The Ikea store near Tampa's Ybor City remains a hot retailing spot for consumers. This 2010 photo of store manager Monica Varela captures her among Ikea's extensive lighting department. If you go, try the Swedish meatballs and, of course, the fresh cinnamon buns. Photo: Edmund D. Fountain, Tampa Bay Times.
Wake up and good morning. Every once in a while, Tampa Bay gets the opportunity to woo one of the "hot" retailers that so many of us consider a "gotta have" for this market. Tampa nailed a whopper when Ikea opened there in 2008. St. Petersburg was a winner with the opening of a Fresh Market upscale grocery store in 2010. And Tampa Bay still wants an Outdoor World/Bass Pro Shops store, despite some recent setbacks in negotiations for retail space.
What's next? Certainly high on the list of stores we want but lack is Trader ...