The purchase of the Tampa Bay Rays by Florida developer Patrick Zalupski on Tuesday sparked new hope among St. Petersburg merchants, who've weathered tough times since the team's move. "We have been down 30% through the Summer ... now that football has started, it's turning back around," Fergs Sports Bar and Grill owner Mark Ferguson said per Tampa Bay 28. Brooklyn South sandwich shop owner Karen Kramer voiced mixed feelings. Brooklyn South co-owner Mark Walters stressed the team's impact on small shops. We really need the Rays back and the whole $1.2 billion restoration they were going to do, all the businesses were looking forward to it," he said.