05.14.2024

Today’s Forecast

👷 Cement mixers at the ready

Say hello to The Beachmaker — Madeira Beach’s next luxury hotel

A rendering of The Beachmaker Hotel. The building is a mix of white, brown, and grey, with balconies and deck chairs lining the upper floors. A row of palm trees sits in front, and the ocean is visible in the background.

Say hello to The Beachmaker. | Rendering via DeVries Global

Dolphin tours, John’s Pass, and a whole lot of grouper. Those are just a few of the things Madeira Beach is renowned for. But there’s more on the way.

The Beachmaker Hotel is being built in the area soon, and will be part of Marriott Hotels’ luxury Autograph Collection, a flag reserved for independently owned, upscale hotels. With 161 units, the hotel/condo complex is planned for 14500 Madeira Way, and is part of a ~$200 million investment into the area’s development efforts.

We spoke with Jeff Beggins, a Century 21 Real Estate agent who’s part of the ownership group behind the venture. He told us construction will start on The Beachmaker when ~50% of units are sold. Beggins also said buyers have come in from Tampa, Lakeland, and South Florida, as well as from Canada, Ireland, and Germany.

Facts + figures

Units start at $700,000, with penthouses priced from $3 million.
Beggins is still on the hunt for restaurants, bars, and other retail businesses for the mixed-use ground floor space, including plans for an upscale steakhouse option. The space will span ~30,000 sqft.
The Beachmaker will also have a wedding + event venue, boast two pools, and offer views of the Gulf of Mexico.
A skybridge will also cross over Gulf Boulevard, so guests can make the journey to the sand safely.

Renderings of The Beachmaker Hotel. — Crews are expected to break ground by the end of 2024.
|
Renderings via DeVries Global

How does it work?

Buyers will have access their property for up to 90 days per year, which can be booked via an online portal. The rest of the year, units will be rented out to vacationers, with owners getting 55% of the revenue from those stays.

With private closets for belongings, owners can leave creature comforts there without the hassle of packing for each visit. So even if you’re not planning to buy a unit, The Beachmaker will be an option for weekend getaways by the beach for us all.

Asked

Trivia: How many people live in Madeira Beach?

A. 1,000
B. 4,000
C. 9,000
D. 21,000

Take a guess

Events

Tuesday, May 14

Tampa Tarpons vs. Bradenton Marauders | Tuesday, May 14-Sunday, May 19 | Times vary | George M. Steinbrenner Field, 1 Steinbrenner Dr., Tampa | $2+ | Baseball season is in full flow — catch a minor league game in the Cigar City, featuring daily specials.
“The Paris Daughter” | Tuesday, May 14 | 7-8 p.m. | Tombolo Books, 2153 1st Ave. S., St. Petersburg | $7 | Join author Kristin Harmel to discuss her latest historical novel.

Wednesday, May 15

The Future of USF Athletics | Wednesday, May 15 | 12-1 p.m. | 12700 USF Sycamore Dr., Tampa | $15 | Hear Michael Kelly, USF vice president and athletic director, speak on what’s coming next for the Bulls.
En Vogue | Wednesday, May 15 | 8 p.m. | Seminole Hard Rock, 5223 Orient Rd., Tampa | $53+ | Soak in tunes at the casino from this trio of stellar vocalists.

Thursday, May 16

“Star Wars” Trivia Night | Thursday, May 16 | 7-9 p.m. | Top Shelf Sports Lounge, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel | Free entry | Show off your knowledge of the sci-fi franchise with questions about the original trilogy.
“Swinging Down Broadway” | Thursday, May 16 | 7:30 p.m. | Palladium Theater, 253 5th Ave. N., St. Petersburg | $35 | Enjoy jazzy reimaginations of Broadway classics.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Eat

🍽️ How to meet your new favorite Tampa restaurant

Chips and guac, some cocktails, and mozzarella sticks on a patio table beside a couch.

We are so ready to dig in. | Photo by Offline Tampa Bay

You know that Tampa Bay restaurant you’ve been meaning to try, but haven’t gotten around to yet? We have the cure: Offline, our city’s restaurant subscription club.

Every month, you’ll pick two locally-owned restaurants you want to try. Offline will give you $10-$30 off the tab at each place, good ‘til the end of the month.

Offline has helped pick up part of the tab for thousands of Tampa Bay locals at Jimmy’s Tacos, Flor Fina, and Willa’s, to name a few.

Ready for your local culinary tour? Try your first month free with code TBTODAY.

Get dining with code TBTODAY

News Notes

Number

$84.1 million. That’s how much Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. could earn from his new contract extension. The four-year deal guarantees Winfield $45 million, and makes him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. (NFL Network)

Opening

Kahwa Coffee is opening a new location next week. The grand opening is set for Tuesday, May 21 at 6601 4th St. N. in St. Pete, where free drinks are on offer throughout the day. Mayor Ken Welch will cut the ribbon around 3 p.m.

Development

The University of South Florida is interested in turning the Old Tampa Free Public Library into an art museum. USF has approached the city about the plan to convert the historic Tampa Heights building into the College of Arts Contemporary Art Museum and Graphic Studio. (Tampa Bay Business Journal)

Concert

You don’t have to wait until 3005. Childish Gambino — also known as Donald Glover — is coming to Tampa on his “The New World Tour.” Glover will play Amalie Arena on Wednesday, Sept. 4. General ticket sales start this Friday, May 17.

Real Estate

A funky home in Lutz with a geodesic dome roof is on the market for $625,000. Simply put, the roof is shaped kind of like a tortoise’s shell. The house was built in 1986, and boasts ~2,200 sqft, four bedrooms, and a pool. (Creative Loafing Tampa Bay)

Travel

Time to work on your short game. Breeze Airways is launching flights to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from Tampa International Airport. The popular vacation spot is renowned for its golf courses — with 90+ to tee up on. (That’s So Tampa)

Coming Soon

And here’s a way to practice. Monster Mini Golf is opening a location in Dunedin soon, possibly as early as September. The immersive glow-in-the-dark experience already has 30+ locations across North America, featuring animatronic monsters and fun for the whole family. (That’s So Tampa)

Ranked

No. 4. That’s where Tampa ranks on WalletHub’s list of best places to start a career. The list was compiled using metrics like cost of living, entry-level job opportunities, and salaries.

Sports

How did the Rays fare against the Yankees? Get game coverage, analysis, insights, interviews and more from local experts of the Tampa Bay Rays with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Edu

Want to get in on the jobs that make our techy lives possible? Check out SEU Tech’s new certificate + degree program, combining Bachelor’s or Master’s business degrees with concentration-focused certificates in some of the nation’s highest-demand tech jobs. Psst: You can also get a certificate without the degree.*

Culture

📸 Let’s get snappy

Submit your favorite photo of the Tampa Bay area

A photo of the sun setting at a beach in St. Petersburg, FL. The sand has some brown seagrass on it, and the sun sets above the ocean in the distance. Tall, thin palm trees also line the beach and the sky is blue + orange.

It’s time for some fun in the sun. | Photo via City of St. Petersburg

National Photography Month takes place every May, and we wanted to take part. Actually, we want you to take part.

The Tampa Bay area is full of natural beauty, city skylines, wildlife, architectural marvels, and so much more photo-worthy goodness.

As we’ve seen before, our readers have quite the eye for a snap. We’re asking to see more of the best photos you’ve taken of our home, and we’ll share our faves in a future newsletter + on Instagram.

Send them in.

Or you can submit them here

The Buy

The Buy 5.14.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

Clinique’s Take The Day Off cleansing balm makeup remover. This balm’s silky, buttery formula dissolves long-wearing makeup and sunscreens — and it’s one of the brand’s best sellers.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Patrick

From the editor

We went to the grand opening of Tampa’s new Greenlane location last week, a fast-food option with healthy bites, salads, and wraps. Former Bucs star Rob Gronkowski is an investor in the business, and was working the drive-thru at the event.

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