What establishment in Tampa would you like to see? (St. Petersburg: appointed, hotel)

[Irishiis49]

Krystal Burger is no White Castle...

[BucFan]

Taco Cabana (the real Mexican fast food joint- don't know what Taco Bell is, but it isn't Mexican food).

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by BucFan

Taco Cabana (the real Mexican fast food joint- don't know what Taco Bell is, but it isn't Mexican food).

Taco Bell is ca-ca.

[TampaKaren]

The whole area could benefit economically if there were a few 5-star hotels but the demographics just don't support it yet...sigh. The wealthy just don't have Tampa on their radar to live or even visit (except for a very small number).

[Kevin from Tampa]

Originally Posted by crazynip

I dont know how much it actually helps the local economy, other than the once every 8 years (average) we get the super bowl which is a huge jolt to the economy. Using the bucs as an example, we get 8 home games a year, not including pre-season. The rest of the year, they dont help us at all.

It's not the team itself, it's how it helps complete this area as a major metropolitan center for industry.

Let's put it like this...let's say a company is deciding that they want to expand their base of operations into the southeast. They are looking at putting in three regional offices in the southeast, each one housing 500 employees. They are trying to decide between Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Nashville, and Charlotte. The company will look at things like how educated the work force is, how affordable housing is for their employees, and also...quality of life. Is there a wide variety of things for our employees to do in the cities we pick? Are there arts? Attractions? Musums? Sports team? Well, we beat everyone but Atlanta in the sports team category.

Having a wide range of "stuff" in your city increases your odds of landing those kinds of things, and a MLB baseball team is a prize jewel in your crown. There are only 25 metro areas that can say they have a MLB team.

Now, we can debate whether being a big metro area is a good thing or not, but the fact of the matter is, the bay area is. It's not NYC by any means, but when there are nearly 3 million people in your metro, that's large. Given that, I'd like to think that we should be doing something to maintain that status and enhance it.

[Kevin from Tampa]

Originally Posted by TampaKaren

The whole area could benefit economically if there were a few 5-star hotels but the demographics just don't support it yet...sigh. The wealthy just don't have Tampa on their radar to live or even visit (except for a very small number).

This is one thing I'm surprised we don't have yet....a 5 star hotel is something we could stand to have.

I wouldn't mind a Dave & Buster's here also.

[corvidae]

I would like a better Indian restaurant (not buffet) and a good irish pub (there may be one but I haven't found it yet.)

[crazynip]

Originally Posted by corvidae

I would like a better Indian restaurant (not buffet) and a good irish pub (there may be one but I haven't found it yet.)

In terms of irish bars, there are several good ones. Try Four Green Fields off of Platt St in Tampa. It's about as authentic as it gets. Right down to the IRA propaganda in the bathroom.

[FloridaKash]

Originally Posted by crazynip

In terms of irish bars, there are several good ones. Try Four Green Fields off of Platt St in Tampa. It's about as authentic as it gets. Right down to the IRA propaganda in the bathroom.

Irish Pub - OBriens on Dale Mabry and Northdale. Great fun place!

[Disland]

It is hard to believe Tampa has only Picnic Island and man made causeways for beaches. McDill has a golf course on the bay! Restoring a substantial beach from the River to McDill would be a huge step in the right direction. We have the community minded Davis Island Yacht Club on public beach as an example. These wonderful folks share their love of sailing for free on Thursday evenings all summer in exchange for a public place to sail. A public private partnership like that for Tampa Beach would keep taxpayer costs low. MacDill beach north of the gate must be restored almost immediately, There is ample sand nearby for a base. and the sand bars 3 miles out from the Skyway are enormous amounts of the beach sand of the quality on Ft Desoto and Caledesi and south of the Clearwater Pass jetty voted often as the finest beaches in the US and even world wide in some polls.

A large beach, with storm water discharge being diverted away from people. I'd enjoy seeing bonefires safely return. the facilities would have to be built where they would flood as the waves now come over bayshore with a steady wind from the south. Daytona Beach floods too! tow trucks pull out cars ahead of the water. so I would allow parking on the sand as in Daytona. there could be elevated areas as well such as DIYC. This proposal was made for Bay to Bay 20 years ago. Annapolis on the Cheasepeake Bay will inspire all the ideas to get the project going, Good Luck