Pennsylvania-based Wawa, a convenience store chain known for its loyal following and food options, opened its first standalone drive-through location in Florida Thursday morning at 2530 East Bay Drive in Largo. The drive-through will offer a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, a new line of specialty drinks and bakery items. The Largo location is Wawa’s third standalone drive-through store nationwide.
Redfin recently found that the nation’s three fastest-cooling housing markets are on Florida’s Gulf Coast, with Tampa Bay placing second to the North Port-Venice metro area. The real estate platform’s researchers measured changes from April 2023 through April 2024 and discovered Tampa Bay home prices fell 43%. While 39% of area homes sell within two weeks, that represents an 11.8% decrease. In addition, price discounts increased 8% year-over-year.
Tampa-based Nickelytics, an advertising technology startup, has acquired Signs Printing Solutions, an independent print shop headquartered in Miami. Nickelytics executives believe integrating the company into operations will streamline production processes, improve quality control, reduce costs and diversify revenue streams. The acquisition will also allow Nickelytics to offer additional in-house printing and advertising services.
The mayoral administration has canceled the City Hall on Tour event initially scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the St. Petersburg College Gibbs Campus. The event would have followed an all-day city workshop regarding plans to redevelop Tropicana Field and build a new Tampa Bay Rays stadium. The next City Hall on Tour stop is Sept. 18 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the USF St. Petersburg Student Center.
Citing the weather forecast, American Stage has canceled the Thursday and Sunday evening performances of Hedwig and the Angry Inch on the outdoor stage at Jannus Live. The rock musical will go on as scheduled Friday and Saturday nights.
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is again participating in St. Petersburg’s Summer Break Spot initiative to help provide families with nutritious meals during the summer break. Children under 18 can visit the facility’s cafeteria between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and receive a free lunch until Aug. 6. The program is open to the public, and the hospital’s food service team provides the meals.
Madeira Beach-based Hubbard’s Marina has topped USA Today’s annual rankings of the nation’s 10 best fishing charters for the third consecutive year. The family-owned company has been a Pinellas County staple since 1928. USA Today also ranked Hubbard’s Marina as the nation’s third-best boat tour operator.
Southern Living magazine has recognized three Tampa Bay restaurants, including one in St. Petersburg, as among Florida's most legendary dining spots. The highest-rated Tampa Bay restaurant on the list was Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish in South Pasadena at the No. 5 spot. The Columbia in Ybor City came in at No. 6., and Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa ranked No. 10.
Entrepreneurs participating in Tampa Bay Wave’s 2024 TechDiversity Accelerator program will pitch their startups Thursday at Tropicana Field. This year’s cohort features 15 burgeoning companies selected from several hundred applicants. The pitch event is at 2 p.m., followed by a cocktail hour and Tampa Bay Rays game. For more information, visit the website here.
The University of Tampa’s men’s baseball team claimed the 2024 NCAA Division II National Championship with an 8-3 victory Saturday over North Carolina’s Angelo State University. Their ninth national title ties the Spartans with Florida Southern University for the most in Division II history. The championship is UT's sixth since 2000, an NCAA record.
The first of two annual, statewide Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holidays runs through June 14, which means many disaster preparation items can be purchased tax-free. This year, several pet items are also included in the sales tax holiday. For more information, click here.
The Chelsea St. Pete, a coffee shop in St. Pete's Warehouse Arts District, is closing this week. An announcement on Instagram said June 16 will be the coffee shop's final day of service.
