Bikini Biz notches Gulf Coast

BRANDON — A New York entrepreneur who took his concept, interchangeable swimsuit designs, on the “Shark Tank” TV show, launched the brick-and-mortar side of the business on the Gulf Coast.

The first store for the company, MiX Bikini, opened recently at the Westfield Brandon mall. The company, founded by Frank Scozzafava, allows customers to mix and match hundreds of materials to make their own bikinis. The business had only been available online. But New York real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, one of the Shark Tank judges, entered into a business partnership with Scozzafava during a recent taping of the show, according to a release.

Scozzafava, in the release, says he hopes to open MiX Bikini stores in at least 10 Westfield properties over the next six months. He intends to open four more stores in Florida. “I'm excited,” Scozzafava says in the statement. “It will be the same experience as an online purchase, only you become the designer and can try on your creation immediately and then take it home with you.”