Talk on the Showfloor: Renovations to Debut in 2023 at Tampa CC & Martha Stewart’s Bedford Restaurant Opens at Paris Las Vegas
by Jeanne Brei
As this column continues focusing on convention centers and their expansion and renovation plans, this week we’ll take a look at the Tampa Convention Center which is preparing to debut its completed renovations next year.
And speaking of debuts, in Las Vegas, Martha Stewart’s highly anticipated first restaurant, The Bedford by Martha Stewart, opened Aug.13 at the Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino. Designed by Martha herself, the 194-seat dining destination (near Nobu and across from Bobby’s Burgers by Bobby Flay) offers guests an authentic glimpse of how Martha lives and entertains in her own home. The Bedford by Martha Stewart draws inspiration from her 1925 country farmhouse, including an accurate replica of her own brown faux-bois dining room.
The Bedford’s menu features flavorful dishes from fresh ingredients sourced locally and boasts French-inspired cuisine and a combination of Martha’s favorite recipes. Guests may enjoy tableside 
presentations, which elevate the meal to an interactive culinary journey, including a Whole Roast Herb Chicken, carved tableside and Martha’s Smashed Baked Potato, smashed tableside and served with crème fraiche, chives and bacon lardons or for those looking to indulge, Golden Osteria caviar. One of Martha’s signature desserts is the Upside-Down Lemon Meringue Pie.
Says Martha Stewart (pictured left), “I am so thrilled to open the doors to The Bedford at Paris Las Vegas, my first-ever restaurant. We have worked tirelessly to bring my farmhouse in Bedford, New York to life in Las Vegas, and I think visitors will be enchanted by what we have come up with. These are the same dishes that I serve to family and friends in my own home.”
Jason Gregorec (pictured right), senior vice president and general manager of Paris Las Vegas, says, “The opening of The Bedford by Martha Stewart further establishes Paris Las Vegas as a must-visit culinary destination,” adding, “Martha Stewart and Marquee Brands are leaders in hospitality that inspire and draw fans from around the world, and we are honored to collaborate with such incredible partners.”
Reservations may be booked online at the fully immersive restaurant, which offers a unique and intimate setting coupled with a menu reflective of her culinary inspirations. For more info, visit www.caesars.com/paris-las-vegas/
The Tampa Convention Center
The Tampa CC is located along the Riverwalk in the heart of downtown Tampa. Currently comprised of 600,000 sq.ft. with four floors and outdoor spaces, its guest capacity is 17,000 people and features 200,000 sq.ft. exhibit space, 36,000 sq.ft. of ballroom space and 36 breakout rooms. Upcoming shows this month include East Coast Migrant Head Start Project National Conference, the USA Gymnastics Championships, National Congress & Trade Show, the Tampa Home & Garden Show and the Pri-Med Tampa Regional CME/CE Conference.
With a ground floor exit into the Riverwalk and a second floor skywalk to the adjoining Embassy Suites Hotel, its outdoor space is stunning and includes such features as the Sail Plaza restaurant & bar, the Riverwalk, public boat docks, eBoats, Tampa Pirate Water Taxis, Tampa Bay Fun Boats, Kraken Cycleboats, Tampa Bay Water Bikes and Riverwalk Boating.
More than halfway through TCC’s largest renovation project in history: the $38 million Capital Improvement Plan is expected to result in better customer experience, increased efficiency and cost savings. Capital improvement projects already completed include renovated ballrooms (with new carpet, paint, new air wall fabric, and upgraded lighting); 15 fully-upgraded restrooms (with wall-to-wall large-format modern tile, integrated sinks, stainless steel touchless fixtures, backlit mirrors, and more); Nourish Food Cart (a modular kiosk in the rotunda that features choose-your-own-ingredients healthy bowls); Starbucks Coffee Bar (which replaced the Ybor Café and is adjacent to the exhibit halls); modernized exhibit hall concession stands with new signage and digital menu boards; and a new Datz Restaurant featuring Egg Sammies, Bits & Bites and creative sandwiches.
Also already completed is an entirely new, waterfront experience at The Sail Plaza (pictured left). This completely reimagined space includes Big Ray’s Fish Camp Restaurant, a local favorite for seafood in the Tampa Bay area, joining Tampa CC’s 360-degree waterfront bar. The Sail Plaza also offers an expanded seating area, complete with an iconic shade structure, and an innovative ramp system that guides pedestrian traffic, allowing for enhanced outdoor event capabilities along the Riverwalk. Restrooms now include a family restroom and air conditioning.
Scheduled for completion by March, 2023, the TCC is renovating its existing meeting space with new carpet, paint, new air wall fabric and upgraded lighting. They are also adding 18 new meeting rooms overlooking the Hillsborough River. Spanning 16,000 sq.ft., the two-level addition of new waterfront meeting rooms are scheduled to be completed by June of next year. Room pairs will include air walls for increased flexibility. The new waterfront rooms will be accompanied by a terrace offering expansive views and outdoor space. The addition of a set of new restrooms and a second service elevator will advance facility operations and event needs. Demolition is during non-event hours and construction walls are surrounding work areas to provide a sound barrier for noise elimination. For more info, visit www.tampa.gov/tcc.
