Pasco brewery takes over, reinvents Big Storm Brewing space

Tampa/St. Petersburg/Pasco/Polk

Beer me: Thirsty Buffalo Brewing Co. has moved into the Pasco County space previously occupied by Big Storm Brewing. This is the local chain’s second location. Thirsty Buffalo took over the space at 2330 Success Dr. over the summer and then undertook a renovation. According to an email from co-owner and co-founder Mike Bishop: “The building underwent a total metamorphosis” that includes “an open-concept taproom that invites guests to immerse themselves in the sights, sounds and smells of the brewing process.” The new production facility, which is named the Thirst Buffalo Brew Factory, also allows the company to expand its distribution footprint in the Tampa Bay market. Big Storm Brewing, which at one point had five locations, closed the Odessa taproom after an eviction notice was filed March 11 claiming it owed $40,291.97 in back rent. A writ of possession was issued May 15. It has closed all but its Clearwater location as it deals with legal and financial issues. 

Put it away: The Tampa Bay market’s self-storage industry is in good shape halfway into the year. According to an investment report from the commercial real estate firm Marcus & Millichap, the Tampa-St. Petersburg market has maintained high rental rates and local growth supports long-term demand. Self-storage developers, the report says, are expected to add 1.8 million square feet of space by the end of the year, the seventh time in eight years that construction has topped 1 million square feet. Not all the news is good for landlords, though: Marcus & Millichap says vacancy rates are expected to rise to 10.2%, an increase of 80 basis points. As for rent, while Tampa storage rents are the second highest in the state behind Miami, asking rents are expected to drop 5.3% to $1.08 per square foot.