TAMPA, Fla. — The future of WestShore Plaza is top of mind for a lot of people, especially those small business owners who are still open inside the mall.
The company Third Lake Partners purchased the property in partnership with the St. Petersburg firm Echelon. As of now, the mall will be demolished and rebuilt, but the final plans for the redevelopment still haven’t been made public.
Businesses inside WestShore Plaza say they want the message to be clear: they’re here and open for business, but they don’t know for how long.
Erik Swope-Wise has worked in the mall for the past six years. He says he promises his customers at the Urban Native Store custom pieces. Now he’s having to remind people he’s still at the WestShore Plaza location.
“We’ve done very well for several years,” he said. “The loss of anchor stores has hurt the foot traffic, and now the misinformation on what’s taken place at the mall, cause Third Lake Partners has made zero announcements about it. So, assumptions have been made, and the story is we’re closed, and we’re not.”
A recent sale of the 57-year-old WestShore Plaza for $134 million has resulted in speculation about what’s next for the 54-acre property.
“Nothing is public other than that 2024 plan that was approved, and that’s kind of boxes on a map. No tenants identified, no targets identified in terms of what can be there, but we know it’s gonna be some version of mixed-use district. You’re gonna have residential,” said Westshore Alliance Executive Director Michael Maurino.
Maurino said there are several possibilities after the demolition and rebuilding of the property, but they’re going off of the approved 2024 plan for now.
“There’s been a lot that’s been rumored for this site. But as it kind of stands and what was approved in 2024, there are elements of public use, whether it’s green space, a movie theatre, a band show, and concert venue. So, those can still be incorporated into those plans,” he said.
Maurino says the WestShore Alliance supports the development here, and they’re hoping it will include a new convention center space.
Whatever the plan ends up being, Swope-Wise said he wants to be part of it.
“This is the next level for Tampa. Whatever it is, that’s gonna be amazing, and I want to be part of that, but in the meantime, small businesses got to keep going,” Swope-Wise said.
There’s still no word on when the tenants here will have to vacate. In the meantime, their message is come in, keep shopping, and support small businesses.
The company that purchased the property did not return a request for comment about the demolition details or their final redevelopment plans.
