TAMPA, FL — MetWest International is adding Starbucks to its already impressive line-up of amenities at its retail center across from International Plaza and Tampa International Airport in Tampa’s Westshore Business District.
Starbucks will take over a portion of the former E*Trade space leasing 1,668 square feet according to Kalyn Brandewie of Florida Retail Partners, who represented MetWest ownership in the transaction.
The new Starbucks slated to open in late summer or early fall will be the third licensed store controlled by Tampa developer Punit Shah, CEO of Liberty Group and a minority owner of the Miami Marlins. Shah also owns licensed Starbucks stores on Harbour Island and in downtown Tampa’s Channel district.
Between MetWest’s one million square feet of office space, numerous restaurants and the on-site AC Hotel by Marriott as well as the project’s proximity to other nearby office buildings and apartments, MetWest is an ideal location for a new Starbucks, according to Shah.
“The addition of Starbucks to the mixed-use development is the missing piece of the puzzle, according to Brandewie. The customer base is robust with approximately 5,000 employees on-site in four Class A office buildings and 2,500 residential units surrounding the project.” The store will also be a complement to the existing restaurants.
“Culturally, Starbucks shares our vision of providing premier hospitality experiences and, candidly, we really enjoy contributing to the energy that Starbucks brings to a neighborhood,” Shah said.
About MetWest International
MetWest International is an award winning, mixed-use center developed by MetLife, Inc. Located across from Tampa International Airport and International Plaza in the Westshore Business District, MetWest International includes four office buildings; two multi-tenant buildings: One MetroCenter and MetWest One as well as two buildings occupied by PwC: MetWest Two and Three. MetWest also includes a 175-room AC by Marriott hotel which opened in January 2018 and a 74,200 square foot retail village. Retailers include Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Kona Grill, Texas de Brazil, Del Frisco’s Grille, Thai Prime, Davidoff of Geneva Cigar & Lounge, GolfTEC, Blo Blow Dry Bar, The Bar Method, and Beal Bank. An upscale residential apartment site and a 28,000 square foot retail anchor site remain available for development. www.metwestinternational.com
About Florida Retail Partners
X Team partner Florida Retail Partners was founded in 1997 as a woman owned boutique real estate firm specializing in all aspects of retail. Twenty years later, the firm is regarded as one of the top tier firms on the West Coast of Florida for both tenant and landlord representation.
The company has four partners all with over twenty years of experience. The company’s focus has always been on retail tenant and landlord representation on Florida’s West Coast and Central Florida. This exclusive focus on retail includes diverse assignments ranging from tenant representation, land sales and consulting to leasing of both distressed properties in need of turnaround and upscale mixed-use projects with very specific co-tenancy parameters.
About X Team
X Team is an international alliance of retail real estate specialists with offices located in major cities throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe. X Team partners average more than 20 years of industry experience, with expertise in major markets worldwide, specializing in tenant, property and developer/landlord representation, workout services, property dispositions and retail investments. X Team services include transaction negotiation, portfolio analysis, lease valuations, acquisitions, and asset assessment and valuation. For more information, please visit www.xteam.net.