News Summary
The City Commission of Tallahassee is set to award a construction contract for the Griffin Heights Grocery Store to Tip Top Construction. This contract, valued at over $1.2 million, aims to enhance community access to essential retail services. Funded by Neighborhood First allocations, the project will include a grocery store and community space, reflecting the input from local residents. Tip Top Construction’s successful bid highlights a commitment to supporting local businesses throughout the procurement process.
Tallahassee – The City Commission is poised to award a significant construction contract for the Griffin Heights Grocery Store to Tip Top Construction on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. The contract, valued at $1,287,040, represents a critical step in enhancing the community’s access to essential retail services.
Funding for this grocery store project will be sourced from the Neighborhood First funds allocated within the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Affairs Department’s Capital Budget. The site, located at the intersection of Alabama and Harlem Streets, was previously purchased as part of the Griffin Heights Neighborhood First Plan, which aims to foster community development and improve local amenities.
The project’s design was carefully crafted by architects Lewis+Whitlock, with significant input gathered from multiple neighborhood meetings, ensuring that the final plan aligns with community needs and expectations. The grocery store will encompass approximately 2,500 square feet and will also include a dedicated community space aimed at facilitating outreach and engagement activities for residents.
An Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the grocery store construction was initially issued in July 2024. However, only one bid was received at that time. To encourage more participation, the IFB was re-advertised twice, with the final solicitation closing in early 2025, resulting in two bids submitted for consideration. Tip Top Construction emerged with the lowest responsive bid and has successfully demonstrated its commitment to achieving the Office of Economic Vitality’s Minority, Women, and Small Business Enterprise (MWSBE) goals throughout the procurement process.
In related city developments, the Leon County Commission, on May 13, 2025, awarded a separate contract amounting to $2.16 million to H.A. Contracting Corp. for the repair of the Amtrak Station Visitor Center Building. This repair project is anticipated to commence in July 2025 and is expected to reach completion by the spring of 2026. Funding for this project has been secured through a combination of $1,175,000 in insurance proceeds and $985,000 from the existing Tourism fund balance. Additionally, a 20% contingency of $432,000 has been set aside to address any unforeseen issues related to the historical nature of the building, leading to a total project budget of $2.6 million.
The Griffin Heights Grocery Store project stands as part of a larger initiative to revitalize the area and provide essential services to residents. The collaboration between the city, architects, and local contractors reflects a commitment to community engagement and economic vitality. As the City Commission prepares to approve the contract with Tip Top Construction, residents await the positive impact this new grocery store is expected to have on the Griffin Heights neighborhood, enhancing both accessibility and community interaction.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Tallahassee to Award Contract for Griffin Heights Grocery Store
City of Tallahassee Approves Construction of Grocery Store
Major Construction Milestone Boosts Jacksonville’s Economic Development with $101.3 Million in Approved Projects
Additional Resources
- Tallahassee Reports: City to Award Construction Contract for Griffin Heights Grocery Store
- Google Search: Griffin Heights Grocery Store Tallahassee
- Tallahassee.com: County Commissioners to Consider Repairs of Amtrak Visitor Center
- Wikipedia: Amtrak
- Tallahassee Reports: Daily Briefs – May 14, 2025
- Google News: Tallahassee developments
- WTXL: City Looks to Improve StarMetro and Public Transportation
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public Transportation
- Tallahassee.com: More than TMH – City Commission Agenda
- Google Scholar: Tallahassee City Commission
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
