ESPN announced Thursday that the 2025 Shriner’s Children’s Clearwater Invitational, held at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex, set new viewership records. The college softball tournament’s viewership increased 97% year-over-year, and over 430,000 people tuned in to the University of Alabama versus Oklahoma State University matchup. The announcement came a day after Pinellas County tourism officials approved allocating $7.75 million to expand the complex.
Pinellas Community Foundation has joined the Catalyst Impact Council. Headed by CEO Duggan Cooley, PCF provides philanthropic knowledge, community leadership and investment expertise to address the needs of the people and nonprofit organizations of Pinellas County. PCF brings to the Council boots-on-the-ground funding insight, capacity building expertise and a true spirit for innovation in nonprofit work.
St. Pete Running Co. has announced plans to open a new retail store and coffee bar at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street North and 27th Avenue. The popular local business currently operates a storefront at 6986 22nd Ave. N. The owners have not announced an opening date.
Restaurant conglomerate Bloomin’ Brands will immediately eliminate 100 corporate jobs in Tampa, according to a disclosure notice filed Thursday with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Company officials expect to pay $7.5 million in severance packages and save approximately $22 million annually. Tampa-based Bloomin’ Brands oversees Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill.
The founders of St. Petersburg-based Power Design have reached an out-of-court settlement with former CEO Frank Musolino. Mitch and Dana Permuy and Musolino, who led the company from 2020 until 2023, filed a joint agreement to dismiss the case in Hillsborough County in late January. Musolino will now receive a multimillion-dollar payor for his 5% ownership stake in Power Design.
WalletHub recently compared over 180 cities across 12 metrics, including average credit scores and debt-to-income ratios, to determine the nation’s “best budgeters.” St. Petersburg ranked 86th overall and 33rd in the personal finance platform’s savings category. However, the city placed No. 106 for spending and debt and No. 134 for its average credit score. Tampa ranked 97th on the list.
The popular VIP Mexican restaurant on Treasure Island serves patrons again after Hurricane Helene decimated the establishment at 10625 Gulf Blvd. While the kitchen remains out of order, neighboring Sea Dog Brewing lent the restaurant its food truck. Owner Nick Rapisardi told WFTS, “It’s been tough to get excited about anything until about now, but we are hitting the tail end.”
Clearwater officials have reopened McKay Park after completing a major renovation project that added six pickleball courts, a new playground, outdoor exercise equipment, a resurfaced bocce ball court, new shade structures, stormwater improvements and improved landscaping. The park at 605 Mandalay Ave. in Clearwater Beach has welcomed residents and visitors for over 40 years. The Frenchy’s Foundation donated $150,000 to the project, and city officials will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 21 at 10 a.m.
Pinellas County officials reopened Fort De Soto Park’s popular North Beach to the public Monday after over four months of storm repairs and cleanup. Hurricanes Helene and Milton flooded facilities, damaged boat ramps and fishing piers and downed hundreds of trees at the park. The fort opened in 1898 and the park, the largest in Pinellas County, attracts more than 2.7 million visitors annually.
Downtown St. Petersburg sports bar The Avenue will close after 13 years at 330 1st Ave. S. A social media post Tuesday announced its closure and a “last call” event to “send it off right” Saturday. The Avenue’s ownership group, Hunger Thirst, also operates Lost & Found, Concrete Jungle, Park & Rec and Dirty Laundry in St. Pete.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority announced Tuesday that the Sunrunner bus-rapid-transit service will be free Saturday for Localtopia. The small business-focused festival expects over 40,000 people to attend the free event at Williams Park from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. In 2024, the Sunrunner carried 3,741 riders to and from Localtopia.
Shipwreck hunter David Mearns, who earned a Masters’ degree in Marine Geology from the University of South Florida College of Matine Science in 1986, was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Prince of Wales last week, in a ceremony at Windsor Castle. Now based in Great Britain, Mearns’ discoveries include the wreck of HMS Hood, sunk by the German battleship Bismarck in World War II, and Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s final ship The Quest. The OBE is the second highest ranking Order of the British Empire, after Commander (CBE).
