News & Press Releases

Over the last few years Hyde Park Village has been a retail center with some mysteriously empty storefronts.

But things may be changing for the better. 

Commercial real estate giant Madison Marquette is now on board, and the look and feel of the Village is rapidly transforming.

The Washington D.C.-based company specializes in the "lifestyle center" concept, an idea centered on people dining, shopping and socializing in the same place. Utilizing this model, company officials believe they can overhaul the Village´s current landscape.

As far as location, demographics and logistics are concerned, Hyde Park Village has everything going for it. But as the economy struggled and businesses folded over the last few years, the storefronts sat empty and the neighborhood quiet.

"The economy hurt for a while," said Hyde Park Village General Manager Susan Martin. "[But] our leasing department is working very hard to bring in retailers that aren´t even in this market yet.

“Our setting is an interesting mix of retail, residential, office and dining,” Martin said. “We have some green space with the court yard and free parking in our garages, so there is plenty to offer businesses”.

For Martin and the rest of her colleagues at the Madison Marquette offices, a new day is on the horizon. The Hyde Park property is currently experiencing a flurry of activity that is reshaping its look and eliminating the empty windows that once lined streets running through the village.

"We´ve got Irish 31 coming into the neighborhood, which will add a neighborhood pub to the mix," Martin said. "We´ve got three more restaurants opening before the end of the year. On top of that we´ve got [furniture boutique] Couture Living and a new bakery coming in February."

Another new inhabitant is South Tampa Pilates. Once residents along MacDill Avenue, owner Natalie Mandeville and partner Kelly Griffin moved their studio to the Village to gain exposure and that one amenity everyone in South Tampa is after.

"Our target audience hangs out in this area," Mandeville said. "Besides, everywhere you go in South Tampa there is nowhere to park. Here we have a parking garage. It sounds like a small thing, but it´s kind of a big deal when you´re trying to get people to come to your place of business."

The demographic is a big draw, but the opportunity to provide something different in the village is proving to be a motivating factor for Jay Mise, owner of Irish 31, which will open in the next month or two.

"I´m looking forward to having a little bit of fun when we open because the area can certainly provide a good atmosphere," Mise said. "I´ll be happy to get the doors open and introduce a product that will be a good fit for the village. Adding us to the mix will provide some much needed synergy."

But new business isn´t the only change in the layout. Some establishments currently in place are on the move.

The Level Aveda SalonSpa, once located in an upstairs unit, has moved to the ground floor, which makes the property more easily accessible to walk-up business.

Lifestyle Fitness has grown significantly during its time in the location along Swann Avenue and had sought out an opportunity to expand. They found it in the suite that Aveda vacated.

The sudden growth and interest in the village is a trend some believe will continue.

"I think it´s a culmination of things, but the biggest factor is that people are getting excited again to be opening new concepts," Martin said. "Madison Marquette took over the leasing a year ago and they have a lot of contacts in the retail industry that they can bring back to the village.

"On top of that we have a lot of great events. Our tree lighting event, fall festival, the live music series are all successes. Our fresh market on the first Sunday of every month is booming as well. There are a lot of things the village offers that other retail centers don´t."