St. Pete-Clearwater Sun

A grocery store may be coming to Sulphur Springs, a Tampa neighborhood that has gone without one for more than 15 years, but officials caution that no agreement is finalized.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Joshua Wostal publicly named Aldi for the first time on Wednesday as a potential grocer for the community, which has long been classified as a food desert. Wostal said a proposal letter was recently sent to initiate meetings with the retailer, and a bipartisan advisory committee of local business leaders has been assembled to help identify a private partner.

Infrastructure funding for the project has been secured through a specific line item in the 2024 Community Investment Tax renewal, which Wostal said was a condition of his vote to send the measure to voters. However, officials warn that the same funding pool could face pressure from other large projects, including a potential Tampa Bay Rays stadium deal, which could limit available dollars.

Community advocate Charlie Adams, director of The Springs Market — a monthly farmers market serving as a temporary food access point in the neighborhood — said the absence of a full-service store has long driven up the cost and reduced the quality of food available to residents. Adams said the community has been discussing a solution for years, and that the focus now needs to be on action. Plans are also underway to add a community garden alongside the existing farmers’ market.

While no timeline has been set and no deal has been signed, residents say the neighborhood is closer to a permanent grocery store than it has been in years.

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