Tampa, FL – The property formerly known as Channelside Bay Plaza officially opens this Friday, November 30^th as Sparkman Wharf.

“We are thrilled to announce the grand opening date of Sparkman Wharf and celebrate the first of many milestones for the Water Street Tampa neighborhood,” said James Nozar, CEO of developer Strategic Property Partners, LLC.  “We anticipate that Sparkman Wharf will become a focal point and gathering place not only for visitors and the neighborhood, but the city and region at large,” SPP CEO Nozar recently announced. “Sparkman Wharf celebrates Tampa Bay — the culinary talent, the craft beer scene, the weather, and the waterfront, and we could not be more excited to share Sparkman Wharf with the larger community.”

“The park’s grand opening weekend was determined to account for logistics considerations, such as ongoing construction, tenant requirements, the Thanksgiving holiday, and programming availability and most importantly, the ability to deliver guests an excellent experience,” SPP said in a news release.

In late July of this year, Tampa-based real estate development company Strategic Property Partners unveiled plans to transform the Channelside space into a creative mixed-use redevelopment near Water Street Tampa called Sparkman Wharf. November 30th kicks off the grand opening weekend with events planned on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The stage is set for November 30th as the outdoor dining space at Sparkman Wharf, where developers have assembled a stellar lineup of Tampa chefs for what will be an open-air food hall on the waterfront. “We’ve become a foodie city and a craft beer city, and getting that many great chefs in one location, I think, is going to be an absolute hit. I think that place will be packed similar to what the Tampa Armature Works has done on the north end.” Mayor Bob Buckhorn said in a statement last month.

“Friday is the start of an exciting era at Sparkman Wharf and the Water Street Tampa project. Everyone is united by the long-term vision to become a top hospitality destination in Tampa,” Westshore Entertainment Group’s Chief Marketing Officer Jason Langella said in a statement. “Each restaurateur, the team at Strategic Property Partners, and Cascade Investment have done an amazing job on this project.”

Strategic Property Partners, the developer of Sparkman Wharf and Water Street Tampa, recently announced that the first phase of Sparkman Wharf will open Friday, November 30^th with “live music, fitness events, and exciting pop-ups.”

All ten of Sparkman Wharf’s food and beverage venues will be open for business, along with Fermented Reality, an outdoor beer garden with more than 30 taps featuring craft beers from throughout Florida.

Here are the chefs featured in the dining garden:

Edison’s Swigamajig Divebar and Fishkitchen, by Jeannie Pierola

The Corners Pizza, a Detroit-style pizza concept from restaurateur Noel Cruz and chef Anthony Messina

Flock and Stock, featuring American roadside classics like burgers, fries and chicken tenders by restaurateur Dave Burton

BT-in-a-Box by BT Nguyen, serving portable versions of Nguyen’s French-Vietnamese fusion

Montados by Mise en Place’s Maryann Ferenc and Chef Marty Blit featuring Spanish tapas and wine

Boat Run Oyster Co., a tide-to-table oyster and seafood concept

Gallito, a Mexican street food concept by the partners behind Rooster & the Till and Nebraska Mini Mart

Whatever Pops, a gourmet popsicle stand

Foundation Coffee Co., a local coffee shop

The grand opening weekend at Sparkman Wharf will be filled with music, events, fun, and an athletic competition, Camp Games, hosted by Camp Tampa, a South Tampa fitness studio that’s part of Ciccio Restaurant Group starts Saturday, December 1st.

Click the link on the name of the event for more information (if available)

The $3 billion Water Street Tampa project spans 16 blocks across 50 acres and will feature residences, commercial space, retail space, restaurants, a print shop, a college of medicine and heart institute, hotels including Tampa’s first five-star hotel, Tampa Edition, and public spaces.

The wharf also includes 180,000 square feet of loft-style office with space and 65,000 square feet of retail, surrounding both the recreational lawn and lining Channelside Drive.

Sparkman Wharf opens Friday, November 30^th at 11 am.

Sparkman Wharf

615 Channelside Drive

Tampa, FL 33602

https://sparkmanwharf.com/