Tampa-based Nickelytics, a mobile advertising technology startup, has hired Eduardo Iniguez as its new CEO. Iniquez replaces St. Petersburg resident Judah Longgrear, who became head of North American operations for Kiwibot when the autonomous robotic solutions provider acquired Nickelytics for $25 million in September 2024. Iniguez previously led Getaround, a peer-to-peer connected car-sharing platform.
Tampa-based Third Lake Partners has closed on prime real estate in downtown St. Petersburg just east of Tropicana Field’s parking lots. The developers will integrate the site, formerly home to a city-owned parking lot, with adjacent parcels to build a mixed-use development. According to Pinellas County property records, the sale closed for $10 million Jan. 13. City council members approved the deal in September 2024.
The City of St. Petersburg has opened applications for Youth Opportunity Grants through its Career and College Readiness Program, an initiative supporting at-risk and disengaged youth. Applications for the $20,000 grants are due Feb. 10, and the city will award four nonprofits. For more information, visit the website here.
The national inflation rate significantly cooled to 2.9% in December 2024 following post-pandemic record highs. However, the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater metro area still ranks among WalletHub’s “Cities with the Biggest Inflation Problems.” The personal finance platform ranked Tampa Bay 18th among the 100 largest metros despite its 1.6% year-over-year rate besting several other cities as prices remained flat rather than decreasing over the past three months.
The FBI announced Wednesday that it found no evidence the man behind the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans had “criminal intent” during a late-October visit to the “Tampa area.” Local field office agents interviewed people who encountered Shamsud-Din Jabbar and reviewed purchases made in Tampa. Local officials have tightened security for upcoming large-scale, outdoor events like Gasparilla Pirate Fest, St. Petersburg’s MLK Dream Big Parade and the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
Squeeze Juice Works owner Kelly Lessem announced Wednesday on social media that the shop at 675 30th Ave. N. in St. Petersburg would close Jan. 20. She plans to open a new wellness clinic at the same location. Squeeze’s Tampa storefront closed in 2019, and another St. Pete shop, in the Grand Central District, shuttered in 2024. Lessem operated a plant-based café in St. Pete’s Round Lake neighborhood that sold Squeeze products in 2022.
Prominent local Chef Chris Ponte has announced that OLIVIA, a modern Italian restaurant with a flagship location in Tampa, will open Jan. 21 in downtown St. Petersburg. Those hoping to secure an early reservation at the much-anticipated restaurant can now register through its website. OLIVIA will accommodate about 180 diners on the ground floor of the recently completed, 36-story Ascent apartment and hotel tower at 225 1st Ave. N.
Carole and Howard Baskin, who rose to fame in 2020 with Netflix’s Tiger King docuseries, have sold most of their Big Cat Rescue property to a local development firm. Clearwater-based Boos Development paid $19.5 million for 56 acres between the Tampa suburbs of Citrus Park and Westchase and plans to build 280 townhomes. Howard Baskin explained their motives for the sale in an April 2023 interview.
Pinellas County officials announced Tuesday that they have completed all storm debris collections in unincorporated areas. The county finished in time to meet state and federal reimbursement guidelines, as did the City of St. Petersburg. Contractors have hauled most of the refuse from local management sites to collection locations outside the area.
The City of St. Petersburg announced Tuesday that it will launch a new Healthy Homes initiative with a kickoff meeting Thursday, Jan. 23, from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at Pinellas Technical College. The program, a collaboration between the city and Pinellas County Health Department, is a community-led effort to promote awareness and education regarding household lead hazards. For more information about the initiative and launch meeting, visit the website here.
Embarc Collective announced a new partnership Tuesday with the Bank of America Foundation to bolster Tampa Bay’s tech community and foster additional economic opportunities. The tech-focused startup hub and banking behemoth will expand technical programming for members, including workshops on emerging topics like artificial intelligence and spatial computing. Embarc will also provide scholarships to increase access to collaboration spaces and cover costs for selected meetup groups.
Woody's Waterfront, the St. Pete Beach seafood restaurant that's been at the same location (overlooking Blind Pass at 7308 Sunset Way) for 35 years, is closing. The restaurant was decimated by Hurricane Helene in September, and after months of speculation about its future, the owners announced on Facebook Tuesday that the business is for sale. "We have spent many hours reviewing options and have decided it is time for someone else to build their vision," the post read. "We are greatful (sic) for each one of you and glad we were able to be a part of you and your family memories."
