LARGO — The pomp and pageantry missing from Horizon West Bay’s May 19 public grand opening was on full display two weeks later, when local leaders gathered to formally cut the ribbon on the $85 million mixed-use project.
The June 2 ceremony drew the Largo City Commission, dozens of employees, representatives from local, county and state governments and a large crowd of spectators. It was held in the outdoor courtyard of the 87,000-square-foot downtown development, which is anchored by a new Largo City Hall and includes 15,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space and a free public parking garage.
During the half-hour ceremony, Mayor Woody Brown recognized the current commissioners, former Commissioner Jamie Robinson, Dunedin Mayor Moe Freaney, Belleair Bluffs Mayor Chris Arbutine and Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala before talking about what Horizon West Bay means for the city’s future.
“Tonight is an exciting milestone. But what excites me most is what comes next,” Brown said from a stage at the rear of the plaza, which will host live music and other community events.
“Horizon West Bay is about the future of downtown Largo,” he added. “This plaza, these public spaces, the businesses opening here and the partnerships surrounding this project are all part of building a downtown that is active, welcoming and connected.”
Brown said new events and programming “in the planning stages for this plaza and the surrounding area” will include live concerts and public gatherings.
“Largo is a destination where people will continue to connect, support local businesses and create memories together,” Brown said. He said the project, approved in 2022 and opened about a year later than expected, “reflects years of community input and collaboration.” He added, “We hope it inspires continued investment and momentum throughout downtown.”
Brown then thanked the builder, Biltmore Construction, for “doing a great job on the project,” before leading a crowd in the ribbon-cutting and group photos.
Before the mayor spoke, Tom Morrissette, president of the Central Pinellas Chamber of Commerce — whom city officials called a “key part” of the project’s development — addressed the impact Horizon will have on the community.
“This celebration is more than the opening of a building,” Morrissette said. “It represents vision, progress and a continued investment in the future of our community.”
He added, “What makes this development so exciting is the attention to detail. From retail integration and inviting public spaces to public art, it truly is the anchor of the future of downtown, brimming with activity, connection and opportunity.”
That energy was evident before the formal program began. Ahead of the 5 p.m. ceremony, the crowd milled around the lobby of the new City Hall, where Parlor Doughnuts — Horizon West Bay’s first tenant — handed out snacks, and representatives of The Tox Technique, a wellness center set to open soon, greeted guests from a table inside the main door.
The crowd was a mix of local government officials — including Belleair Bluffs City Commissioner Suzy Sofer and Safety Harbor Leisure Services Director Shannon Schafer — and area residents. The consensus among attendees was that Horizon West Bay will quickly transform Largo.
“We have two businesses in Largo,” Sofer said while attending the ceremony with her father and business partner, Stan. “So, we were really excited to see this open.”
“This is going to be the place to be,” Stan Sofer said, adding that the development on the 400 block of West Bay Drive “is centrally located, it’s got free parking and places to sit and have functions. It’s got everything you need. This is going to be a big spark for the Largo business community.”
Camille Hebting shared that sentiment. The deputy director of the Pinellas County chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness moved to Largo from Clearwater last September and watched the final stages of construction on the gleaming five-story glass-and-steel building, which features large murals by St. Petersburg’s Vitale Bros.
“It was very exciting,” Hebting said from the courtyard after chatting with a group of equally impressed attendees.
“It really feels like a traditional downtown, being centrally located and with all the businesses and fixtures around,” she said, adding she was “excited for the common areas and for the community having a third space to gather again, which we really haven’t had since COVID. And I think an indoor-outdoor space feels very fitting.”
Hebting said Horizon, along with other new developments such as Liberty Yards — a retail and entertainment complex directly across West Bay Drive — will help transform Largo and give it an identity.
“Largo needed its own thing. So, I think it’s great,” Hebting said. “I think it’s great the city employees have a home that reflects what Largo has done as an employer. And I feel like our quality of life is already higher.”