Real estate agency Compass to open office in downtown St. Pete
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Nov 8, 2021

Compass Inc., a real estate agency that bills itself as tech-forward, is opening an office within 200 Central in downtown St. Petersburg.

The company employs more than 20,000 agents across the nation and will soon be operating in the heart of downtown St. Pete in the 200 Central office building at 200 Central Ave.

Compass said it has taken 6,151 square feet in the tower's two-story atrium and is planning to renovate the space. Wendy Giffin, senior director at Cushman & Wakefield Inc., said the suite in 200 Central was “one of the most exciting spots” in downtown St. Pete. Giffin markets the building for lease on behalf of its ownership, Third Lake Partners.

Giffin said Cushman & Wakefield have been holding off on leasing the space to find the perfect tenant due to its unique attributes. While she could not comment on the specifics, Giffin said Compass signed a “fairly longer-term lease” and has fully committed to the space.

A spokesman from Compass told the Tampa Bay Business Journal that while construction timelines are always a moving target, they expect to open sometime in 2022.

“As is Compass' approach with all spaces, we gather feedback from local agents and regional leadership to generate a consensus decision on what's best for our agents and their business,” the Compass spokesman said. “As for the design of the space, we are definitely taking into account the dramatic triple-height ceilings in the entryway and prime corner location, from a visibility standpoint.”

Compass, which launched in 2012, has offices throughout the country and said it will be focusing on growing its presence in the St. Petersburg market. The office at 200 Central will support approximately 50 agents with space for more, according to Compass.

Giffin said that St. Pete has “grown significantly” in its residential footprint over the last few years and has continuously drawn strong players to the area. The demand is ever-escalating and the interest from companies like Compass reflects the steady market in Pinellas, she said.