Every day, 900 people are moving to Florida -- and a chunk of them move to Tampa bay.
The improving economy, Riverwalk, pier and Jeff Vinik’s vision has restaurant owners cashing in.
More than 40 restaurants are set to open by spring of this year here in the bay area. This will bring hundreds of jobs to the area, and we all know people need to eat.
“The interest rates are low, there is money to spend, people are taking chances again... Small businesses are rising,” said The Lure owner Tom Golden.
Golden set his eyes on St. Petersburg, opening The Lure two weeks ago.
Right now, he’s looking for sushi chefs -- a position that pays about $15 per hour.
“Let's face it, it's more of an art and a skill at the same time, and it takes years to make it where you can do volume and make it look fantastic,” he said.
Also in the area, Fresh Kitchen and Daily Eats are expanding. The owners are looking to hire 60 servers and cooks. The average pay is $13 per hour.
In South Tampa, Miguelito’s opens Wednesday. Right now, they are finalizing all the positions they are hiring for.
“We have 40 front of house in employees, and that's not counting our kitchen. We employ 30 in the kitchen,” said owner Miguel Rodriguez.
Down the street, Drama Burger is a gourmet burger joint that needs a dozen people now.
And the list goes on.
The recipe for success?
“You have to have a good location, you have to have a good location, you have to have good food and good people,” said Golden.
Sounds simple enough, and the rise of the foodie doesn’t hurt either.
“This is a mushroom taco; it's not our first time here,” one customer said.
More restaurants opening include the following:
- Goody Goody
- Buddy Brew
- On Swann
- O Cocina and Flights
- American Social
- Lucky Dill
- Irish 31
- Portillo’s
- Marina Cantina
- Proino Breakfast Club
- Extreme Pizza
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