Water Street Tampa lands Asian fusion restaurant Wagamama
By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Sep 20, 2021

An international restaurant brand will open its first Florida location in Water Street Tampa.

Wagamama, an Asian fusion restaurant with U.S. locations in Boston and New York City, will open on the street level of apartment tower 1050 Water Street in a 4,200-square-foot storefront. Water Street developer Strategic Property Partners announced Wagamama's lease on Monday. SPP is controlled by Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment Fund LLC, the investment fund of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.

It's slated to open in early 2022.

“Wagamama appreciates attention to detail and is a first-to-market retailer with a lively dining experience, which is exactly what we're pursuing at Water Street Tampa," Lee Schaffler, chief portfolio officer for SPP, said in a statement. "We are committed to the future of Tampa, and with the addition of Wagamama, we continue our goal of providing residents and visitors with the ultimate lifestyle experience, all in one place.”

The restaurant will offer "its signature variety of noodle dishes, ramens, shareables and craft cocktails," SPP said in a news release.

“With our fresh, flavorful cuisine and engaged, social atmosphere, Wagamama is ideally suited for the Tampa market,” Richard Flaherty, co-CEO of Wagamama USA, said in a statement. “We knew Water Street Tampa, with its focus on community and vibrant street-level programming, was the perfect fit for our high-quality, high-energy dining experience. We’re thrilled to be part of this exciting new neighborhood and make Water Street Tampa our first location in Florida.”

Food and beverage concepts are a major focus at Water Street, where 60 percent of the retail in the district's first phase is devoted to bars and restaurants. A GreenWise Market recently opened in the district, and it's also home to Naked Farmer, 3 Corners, Noble Rice, BurgerFi, The Battery, Fit Bowl Co. Superfood Bar, Murph’s BBQ, Jotoro, Edison’s Swigamajig, Gallito, Flock and Stock and LightHaus Beer Garden, among other concepts.