Mixed-use project announces new restaurant tenant

TAMPA —Fit Bowl Co. Superfood Bar is scheduled to open Tuesday, April 12 at Sparkman Wharf, the office and retail project at 615 Channelside Drive that is part of the $3.5 billion Water Street Tampa neighborhood in downtown Tampa.

Fit Bowl becomes the latest in a series of restaurants that have either opened in or committed to Sparkman Wharf since the start of the year. Other new tenants include Noble Rice, The Battery, BurgerFi, Coldwell Banker, Murph’s BBQ and 7th + Grove South at Sparkman Wharf.

Nearby, at Heron, a new apartment tower that is in the final stages of opening and is now accepting tenants within Water Street, restaurant 3 Corners is planning to debut this summer.

Heron marks the first of several planned residential offerings in the 56-acre project being developed by Strategic Property Partners, a joint venture between Microsoft Corp. Co-Founder Bill Gates’ Cascade Investment LLC and Tampa Bay Lightning owner and investor Jeff Vinik.

Fit Bowl, which will initially be open within a shipping container at Sparkman Wharf from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., is a “fruit-forward” concept that first opened on Davis Islands, also in Tampa.

Fit Bowl Co. will offer plant-based creations like acai bowls, smoothies, refreshing beverages, vegan soft serve, as well as prosecco and sorbet floats for adults. “2021 has already been a banner year for Sparkman Wharf, with seven new retail leases signed since January,” says Susan Martin, Strategic Property Partners’ vice president of retail and place management, in a statement.

The 245,000-square-foot Sparkman Wharf’s existing tenant roster includes Jeni’s Ice Cream, Joyful Notion, Splitsville, Fermented Reality, F45, Jotoro, Naked Farmer, Edison’s Swigamajig, Gallito, Flock and Stock, The Corners Pizza, Main Ingredient and Modern Paws.

Fit Bowl. Co is taking the container space formerly home to Blind Tiger Coffee Roasters, Strategic Property Partners notes.

 “Fit Bowl Co. prides itself on creating delicious meals and snacks crafted from wholesome ingredients and nutritious superfoods, and we look forward to becoming the new go-to spot to grab a quick, healthy at Sparkman Wharf,” says Trent McAree, owner of Fit Bowl Co., in a statement.

In all, Water Street Tampa is expected to contain more than 9 million square feet of office, retail, residential, hospitality, cultural, educational and entertainment space when it reaches build out over the next five years.