Local construction firm Creative Contractors is celebrating its 50th anniversary while also announcing a leadership change. Founder Alan Bomstein is passing the CEO reins to his son, Josh Bomstein, signifying a new chapter for the company.

Founded in 1974 as Store Builders, the company initially focused on tenant buildouts at Clearwater’s Countryside Mall. Alan shared that they prioritized commercial work because the housing market was oversaturated at the time.

“There was a housing glut in Pinellas County,” Alan recalled. “There were thousands of unsold condominiums. They were virtually giving away beach condominiums. If you had $15,000 in 1974, you could have your pick of any condominium in a high-rise on Clearwater Beach. So, looking for an opportunity, I came upon the idea of building out the mall stores.”

By the time Countryside Mall opened in 1975, Alan’s company had built 30 out of the approximately 100 stores. Clients began returning for help with constructing free-standing shopping centers and office buildings. As projects diversified, Alan decided the original name no longer fit and rebranded the company as Creative Contractors.

As the company grew, it took on projects in new sectors, including healthcare and education. Creative Contractors has left its mark on several prominent projects in the Tampa Bay area, such as the second-floor expansion of the Museum of Fine Arts St. Petersburg, a “watershed moment” for Alan, and the renovation of St. Petersburg High School.

“St. Petersburg High was a hugely important project. This was one where we could not afford to mess up, and that is why we hired Creative,” said former Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Michael Grego.

The company was also chosen for multiple expansions at Ruth Eckerd Hall, a project at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium, the joint Speer YMCA and Mangrove Bay Middle School, and several initiatives at the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg campus.

“When we started at USF St. Pete, you couldn’t walk the campus because there were roads going through with cars and traffic,” Alan said. “We wound up tearing out 2nd St. S. and making a pedestrian promenade there. We built the Sembler family fountain, the Science and Technology building, the College of Business building, and the student activity center. We really transformed that campus dramatically and made it into a true urban campus.”

In the 1970s, Creative Contractors also constructed a 22,000-square-foot office building at 21649 U.S. 19 in Clearwater. Alan remembered an unusual event: “About 20 years after we built it, there mysteriously appeared on the reflective glass of the building the image of the Madonna, and it caused a minor riot. People were flocking to this building to pray to the Madonna.”

The image, discovered by a passer-by in December 1996, became a local phenomenon. Alan reflected, “Locally, it was a miracle. There was no internet back then, so it was only on the radio [and TV], and it drew throngs of people.”

Looking ahead, Josh Bomstein is set to take over as CEO. His path to leadership was nontraditional; he initially pursued other interests before joining the family business.

“I attended Emory University in Atlanta, which does not have any design or construction programs. I studied anthropology,” Josh explained. “I always liked seeing what my father was building and I enjoyed construction, so I wanted to do this [eventually], but I wanted to carve my own path.”

After working in publishing in California, Josh returned to Florida and joined Creative Contractors in 2004, bringing a fresh perspective, particularly in sustainable design and construction.

“While I was doing my own thing, I learned a lot at larger companies that I brought with me,” Josh said. “I learned a lot of transferable skills, especially in marketing, business development, and sales.”

Now entering its sixth decade, Creative Contractors has grown from four employees to a team of 102, with annual revenue exceeding $175 million. The Bomsteins typically handle around 15 projects at once, most of which are repeat clients.

“These institutional buildings that we build are part of the fabric of the community,” Josh emphasized. “These are really meaningful facilities where people are taking care of themselves or learning or being healed or praying or exercising. I know all of our management team takes a lot of pride in those buildings that make a difference and make this region a better place, and we want to continue to build more and more important and meaningful spaces in our region.”

Creative Contractors also completed a renovation of the 1,252-seat Tampa Theatre in 2018 and will begin another significant project there in 2025.

The father-son duo is proud that Creative Contractors has become the largest locally owned commercial general contractor in Tampa Bay, focusing on local and regional growth moving forward.

“It was never my intention to build a big company quickly,” Alan said. “There are plenty of companies in our business that started when I started in the mid-70s, and today, they’re giant, international, billion-dollar companies. That really wasn’t my thing. I like being local and being hands-on, and I found that owners appreciated having someone to deal with locally who has skin in the game. That’s how we got here.”

As for the leadership transition, Alan mentioned that he has been gradually letting go of responsibilities and delegating tasks to Josh over the years. Josh was named president of Creative Contractors in 2015 and will formally take over as CEO in 2025.

As Creative Contractors celebrates its 50th anniversary, the company is focusing on community and institutional projects, including hospitals, schools, municipal buildings, cultural centers, and wellness facilities. The company recently opened offices in Lakeland and Bradenton to keep up with regional growth.

Though stepping back from his CEO role, Alan plans to remain involved and continue watching the success he helped build.

“I don’t know that all father-son working relationships go as well as this one,” Josh said. “It really has been better than I ever could have imagined.”