Author: TBO Digital Staff

DealMate Real Estate, LLC has been recognized as the Best Cash Home Buyer Service in Tampa Bay by the Tampa Bay Observer, marking a significant achievement for the consumer-first cash home offer marketplace that has transformed how homeowners sell their properties in the region. The award acknowledges DealMate’s innovative approach to home selling, which allows property owners to receive and compare multiple verified cash offers through a transparent, pressure-free platform. Unlike traditional real estate transactions that often involve lengthy listing processes and high commissions, DealMate connects sellers directly with vetted real estate investors and cash buyers, delivering competing offers via…

Guitar enthusiasts, musicians, and collectors from across the nation are preparing for what promises to be the most significant guitar event in Florida this year. The Sarasota Guitar and Amp Show will take place on June 7th and 8th at Robarts Arena in Sarasota, Florida, offering attendees a comprehensive experience dedicated to all things guitar. The two-day event will feature an impressive array of new and vintage guitars and amps, bringing together nationwide dealers, skilled luthiers, and representatives from guitar amplifier brands. Visitors will have the opportunity to buy, sell, or trade guitars, amps and gear in a venue designed…

A legal notice posted on the door of Tampa’s recently closed TGI Fridays restaurant reveals that the establishment allegedly owed nearly $50,000 in unpaid rent before shuttering. The notice, dated April 7, 2025, was delivered to Central Florida Restaurants, Inc., which operated the TGI Fridays location at 11705 West Hillsborough Avenue. The document, a “Three Day Notice to Pay or Quit,” claims the tenant was indebted to the landlord for $48,296.44 through April 7, 2025. The legal notice was issued by the law firm Burr Forman LLP, representing the property owners. According to the document taped to the restaurant’s glass…

St. Petersburg officials announced yesterday a major acceleration of planned infrastructure upgrades across the city, responding to unprecedented population growth and concerns about climate resilience in the coastal Florida community. The ambitious initiative, which increases the pace of several previously scheduled projects, will focus on stormwater management, transportation improvements, and utility modernization with a significant portion directed at flood-prone neighborhoods. “This represents a proactive approach to building resilience for our future,” said Mayor Ken Welch at yesterday’s press conference. “By accelerating these critical improvements now, we’re addressing immediate needs while preparing for continued growth.” The decision follows recommendations from the…

The wait is finally over for Tampa coffee enthusiasts as Dutch Bros Coffee has opened its doors at 3616 West Ballast Point Boulevard in South Tampa. The Oregon-based drive-thru coffee chain, known for its upbeat “broistas” and diverse drink menu, welcomed its first customers on Saturday, May 10, offering $3 medium drinks to celebrate the grand opening. Long lines of vehicles wrapped around the building as Tampa residents eagerly awaited their first taste of the West Coast sensation. The 950-square-foot drive-thru-only location replaces what was formerly Ballast Point Car Wash, transforming the corner into the company’s first Tampa outpost. “We’re…

A 1,000-pound manatee named Shantay drowned in January at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park when staff left her unattended during a routine pool draining procedure, according to a federal inspection report. The U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection report, dated March 5, details how park employees began draining the pool to provide care for the manatee but failed to maintain constant supervision. The water level dropped faster than expected while no one was watching, and Shantay became trapped. “Had been found dead in the pool with her head stuck within a gap under the adjustable floor,” noted federal wildlife…

Downtown St. Petersburg’s office market is undergoing a fundamental transformation as developers incorporate premium workspace into luxury condominium towers, moving away from traditional standalone office buildings. As the city’s skyline reaches unprecedented heights, developers are betting on mixed-use projects that blend residential, commercial, and retail spaces into vertical communities where the line between home and workplace blurs. The Residences at 400 Central, currently under construction, exemplifies this shift. Upon completion in 2025, the 46-story tower will house 301 luxury condominiums, 40,000 square feet of Class A office space, and 60,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. Standing at 515 feet, it…

TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Rays carved their name into franchise history Thursday, though not in the way anyone at George M. Steinbrenner Field had hoped. Playing in their temporary home while Tropicana Field undergoes repairs from Hurricane Milton damage, the Rays suffered a stunning 7-6 defeat to the Philadelphia Phillies that marked an unprecedented collapse in the team’s 28 seasons of play. Leading 6-3 entering the ninth inning and poised to avoid a series sweep, the Rays surrendered four runs in the final frame, marking the first time in franchise history they’ve lost when leading by three or more…

Madison Marilla never expected that a Netflix dating show would change her life, but when the 27-year-old Tampa resident joined “Love on the Spectrum,” she found herself on a path to romance through some of St. Petersburg’s most beloved attractions. The hit Netflix series, which follows people on the autism spectrum as they navigate the world of dating, released its third season in April, featuring Marilla among its new cast members. The show captured her dates at iconic Tampa Bay locations including the St. Pete Pier and Sunken Gardens. “I got butterflies and felt sparks upon meeting him,” Marilla told…

Condo associations that secured initial approvals for state-funded storm-hardening grants are now discovering they may no longer qualify under tougher new requirements. For the Pierpointe V Condo III in Pembroke Pines, the news has been devastating. The 24-unit complex was among 165 Florida condominiums initially approved for the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program, which launched last November. But a recent bill awaiting the governor’s signature has introduced stricter qualification criteria, including a requirement that eligible buildings be at least three stories tall. “It’s really unfortunate, and it’s a little bit disappointing,” said Dawn Munera, treasurer of Pierpointe V’s governing…