New mixed-used development in South Tampa lands restaurant tenant
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: May 23, 2016

A mixed-use development under construction in South Tampa has landed a new-to-market restaurant tenant.

Zoe's Kitchen (NYSE: ZOES), a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, will debut in the Tampa Bay region on the ground floor of The Morrison at 936 S. Howard Ave., across the street from Ciccio Restaurant Group's Green Lemon.

The Morrison consists of 13,890 square feet of retail space, 6,950 square feet of office space and 46 residential units. Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik is an investor in the project.

Zoe's will occupy 2,800 square feet and have patio seating, according to city building permits. It serves Mediterranean dishes like hummus, baked feta, Greek salad and pita sandwiches.

Based in Plano, Texas, Zoe's went public in 2014.

It has been rumored for years that Zoe's was looking for locations in the region, but a dearth of new retail development has made space hard to come by in the city's hottest neighborhoods.

The Morrison is in the heart of South Tampa's most walkable corridor, surrounded by other restaurants, apartment buildings and single-family homes.

Ashley Gurbal Kritzer is a reporter for the Tampa Bay Business Journal.