By the FL Innovation News editorial team · Tampa Bay Spotlight
Tampa Bay has become one of the country’s strongest markets for women-owned businesses. Here is a local guide to real ones worth supporting, and how to find many more.
Tampa Bay keeps landing near the top of national rankings for women-owned businesses, and if you spend any time here, that is not a surprise. From Water Street to St. Pete’s Grand Central District, women are running restaurants, boutiques, studios, and firms that give the region its character. Supporting them is not just a feel-good gesture. Every dollar spent with a local, independent business recirculates in the community in a way a national chain never will. Here is a guide to real women-owned businesses across Tampa Bay, organized so you can find one near you.
Why supporting women-owned businesses matters here
Local ownership keeps money, jobs, and decision-making in the community, and women-owned businesses have historically had less access to capital and networks, so your support carries extra weight. Tampa Bay has built real momentum on this front, with rankings, chambers, and community groups all pushing it forward. Choosing a local, women-owned option for your next meal, gift, or service is a small decision that adds up across a whole region.
Where Tampa Bay’s women-owned scene is thriving
You will find women-owned businesses in every corner of the region, but a few districts have become real hubs. Water Street and downtown Tampa have drawn a wave of women-led ventures, from Pilates studios to home stores. Across the bay, St. Petersburg’s Grand Central District and the blocks around Central Avenue and Beach Drive are dense with women-owned cafes, boutiques, and bakeshops. Hyde Park and SoHo in South Tampa lean boutique and beauty, while Gulfport and the St. Pete neighborhoods are magnets for independent, women-run food and craft businesses.
Food and drink
- Cassis, Beach Drive, downtown St. Petersburg. Lisa Wannemacher’s French-inspired American brasserie is a beloved Beach Drive brunch anchor.
- Datz, South Tampa. Suzanne Perry’s indulgent comfort-food institution is famous for over-the-top brunch and craft drinks.
- Mise en Place, Tampa. Maryann Ferenc’s long-running fine-dining favorite pairs inventive cuisine with a serious wine and cocktail list.
- Edison’s Swigamajig, Channel District, Tampa. Chef Jeannie Pierola’s playful, ingredient-driven spot for seafood and cocktails.
- Bandit Coffee Co., Grand Central District, St. Petersburg. Sarah Weaver’s independent roaster and cafe, known for house-roasted beans and a bright, welcoming space.
- Kaleisia Tea Lounge, North Tampa. A women-owned artisan tea lounge serving loose-leaf teas and light bites for more than twenty years.
- Le Clementine Bakeshop, St. Petersburg. Paulina Graniela’s French bakeshop turns out stunning pastries, with a cafe inside the Museum of Fine Arts.
- The Cake Girl, Carrollwood, Tampa. Kristina Lavallee, a local Business Woman of the Year, is known for hyper-realistic custom and wedding cakes.
- Golden Dinosaurs Vegan Deli, Gulfport. Audrey Dingeman’s plant-based deli is a local favorite for creative sandwiches like the tempeh Reuben.
Beauty and wellness
- Cielo Spa, SoHo, South Tampa. A boutique day spa offering facials, massage, waxing, and skincare.
- BodyRok, Water Street, Tampa. A high-energy reformer Pilates studio co-owned by Alicia Whitis and Erin Greco.
- Sunshine Wellness and Aesthetics, St. Petersburg. A med spa and wellness studio owned by Nadia Kaminskaya, offering facials, injectables, and aesthetic treatments.
- The Yard Gym, St. Petersburg. A newly opened strength and fitness gym owned by Taylor Dove.
- Salon Halo, South Tampa. An award-winning hair salon founded by Ryann Halo, known for extensions and balayage.
Retail and boutiques
- Bay Club Boutique, 4th Street North, St. Petersburg. Rachel Rawles, a longtime Spanx trend veteran, curates elevated, colorful everyday women’s wear.
- Poppy Jane, downtown St. Petersburg. Kaitlyn Poepperling’s boutique for effortless, on-trend style, now with a Sarasota location too.
- Joyful Notion, Water Street, Tampa. Crystal Johnsen’s shop blends one-of-a-kind fashion, gifts, and a fresh flower bar.
- Dwell Home Market, Water Street, Tampa. A curated furniture and home store, co-owned by Kristy Craig Anderson, featuring globally sourced pieces.
Professional and creative services
- Chancey Architecture and Interior Design, Tampa. Sandra Chancey’s award-winning firm has shaped residential and commercial spaces for more than thirty-five years.
- Branding Bosses, Tampa. A branding and digital marketing agency owned by Nadia Kaminskaya.
- Rosarium Collective, Tampa. A PR and marketing collective founded by Alexis Quintal.
- Entropy Technology Design, Tampa. A woman-owned technology and design firm founded by Tami Fitzpatrick.
- The William Stanley CFO Group, Tampa. A fractional CFO and advisory firm founded by Michelle Delker.
How to support beyond buying
Buying is the big one, but it is not the only lever. Leave a genuine review, because for a small business a handful of recent five-star reviews can change how they show up in search and on maps. Share their posts with a real caption, not just a silent repost. Refer them to a friend who needs what they offer. And when you can, buy the gift card or book the service in advance during a slow season. Small businesses feel every one of those gestures.
Want to be featured?
This column exists to shine a light on the people building Tampa Bay, and we are always looking for the next business to feature. If you own or love a women-owned business in the area, tell us about it through FL Innovation News. The best local recommendations come from the community, and we would rather hear from you than guess.
Frequently asked questions
What are some women-owned businesses to support in Tampa Bay?
This guide features real women-owned businesses across food and drink, beauty and wellness, retail, and professional services, from Cassis and Datz to Bay Club Boutique and Chancey Design, in Tampa, St. Pete, and beyond.
Why should I support women-owned businesses?
Local ownership keeps money and jobs in the community, and women-owned businesses have historically had less access to capital and networks, so your support carries extra weight.
How do I find women-owned businesses near me in Tampa Bay?
Start with this list, local chambers and directories, and community features from outlets like Tampa Magazine and Water Street’s CURRENT. Reviews and word of mouth help too.
How can my business be featured in Tampa Bay Spotlight?
Pitch us through FL Innovation News. We feature active, genuinely local businesses and love community recommendations.
The bottom line
Tampa Bay’s women-owned businesses are a huge part of what makes this region special, and supporting them is one of the easiest ways to strengthen your own community. Bookmark this guide, check back as it grows, and make your next meal, gift, or appointment a local one.
Own or love a women-owned business in Tampa Bay? Tell us about it through FL Innovation News and it could be featured in the next round-up.
Related on FL Innovation News
- Tampa Bay Spotlight — the full column
- Startup — more from the Startup desk
- Running Multiple Businesses Without Burning Out
About the author
Tampa Bay Spotlight is FL Innovation News’s local column celebrating the businesses, people, and places that make Tampa Bay worth showing up for. We feature local small businesses, community round-ups, and the openings and events shaping the region. Know a business or event we should cover? Pitch us through FL Innovation News.
