St. Pete – A Great Place For Business!!
St. Petersburg: A Visitor’s Paradise & A Resident’s Dream Location
Feb 06, 2014
With the recurring and onset snow storms in the Northeast and Midwest, St. Petersburg welcomes more and more tourists seeking refuge from the bone-chilling cold.
More commonly known as the ‘Burg, the city illustrates the idyllic coastal destination with year-round sunshine and some of the country’s best beaches.
Due in part to the unpleasantness of the recent polar vortex in the Northeast and Midwest, St. Pete – with its ideal climate – has seen a rise in tourism that can be credited to strategic advertisements placed in Pinellas County’s top feeder-markets: Chicago, New York and Toronto. Some of the ads read, “Never mind Wall Street. Invest in some sun,” or “We salt margaritas, not sidewalks.”
Thanks to the clever ads of Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, business in St. Pete (and Pinellas County overall) is booming and is expected to continue increasing throughout the winter season. In fact, Tony Satterfield, vice president of operations for Alden Suites in St. Pete reported a 25 percent increase in room occupancies compared to the same time last year. On top of that, other beach-front hotels and resorts have already reached full capacity for the next four months.
In the recent past, St. Pete was named an underrated city by EscapeHere, and it should come as no surprise to those who live in the Tampa Bay region. According to EscapeHere:
“Although not as popular as Miami or Tampa, this city is the perfect example of why Florida is called the “Sunshine State.” The warm, clear weather lasts nearly year-round. True to its coastal nature, St. Petersburg has some of the most beautiful beaches in the state. Those in search of culture can also visit the Salvador Dali Museum, which holds the largest collection of his work in the western world.”
Here are some quick facts about the ‘Burg you may not have known!
Driving, St. Petersburg is…
- Five minutes from the Gulf of Mexico Beaches.
- 40 minutes from Bush Gardens.
- 90 minutes from Disney World.
St. Petersburg was awarded the…
- Best community for Young People by America’s Promise.
- Fourth Largest City in Fla., with 224,746 residents.
- Most Beautiful and Understanding Cities and Towns by EscapeHere.com.
- Most Livable Community of the Decade by Partnership for Livable Communities.
- Most Livable Downtown in the Southeast by Southern Development Magazine.
- No. 4 Best U.S. Metro Area in Which to Live by Places Rated Almanac.
St. Petersburg is home to…
- 9,000 businesses.
- An art community that fuels an annual economic impact of more than $23 million.
- The largest Salvador Dali collection in the western world.
- The largest outdoor market in the Southeast.
- The Tampa Bay Rays.
Reprinted from: http://www.tampabay.org/about-us/news-media/partnership-blog/2014-02-06/st-petersburg-visitor%E2%80%99s-paradise-resident%E2%80%99s-dream
Downtown St. Pete is the Place to Be!
St. Pete gaining global fame as hip destinationST. PETERSBURG -The vibe has changed in this city once mocked as “God’s waiting room,” and the world is taking notice. “Miami has a rival for the finer things,” read the headline in a travel review last week by the British newspaper, The Independent. St. Petersburg, Fla. – not Russia – made The New York Times list of 52 destinations in the world to see in 2014, ranking the city among exotic and famed urban centers such as Dubai and Athens. A hip craft beer scene, trendy steakhouse in a renovated 1920s-era YWCA and, of course, a world-class collection of Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dalí’s works were among the top reasons for a visit. “The Sunshine City” has reinvented its reputation, according to the Times. Sarah and Raphael Perrier saw it coming. Back in 2008, months after they opened Kahwa Coffee beneath a new condominium, Raphael told The New York Times that Miami and Paris were “done,” but “St. Pete is wide open.” In the past six years, the couple has witnessed a transformation in a city that once virtually closed by dusk. Once-empty sidewalks on Beach Drive are filled with foreign tourists dining at outdoor tables and formerly vacant storefronts on Central Avenue house art galleries and vintage home-furnishings dealers. “To see the change in the whole area, the whole downtown like that, it was really fast,” said Raphael Perrier, who has expanded Kahwa to six locations across the Tampa Bay area. “I think that it’s going to be pretty amazing in the next 10 years. We’re far from being done.” Developers agree. In the next year, 1,100 new apartment units will be finished downtown, nearly half of the total 2,900 that have gone up since 2000. Downtown’s momentum reflects a shift across the United States. Young, college-educated adults are departing the suburbs for once-abandoned urban cores. Between 2000 and 2009, the number of college-educated adults age 25 to 34 living within three miles of a central business district increased by 26 percent in the nation’s 51 largest metropolitan areas, double the growth rate in outlying areas, according to a 2013 report by the Brookings Institute. They’re looking for restaurants, shops, cultural and educational institutions and a vibrant street life. They prefer historic urban neighborhoods. They want to walk everywhere they can. St. Petersburg’s founders laid out many of these favorable amenities a century ago: the wide sidewalks on grid streets, artful Mediterranean revival office buildings and hotels, brick-street neighborhoods skirting downtown, and miles of publicly-owned green parks along the water, free of towering condos. A migration of younger professionals and entrepreneurs in the past decade, joined with the existing condo-dwelling retirees, has brought back the restaurants and street life. “We are just reflective of what’s happened in the country where people want to be in a livable downtown,” said St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce President Chris Steinocher.
Squaremouth’s Weather Cam Shows Off the Building’s Incredible Views!
Squaremouth has partnered with WFLA News Channel 8 and Storm Team 8 WFLA-TV to bring you the Squaremouth weather cam, overlooking Tampa Bay and the St. Petersburg Pier. Check out the cam online and watch for them on the Channel 8 newscast.
http://www.wfla.com/category/271361/weather-cams-squaremouth-st-petersburg
Squaremouth Honored on the 2013 Inc. 500|5000 List of Fastest-Growing Companies!
Congratulations to tenant Squaremouth – Inc. Magazine’s 2013 list of fastest-growing privately-held companies in America!
GSA Signs 13,800 Square Foot Lease
City Center St Petersburg Reaches 93.3% Occupancy with 13,800 Square Foot GSA Lease
City Center ownership group setting sights on achieving 100% occupancy and is actively pursuing new acquisitions
Less than a month after announcing a 26,000 square foot lease with Kobie Marketing, Feldman Equities has executed a 13,800 square foot lease with the GSA (General Services Administration) at City Center St Petersburg.
“When we acquired the property in January of 2011 the building had an effective occupancy of 44%. We’re now over 93% and surging with the recent leasing and renewal activity,” commented Larry Feldman, CEO of Feldman Equities and co-owner of City Center.
Feldman attributes their turn around success to an aggressive pricing program coupled with an extensive renovation program. Given their recent success, the City Center ownership group is setting their sights on achieving 100% occupancy. Ownership is actively pursuing the acquisition of new buildings. Their plan is to purchase under performing assets and invest extensively in new renovations and tenant amenities to attract new tenants.
The GSA will move the technology arm of the Veteran’s Administration from their Bay Pines facility to the City Center office complex in St. Petersburg’s Downtown Central Business District. David Green and Tracy Bibbens with Jones Lang LaSalle brokered the deal.
City Center is owned by a joint venture consisting of affiliates of Second City Capital Partners, Feldman Equities, Inc., and Tower Realty Partners, Inc. . On-site building amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center complete with shower facilities, a full time concierge , Nature’s Table Café, a large conference center capable of seating 65 people with Wi-Fi and audiovisual equipment, on-site banking and a recently renovated six-story parking garage. These amenities are in addition to all of the waterfront retail and dining options located within walking distance. More information can be found on the City Center website www.citycenterstpete.com
Nature’s Table at City Center St Pete
Lunch anyone? Nature’s Table is now open at City Center St Pete. Stop by their incredible restaurant in the lobby or phone in your order at 727-823-0200. Follow them on Facebook for daily specials at NaturesTableCC
Kobie Marketing Reaffirms Presence in St. Petersburg, Florida with Office Expansion in City Center
Leading Loyalty Program Provider’s Decision Recognizes the Downtown Central Business District as An Ideal Work Environment for the Growing Company
Kobie Marketing, a recognized leader in the loyalty marketing industry based in St. Petersburg, Fla., has recently renewed and expanded its marquee presence in the City Center office complex in the Downtown Central Business District.
Since its inception, Kobie has been committed to Downtown St. Petersburg and has participated in its renaissance as a high-growth company offering desirable marketing and technology jobs to the community’s workforce. As a result of Kobie’s continued year-over-year company growth and expanding workforce however, the need for a larger collaborative environment became apparent, as the space which the company occupied for the past decade could no longer support the brand.
Michael Hemsey, President of Kobie Marketing, remarked: “We used this time as an opportunity to evaluate our workplace needs, and determine where would be the best place for our employees to continue their great work. At the end of this period it was clear that our employees loved the energy and environment of Downtown St. Petersburg and we went with the choice that would fit with our creative, nurturing company culture.”
Larry Feldman, CEO of Feldman Equities and co-owner of City Center commented, “We look forward to serving Kobie as a long term tenant at City Center and we’re thrilled to accommodate Kobie’s expansion.” With a firm desire to remain in the Downtown St. Petersburg area, an exhaustive search executed by the company’s leadership and real estate advisors, Kobie determined that the best fit for the brand and its 110 employees is to remain and grow at City Center.
The newly designed and expanded workspace being delivered in the months ahead will span nearly 26,000 square feet and include a rooftop terrace, soon to be known as the Kobie Oasis. This new space will foster creativity, while helping to attract and retain the brightest talent – enabling Kobie’s continued business success.
“The company and our employees are deeply rooted in the St. Petersburg community and couldn’t be happier to begin this new chapter in Kobie’s future at City Center,” says Hemsey.
Kobie Marketing was represented by David Box of Box Realty Advisors with assistance from Lyle Fogarty at Redstone. City Center was represented by the owner, Larry Feldman of Feldman Equities, Inc.
City Center, a multi-tenanted, Class-A office complex recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation. The building occupancy has gone from 44% at acquisition at the end of 2010 to over 93% presently. City Center is owned by a joint venture consisting of affiliates of Second City Capital Partners, Feldman Equities, Inc., and Tower Realty Partners, Inc. On-site building amenities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, a full time concierge , an Atrium Café, a large conference center capable of seating 65 people with Wi-Fi and audiovisual equipment, on-site banking and a recently renovated six-story parking garage. These amenities are in addition to all of the waterfront retail and dining options located within walking distance. More information can be found on the City Center website www.citycenterstpete.com.
About Kobie
Kobie Marketing is a global leader in loyalty marketing and an industry pioneer, delivering end-to-end strategy, technology and program management solutions. For nearly 25 years, Kobie has provided innovative loyalty experiences to the world’s most successful brands, helping clients receive incremental revenue, product and household penetration, and brand advocacy. Kobie drives results and ROI through Kobie Alchemy®, a best-in-class loyalty marketing technology platform. To learn more, visit http://www.kobie.com.
Great Article on Best Workplace Winner Squaremouth
‘Burg Biz Wins Best WorkplaceTampa Bay Business Journal’s Best Place to Work in 2013 has a 12th floor view of downtown St. Pete, encourages nap times, and has bottles of booze perched atop the fridge in the kitchen. They’re in the business of selling promises, according to CEO Chris Harvey. But they do it in a way that makes them stand out. Squaremouth, a travel insurance comparison website, allows buyers to compare travel insurance plans and helps them along the way by providing outstanding customer service. Their Zero Complaint Guarantee is the hallmark of the company and is one of the things that makes them different from other businesses. Squaremouth stands behind every insurance company they list on their site. If a customer has a problem with their insurance policy, they are encouraged to call Squaremouth to resolve the issue. If Squaremouth employees cannot resolve the issue with the insurance company, they remove the company from their website. Though there have been issues, Harveys says they have never had to remove anyone. “If not for customer service, the industry would be dead. We’ve always worked it out,” Harvey said. He says most places have their work procedures set in stone. At Squaremouth, “nothing is sacred. We question everything.” According to a list of Squaremouth’s core values, “everything we have done up until today is shit.” This means that they are open to changing something if it will make operations smoother or the customer happier, even areas in which they were previously successful. Harvey said that his company provides the best customer service by making sure his employees are happy. One rule dictates that each employee sit somewhere different than the previous day. There are no assigned desks. Harvey laughs and says the fluffy white rug in the corner has been dubbed, “the hangover rug” and that employees actually sleep on it. Employees at Squaremouth are autonomous. “We’re more of a collaboration. We don’t behave like most businesses,” Harvey said. Employees can invent their own job titles and duties if they’ve outgrown the one they were hired for. Jenna Gravino, Content Marketer, says she has reinvented her job title numerous times. There are 14 employees behind this $10 million company. Harvey says Squaremouth truly values their employees, noting that although a lot of businesses say that, he really means it. “We’ve bailed people out of jail before.” Every employee has a vote in the company and almost every decision (except for the firing process) is put to a group vote. The interview process for new employees is done as a group and if someone wants a raise, they have to make their case to their co-workers. All employees get unlimited paid vacations and receive annual bonuses as well. Harvey says that these perks are designed to get the best out of an employee, and that no one at Squaremouth abuses these privileges. “We’re all very conscious of each other here,” said Jenna Gravino, Content Marketer. She explains that no one bickers over days off and everyone is respectful of each other’s needs.
Click the link for more great photos!
Squaremouth took top honors in the TBBJ’s Best Places to Work!
Innovative office space at City Center St Pete is just one reason Squaremouth took top honors in the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Best Places to Work contest! Congratulations to Chris Harvey & his team. We are thrilled to have you at City Center – Larry Feldman, Feldman Equities!
Best places to work 2013: Travel insurance provider in St. Petersburg takes top honors – Tampa Bay Business JournalSubscriber-Only Article Preview | For full site access: Subscribe Now Jeff Louderback, Special to the Business Journal OVERALL WINNERNEARLY BIG CATEGORY WINNER With the consistent evolution of technology, Internet companies especially have to carve a niche in their respective field and innovate to grow and thrive. St.
WELLS FARGO ADVISORS LEASES 8,000 SQUARE FEET – BUILDING OCCUPANCY IS NOW OVER 80%
Wells Fargo Advisors has leased 8,000 square feet at City Center in downtown St. Petersburg. This latest lease brings occupancy at the building to over 80%. “Over the last 20 months, we’ve leased over 105,000 square feet and have taken occupancy from 44.1% at acquisition in December of 2010 to over 80% in September of 2012. In addition, we’ve inked over 20,000 square feet in renewals.” stated Larry Feldman, CEO of Feldman Equities, Inc. Broker Reynolds McCabe of Travers Realty represented Wells Fargo Advisors in the transaction.
The Wells Fargo Advisors’ lease follows on the heels of a multi-million dollar renovation program at the property. Ownership recently completed a state-of-the-art fitness center complete with shower facilities. Ownership also upgraded the elevator lobbies and the parking garage, and work is nearly completed to upgrade the elevator systems and elevator cabs. The elevator work involves a million dollar upgrade of the motors and controls, as well as all new elevator cabs. A marble-clad concierge desk has been installed in the lobby which is providing tenants with services ranging from welcoming visitors to the building to finding baseball tickets for the Tampa Bay Rays game or even acting as a temporary secretary for the day.
“Our success at City Center has been derived from an aggressive pricing program coupled with a spectacular renovation program. As a result of our renovations, the building has by far the best amenity package of any building in downtown St. Petersburg,” stated Feldman. On-site building amenities at City Center in downtown St. Petersburg include a state-of-the-art fitness center complete with shower facilities, a full time concierge, an Atrium Café, a large conference center capable of seating 65 people with Wi-Fi and audiovisual equipment, on-site banking and a recently renovated six-story parking garage. These amenities are in addition to all of the waterfront retail and dining options located within walking distance.
City Center is owned by a joint venture consisting of affiliates of Second City Capital Partners, Feldman Equities, Inc., and Tower Realty Partners, Inc.
