TAMPA, Fla. — Downtown Tampa's revamped Channelside Bay Plaza officially debuts Friday as Sparkman Wharf. 

The grand opening celebration is taking place throughout the day.  

The old Channelside Plaza was a virtual ghost town in its' last days but city officials said developers now have done it right. Sparkman Wharf have created an area that will be a destination attraction and fits in with the new vision for downtown Tampa. 

The wharf will feature food, games, places to lounge, a beer garden, plenty of food options and the biggest attraction that wasn't necessarily a part of Channelside: the water. 

Visitors can see the river from practically all spots on the wharf. 

Also, many of the culinary options are set up in old shipping containers, offering everything from Spanish tapas to fusion French and Vietnamese dishes to pizza to burgers and fries. 

"Anybody that sees Sparkman Wharf the first time understands this is a new destination I also think residents in Tampa have really fallen in love with the waterfront downtown," said Shaun Drinkard with the Tampa Downtown Partnership. "The Riverwalk has made that success and has made that connection and we have all the great destinations along the Riverwalk and now this is the next piece and an anchor on the other end." 

Developers also intend to add office space in the buildings around the wharf to bring even more people to the area. 

When cruise ships are not docked at the port, the gates will be unlocked so people can walk, sit or eat along the water.

In the next few months, the view from the wharf will also change. Crews will replace the current fencing with a foldable fence to allow for a better port-side view. 

The wharf will be open on Wednesdays through Sundays starting at 11 a.m. It will also be open on game days and for special events.