a more practical path. “I wanted to be a veterinarian, I love animals, and though I had an interest in art, I never thought of it as a viable career path for me,” she tells Current.

This began to change in high school when her interest in street art and graffiti prompted her to take her creative interests more seriously by

PHOTOS BY Adrian

taking additional art classes than those required by the curriculum. It was also during this time she began deepening her interest in murals, though it wasn’t until getting her Bachelor’s in fine arts from the University of South Florida in Tampa that she completed her first mural in a gallery setting as part of her senior thesis project.

Far from being an overnight success, Weber put in the work to be where she is today. “I just really wanted to make it, even though I definitely had to have a second job in service and bartending.” With time, her passion merged with continued efforts to enhance her skills and make herself known, and she began to see results. Nowadays, art fills her entire schedule.

Jujmo’s multifaceted practice is a mix of mural works, commissioned pieces, graphic design, and digital artworks.

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Over the past few years, Weber has made a name for herself in Tampa by taking on unexpected projects that infuse everyday objects with her colorful creations. This all started when people began coming to her with interesting customization undertakings which have included embellishing objects such as skateboards, helmets, and even cars. “I don’t know if I would’ve normally done this type of work on my own, says Weber. “But these projects come from people supporting my work and coming up to me when they think something would be cool for me, and that has helped me push my career further.”

Indeed, car murals featuring a range of playful motifs, such as plump artichokes, pretty florals, and mushrooms in her signature rainbow color palette, have become a surprising but intriguing part of Jujmo’s practice.

Weber’s work is highly influenced by folklore and anime, as well as the many countries she lived in and the cultures she was able to absorb as a

military child. In particular, the time she spent living in Japan had a significant effect that still shows up in her artistic practice today. “It changed my whole life experience with art and how it exists in everyday life,” Weber says. “There’s a lot of color in Japan and they’re very creative.”

Japan even shows up in the story behind the artist’s whimsical moniker. Weber explains the name can be traced back to her early obsession with graffiti since Jujmo is a blend of two random words she loved to draw: “juju” and “momo.” “I initially came up with Jujmo because it had a nice flow to it, and I found out later that juju means a magical talisman in West African countries and momo means peach in Japanese. So, essentially, my name means magical peach,” she says.

Jujmo says Fafi, a French street artist, illustrator, and designer, who paints female caricatures in bright colors, has had a big influence in her work, and she admire’s that artist’s “tenacity and the way she approaches painting.”

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With her kaleidoscopic pieces, Jujmo mainly hopes to elicit reactions of joy and happiness. “I like to make work that is uplifting. Life can be a lot sometimes, and I think my work doesn’t have to go that deep—if it does, that’s cool,” says Weber. “But I genuinely just want to make the world seem brighter, more colorful, and more exciting.”

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JUJMO CELEBRATES COLOR, COMMUNITY, AND JOY
→ @jujmo

The Artful Evolution of Yura Vine Brothers

They’ve come a long way from volunteering at the community garden.

In Quechua, the language of their native Peru, the word “yura” literally means plant, but to Aaron and Samuel Rodas, it represents strong roots and a relentless survival instinct. Since launching Yura Vine Brothers a few years ago the Rodas brothers have adapted from a small outdoor market operation into a full-service plant shop that spreads the beauty and resilience of plants to their local communities.

It was younger brother Sam’s idea to go into the plant business, after years of being a horticultural hobbyist. He’d been volunteering at the Tampa Heights Community Garden growing herbs and vegetables, and from there he discovered house plants. He started selling his own clippings, and at one point, had more than 100 plants in his studio apartment. As his knowledge grew, he realized the opportunities house plants could offer and decided to quit his steady job as an analyst at a Fortune 500 company.

His older brother, Aaron, was the voice of reason; he advised Sam to start small and joined him in creating a scalable business model. They complemented each other’s talents. “Sam handles logistics, and I’m the people person,” says Aaron. “We’re a great team.”

Just like that, Yura Vine was born in early 2020. The brothers started the year strong, working all the farmer’s markets in the greater Tampa Bay area, including Ybor City, Seminole Heights, Westchase, and even as far as Safety Harbor. Their Instagram following steadily grew. And then Covid happened. The brothers took a few months off to assess the landscape.

“When we realized Covid wasn’t going away, we built a greenhouse in my yard,” Aaron says. Barely breaking stride, they started offering contactless delivery, dropping plants off to people who suddenly found themselves working from home. The plant business

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boomed during lockdown as people sought to make their places into green sanctuaries.

“That’s when things exploded,” Aaron says.

The brothers’ rising star attracted investors. Grow Financial approached them through their “Grow On Us” program, which aimed to help small businesses during the pandemic while building community. They bought $10,000 worth of plants for Yura Vine to give away. In two hours, Yura Vine donated 1,000 plants to eager residents, attracting more publicity. The momentum led them to opening a brick and mortar, and after a series of starts and stops in different spots, they settled in Water Street Tampa in October 2022.

Since they opened the new place, Yura Vine has expanded from house plants into living walls and “biophilic art.” The art gives the shop a whimsical feel as you walk among the plants, finding two centerpieces of preserved moss and large art pieces— detailed landscapes of forests and swamps, made of

real natural materials like mushrooms and bark. The star of the show is the huge installation behind the counter, a truly striking aerial view of the Everglades.

At first impression, you might guess Sam is the creator of these pieces, with his love of nature and attention to all the little details of plant care. But while Aaron is usually the business-minded one of the two, with a long history in sales and customer service, he is also the force behind the art that sets Yura Vine apart from other plant businesses.

“Biophilic design is the process of transforming natural components into art,” Aaron says. This new craft came as a surprise to even him. He was inspired by an installation of preserved moss that he saw during a trip to New Orleans with his nine-yearold son. They came upon a giant wall of moss art at the mall, and Aaron fell in love. “Dad, you should do something like that,” his son told him, seeing how his father’s eyes lit up.

Aaron now creates the biophilic art pieces out of his

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own studio, which is located near the shop. There, he is inspired by real landscapes and loses himself for hours in abstract forms. He has built a strong local client base for his pieces, and he currently has 70 displays in places around town, including other businesses in Water Street Tampa. He loves creating art based on his clients’ personal stories and where they are from. “I’m always trying to do things that relate to them somehow,” he says.

He is particularly proud of a piece he recently created for Blind Tiger, a local coffee shop. The owner is from Panama and loves the jungle. Unfortunately, illegal poaching and deforestation threatens the natural landscapes there; Aaron imagined bleeding waters as he worked. So, he incorporated a river through the piece, dyed in Blind Tiger’s signature orange.

As the brothers celebrate their one-year anniversary in Water Street Tampa, they feel like they’ve lived up to the name Yura Vine. Over the last year, they’ve strengthened their brand and evolved into a full-service shop. They now ship plants out of state, offer concierge service to local apartments, design and install zeroscape yards, and hold events and workshops. They’ve come a long way from volunteering at community gardens and working small markets, but they haven’t forgotten their roots, often offering free workshops for kids at local county schools.

“We are always looking for ways to grow,” Aaron says. “But for now, we are just really enjoying this moment.”

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Women-Owned Businesses Thrive in Tampa

Advice from some of the city’s brightest entrepreneurs.

Over the past decade, Tampa has steadily become a fast-growing city, attracting entrepreneurs and business owners from all over the country. In 2021, for instance, LinkedIn deemed Tampa Bay one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas for entrepreneurs, and women have had an essential role in developing the city’s thriving economy.

According to the US Census Bureau, 21% of businesses in Tampa are owned by women. And, in 2022 alone, these companies produced around 5 billion in revenue and employed over 85,000 workers in the area, which goes to show the power and importance of female founders in the city.

What’s more, female business owners who succeed pave the way for others who are inevitably

encouraged to follow in their example and pursue their own dreams. On that note, here is a look at women-owned businesses thriving in Water Street Tampa, inspiring an entire community in the process.

DWELL HOME MARKET

Kristy Craig Anderson, who co-owns Dwell Home Market with Jeff Kale, has been in the area for almost 20 years. Theirs is a unique concept store that seeks to bring ease and joy into furniture shopping with a remarkable selection of pieces sourced from all over the world.

“Tampa has flourished over the past decade,” says Anderson. “We’ve seen a lot more diversity in general, and the majority of small business owners

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that I know are women, so it’s been really exciting to see Tampa step up to the plate.”

PREDALINA

A one-minute walk from Dwell Home Market, there’s Predalina, a Mediterranean restaurant featuring a stunning dining room, two patios, and a bar, while also offering in-house retail and hand-crafted wares.

Owned by Blake Casper and Allison Adams, the duo at the helm of Tampa-based hospitality company Oxford Commons, this chic eatery is an homage to their great-grandmother, Predeliana Oliviera, who lived 101 years by the sea and led a life deeply influenced by coastal communities. A unique place for Tampa Bay residents to create memories, this restaurant is a perfect example of the many ways a woman’s life can inspire those around her.

Adams believes those who are looking to start a business, but don’t know where to begin should “go to

speaking engagements, coffees, networking groups, even exercise classes—introduce yourself and make friends,” she says. “And then when you’ve made it, give back to those starting at their beginning, give back by being someone else’s support.”

SWIGAMAJIG

Swigamajig is the latest endeavor of chef Jeannie Pierola, a trailblazing restauranteur with a rich Cuban and Spanish heritage that often makes its way into her widely acclaimed dishes. Over the course of her successful career, Pierola has been selected as a semifinalist for the prestigious James Beard Award five times.

Adored by locals, Pierola spent a decade as the executive chef at Tampa’s beloved Bern’s Steak House and its sister restaurant SideBern’s, before starting Edison: Food+Drink Lab in 2012. Edison’s Swigamajig is a spinoff of her celebrated restaurant, described as a “fish kitchen for modern swigs

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WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES THRIVE IN TAMPA
→ Previous spread: Kristy Craig Anderson, owner of Dwell Home Market. Left: Crystal Johnsen of Joyful Notion. Above: Jeannie Pierola of Edison’s Swigamajig.

and seafood bites—a no-frills Channelside container shanty at Sparkman Wharf that’s all about cocktails and the catch.”

JENI’S ICE CREAMS

A stone’s throw from Swigamajig, there’s Jeni’s Ice Creams, a popular ice cream spot with more than 80 shops and distributors across the country. Started by Jeni Britton more than 20 years ago in Columbus, Ohio, a curious Britton, at 22, added cayenne pepper to chocolate ice cream to see what it would taste like, and never looked back. She decided right then and there to devote her life to making ice cream.

Today, Jeni’s thriving company is known for carrying one-of-a-kind flavors inspired by unexpected pop culture, historical, and artistic references, and made with fair trade ingredients, including fresh milk sourced from family-owned dairy farms.

JOYFUL NOTION

A unique destination for one-of-a-kind fashion pieces and gifts as well as a flower bar, Joyful Notion was founded by Tampa local Crystal Johnsen.

Going the extra mile for her beloved customers, Johnsen offers a wide range of tricks on Instagram, showcasing creative ways to wear many of the garments on sale at her boutique, tips to build capsule wardrobes, and even ideas to create showstopping concert outfits.

THE MODERN PAWS

Founded by husband-and-wife duo Ben and Lisa Prakobkit, The Modern Paws is a fun and friendly pet store with a mission to “raise awareness about the importance of pet health and nutrition in the community” by offering products, foods, and treats that promote a healthy lifestyle for pets.

“Tampa is phenomenal for small businesses,” says Lisa. In particular, she recalls getting help from the Small Business Development Center in Tampa Bay when she first started in 2015 as an e-commerce business that operated from their apartment. “They have a lot of valuable resources, no-cost consultations, and they really help you get started,” she explains.

Lisa believes reaching out to the community for help and advice is a great tool budding business owners

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WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES THRIVE IN TAMPA
→ Outfit your pup at The Modern Paws.

→ This page: Danna Haydar, owner of Battery. Next page: Battery.

should always consider. “If you’re serious about your dream, it’s really important to reach out to others who have already gone through it and are willing to offer advice.”

BODYROK

Co-owned and run by locals Alicia Whitis and Erin Greco, BodyRok is a unique fitness studio that offers hybrid pilates classes that can be customized to fit a wide range of workout needs.

Featuring both group classes and private sessions, BodyRok seeks to bring wellness to the Tampa Bay community with forty-five-minute sessions that combine high-tech pilates reformer machines, music, and colored lights to provide a workout experience that’s both entertaining and effective. Hoping to engage with the local community beyond their studio, the duo behind BodyRok also offers mat pilates outdoor classes at Sparkman Wharf once a month.

BATTERY

Founded by Danna Haydar, Battery is a waterfront restaurant and bar focusing on fine bourbon, great wine, and delicious food. A serial entrepreneur based in Tampa, Haydar is also the owner of C House, a restaurant in Seminole Heights. And she’s currently in the process of launching Pyper Malone, a high-end line of hats set to be available later this year.

Reflecting on the best recommendation she can offer someone starting a business, Haydar says “Sometimes, when you think about launching a business, it feels very overwhelming, so my advice is one of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther King Jr.: ‘You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.’”

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WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES THRIVE IN TAMPA

To the End of the Line

The history of Tampa’s famed trolley, which runs through the heart of Water Street Tampa.

Late last September, Tampa and Ybor City received news that its beloved streetcar would remain farefree for at least one more year. The service has been free to ride for the last five, and while it travels on just 2.7 miles of track between Centennial Park in the Historic Ybor City district and the Whiting Station near Hattricks tavern in downtown, its windows into Tampa’s can see much further than that. And as future phases of Water Street Tampa development gets underway, residents and visitors who listen carefully enough can hear how the trolley whistles echoing off a new generation of high-rises are connected to more than 130 years of history.

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“Still, the streetcar rolls on.”

Tampa’s streetcars were Florida’s first. Like the modern version, the lines initially ran the streets in between Ybor City and the Town of Tampa (known today as downtown). That was in 1885, two decades before the first cars were registered in Florida. The streetcar’s earliest riders were blue collar folks commuting to and from work in cigar factories, the port, and in the phosphate industry. At the time, the service connected two radically different neighborhoods, each dominated by a specific demographic and politics. Downtown was mainstream and conservative, while Ybor was diverse and politically-radical. While it was not a unifier, the streetcar still brought people together.

“It definitely was a connector,” Rodney Kite-Powell, Director of the Touchton Map Library and Florida Center for Cartographic Education at the Tampa Bay History Center, tells Current. The trolley was how to see the city and show off its many sides, and while folks with chauffeurs may have never taken a ride, most everyone else did.

“Generally speaking, everybody’s going to be on that same car at some point, going around town. It was such an important part of his life in Tampa,” KitePowell adds.

That first iteration was pulled by a steam-powered train operated by the Tampa Street Railway Company. The advent of the electric streetcar in 1887 set in motion a rapid expansion of public transit.

When multiple companies started operating trolleys locally, a rate war soon pushed the price of a ride down to as low as two cents, driving Tampa Street Railway and Power Company into bankruptcy. The company was purchased by Consumer Electric, which nearly went belly up itself, before its founder Peter O. Knight

reorganized as Tampa Electric Company (TECO). By 1913, almost 30 years after the first trolley hit the streets of Tampa, TECO was the city’s lone provider of electricity and public transportation.

At the height of its existence, there were more than 50 miles of track that connected West Tampa, Ybor City, the port, plus neighborhoods like Seminole and Tampa Heights, Hyde Park, Port Tampa, Palmetto Beach and even Ballast Point where there was an amusement park and pavilion. Fares topped out at a nickel, and Kite-Powell said children even took the trolley to school and paid just half the fare. One train schedule archived at the history center shows the first car on the Tampa Heights line leaving before 6 a.m. and the last one running at half-past midnight. During rush hour, the cars came by every 9-10 minutes (today it runs every 12 minutes during peak hours).

Manny Leto, a lifelong Tampeño and Ybor City historian, tells Current both of his grandmothers used the streetcar throughout their lives. One rode it from West Tampa to the neighborhood of Gary, just outside Ybor, to work in a Del Monte canning plant. But it wasn’t just for work.

“My other grandmother has told me a story about riding the streetcar to the Tampa Theater, apparently with a girlfriend, to go meet some boys on a date,” he says. So you see this level of independence that the streetcar provides, especially for young women from what was primarily immigrant communities riding into downtown, or riding into other parts of the city using the streetcar.”

Census data from 1920 and 1930 says Tampa’s population ballooned from 51,608-101,161 in that decade, which undoubtedly boosted ridership. At the height of its popularity in 1926, the

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TECO Line streetcar line carried nearly 24 million passengers. To put that in perspective: today’s streetcar carried just over 1 million passengers last year, despite the city’s population being 387,050 in 2021.

But no story is spotless, and there were ugly times in the streetcar’s history.

Segregation was a part of life on the trolley, and as Kite-Powell points out, at the end of each line, when the front of the trolley became the back, both white and Black passengers had to change seats. By the 1940s, the advancement of the automobile industry had shifted the conversation about public transit, with taxis and buses taking an outsize role, and that competition led to neglect of the trolley system. Politics, power, and labor struggles didn’t help.

The end of the line for Tampa’s streetcars arrived at 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 8, 1946 when, as University of South Florida researcher Meeghan Kane wrote, “the last of the 168 streetcars that had traveled 9,000 miles a day over 53 miles of track came to a halt.” The final car was retired at the old trolley barn that is now Tampa’s Armature Works. The streetcars were mostly stripped, gutted and shipped in parts to other sections of the globe.

It took another 38 years before Tampeños started talking about streetcars again thanks to the Tampa & Ybor Street Railway Society founded in 1984 (former mayor Dick Greco, immortalized at trolley stop No. 10, was a big backer). The group lobbied hard for the trolley’s return, and, not without controversy, won when roughly $32 million was dedicated to bringing trolley tracks back.

Trolley bells returned to Tampa, tolling again in 2002. A second phase wrapped eight years later, which is what riders experience in the trolley line that passes through Water Street Tampa today. And the streetcar might’ve been growing as fast as the neighborhood around it had it not hit another speed bump.

In 2018, Hillsborough County voters elected to increase their own taxes to collect money for transportation. In two years, the “All For Transportation” penny-tax collected $472 million and was projected to round up about $276 million annually for the life of the 30-year measure. The state announced plans to send tens of millions to streetcar expansion and modernization. But it was all harpooned by a lawsuit from Hillsborough

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County Commissioner Stacy White, which ended with the Florida Supreme Court striking the charter amendment in its entirety. A retry from transportation advocates narrowly failed at the ballot box last year.

Still, the streetcar rolls on.

Today, TECO operates “The Birney,” a fully-restored original Tampa streetcar that survived the line’s death knell in 1946 and wears No. 136. There’s one, classic open-air breezer that you need a lot of luck and great weather to catch (TECO ran 50 breezers back in 1914), plus close to a dozen replica streetcars designed after the original Birney Safety streetcars that dominated local lines for 20 years last century (the numbers on the replicas start at 428 since the final car on this system was No. 427). And with the recent $700,000 Florida Department of Transportation grant to keep the trolley fare-free, residents and visitors can still experience a slice of Tampa’s transportation glory days—and hang on to some hope for the future.

From a civic standpoint, Kite-Powell still sees potential for the streetcar to expand and reach back all the way into Tampa Heights, in a nod to its glory days. And while some have labeled the trolley as “heritage tourism” that just carries tourists (local and otherwise), the fact is that workers are part of that ridership.

The TECO streetcar is still a great connector, and as Water Street Tampa rises around it, its bells and whistles still have many stories to tell.

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Happy Holidays from Water Street Tampa

Don’t miss these exhibits and events!

The holiday season is upon us, and what better place to revel in the festive spirit than the vibrant heart Water Street Tampa. This extraordinary destination is not just a hub of urban living; it’s a winter wonderland that transforms into a holiday haven during this magical time of year. From dazzling light displays to joyful gatherings, here’s a taste of all the holiday fun and exhibits you can experience at Water Street Tampa.

ILLUMINATING NIGHTS

The holiday season kicks off at Water Street Tampa with the grand illumination of the district. Spectacular light displays adorn the streets, creating a captivating winter wonderland. Take a leisurely stroll and immerse yourself in the enchanting ambiance as thousands of twinkling lights transform the cityscape into a dazzling

spectacle. Over the holidays, 300,000 lights will glow in the neighborhood.

CRYSTALLINE TEDDY BEAR

This custom made faceted bear stands 8 feet tall, weighs 600 pounds, and is a perfect selfie spot for you, your family, and friends. Fabricated at the MK illumination Turkey factory for Water Street Tampa, this unique piece takes a little over three weeks to construct. Built in benches can comfortably fit four— this piece is made to capture the moment.

LOTUS

Another custom piece in a faceted design, this vibrant pop of color is the first of its kind to be fabricated. Each lotus features 300 light bulbs which glow within to radiate light off the mirrored surfaces.

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ORGANIC ARCH

A 15 foot tall structure, this was designed and created with the help of the SPP to showcase the Water Street Footbridge. In it, 28 Organic Orbs come together to bring the color on this fun prop.

TREES?

You want trees? We got trees. How about one that’s 35 feet and another that’s 24? The former is beautiful and warm, and features mixed greenery and over 300 real pine cones to bring a lush winter to Tampa. It also features a custom tree topper—over six feet high and 20 pounds— designed to withstand Tampa’s hurricane season. See also: 800 light bulbs!

The 24-foot tree is also nothing to sneeze at. Built to sparkle, this special gem has warm white and twinkle lights to highlight the modern residences of the Heron. It also has a custom, hurricaneresistant tree topper, and is filled with even more lights—14,000 bulbs to be exact.

STARGATE

Leading our star walk this piece stands at 15 feet tall, perfect for a photo-op. This aluminum and steel structure allows this piece to stand strong and

frame any moment. From conception to installation, the process to bring this to life took 16-months. (Installation alone took six weeks and 3,000 man hours.) You’ll really want to give Stargate a look.

THE HOLIDAY PROMENADE

Head down to Water Street Tampa for a very merry market where you can discover unique gifts and delight in festive entertainment. During this seasonal market on Water Street, you can shop local vendors and enjoy seasonal activities and performances all under the picture-perfect backdrop of the neighborhood’s holiday décor. Festivities are December 7, from 5 to 9PM.

A CHANUKAH CELEBRATION

The neighborhood and its community invite all to celebrate the Chanukah holiday with a special Menorah lighting.The event includes live entertainment, food, and activities for all ages, is free and open to the public.Parking is available in the East Cumberland parking garage located at 1045 E Cumberland Avenue. The event takes place December 14 from 5 to 8PM in Raybon Plaza.

120 HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM WATER STREET TAMPA

Water Street Tampa: First WELL Certified Community in North America

There are lots of great workout options in Tampa’s newest and most vibrant neighborhood.
PHOTOS

Water Street Tampa, the transformative new lifestyle destination in Downtown Tampa, has achieved the WELL Community Certification at the Gold level, becoming the first neighborhood in North America to receive the prestigious distinction. Awarded by International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the certification celebrates Water Street Tampa’s successful, strategic integration of design and policy decisions that promote health and well-being across all aspects of the neighborhood. Leading to this certification, Water Street Tampa was the first neighborhood in the world to pilot the WELL Community Standard in 2017.

“From the very beginning, we conceived of Water Street Tampa as a place that would honor and promote the well-being of all our residents and visitors in unique and thoughtful ways,” said Josh Taube, Chief Executive Officer for Strategic

Property Partners (SPP), the Tampa-based real estate and development firm responsible for the project.

As the internationally renowned authority on health and well-being in the built environment, IWBI created the WELL Community Standard to recognize neighborhoods that promote health and well-being across all aspects of community life. The rigorous scientific and evidence-based approach evaluates neighborhoods — like Water Street Tampa – that implement design and policy strategies meant to improve the lives of their residents and visitors through the concepts of air, water, nourishment, light, movement, thermal comfort, sound, materials, mind and community. Like the WELL Building Standard, which focuses on health leadership in buildings, the WELL Community Standard sets a new bar for neighborhood development by assessing the design of public spaces and all other aspects of a

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community, including many factors of the physical environment that can have a significant impact on day-to-day health, happiness and productivity.

“We are so excited to congratulate Water Street Tampa for its trailblazing leadership in community health as the first neighborhood in the country and across North America to earn WELL Community Certification,” said Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO, IWBI. “By deploying WELL’s comprehensive and interdisciplinary roadmap to support human health and well-being at the community level, Water Street Tampa has secured its place as a true pioneer, serving as an inspiration for other neighborhood projects around the world.”

Water Street Tampa achieved WELL Community Certification for implementing health-conscious and community-focused elements throughout the entire neighborhood, including improving walkability with double-wide sidewalks and engaging street-level experiences, measuring neighborhood air quality, fostering high levels of community engagement through a comprehensive public art program and regular free public events, increasing access to drinking water through strategically placed water stations, increasing access to healthy foods with a neighborhood grocery story and regular farmers markets, encouraging movement via new bike lanes and free community

fitness classes, increasing digital connectivity through free public Wi-Fi, incorporating native landscaping, reducing light and noise pollution, and much more.

As the highest standard for wellness at a community level, the WELL Community Standard helps support higher tenant satisfaction, increased productivity and improved physical and mental health, according to IWBI. Maintaining the designation requires additional reevaluation to confirm Water Street Tampa’s design and programming will remain consistent with the certification’s stringent requirements.

“The WELL Community Certification illustrates our ongoing commitment to creating spaces where people want to spend their time,” said SPP’s Taube. “We’re proud to set a new national precedent for urban design and community-wide wellness efforts at a time when the design of our environment plays a critical role in our daily lives and is a key factor in people’s decisions for where to live and work.”

For more information on Water Street Tampa, visit waterstreettampa.com

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Farewell

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