 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Beall's opening in Zephyrhills
By BRADY DENNIS, Times Staff Writer ZEPHYRHILLS -- A premier piece of Zephyrhills real estate, vacant for nearly a year, won't stay empty much longer. Owners of the former U-Save grocery store building at 6026 Gall Blvd., have signed a new tenant: Beall's Outlet store. And they said a Sav-A-Lot grocery store likely will share the 34,000-square-foot building. "We're really excited," said Charlie Boscarino, Beall's Outlet divisional vice president. "Our plan is to open up around mid to late September. Everything tells me it's going to be the right move." Boscarino said the store signed a five-year lease with the option of renewing for up to 20 years. He said the new store will measure about 15,000 square feet. None of the other local Beall's Outlet locations -- in Dade City, Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel -- will close because of the new store, Boscarino said. "I truly believe that the market can support all of them," he said. "We love what they're doing in Zephyrhills. That area for some reason causes all kinds of weekend customers to come to town." More than anything, the building's central location appealed to both Beall's Outlet and Sav-A-Lot, said Jon Christiansen, vice president of NORO management, the company that helped lease the building. "It's a great location," Christiansen said. "It's got excellent visibility and access. It's in the heart of Zephyrhills." Several city officials last year urged the city to buy the vacant building and turn it into a new police station. But the city already had purchased land to build a new police station, and City Council members ultimately rejected the idea of buying the aging building. Dean Koutroumanis, who owns the building with two partners and lobbied the city to buy it, said that having Beall's Outlet and Sav-A-Lot as tenants actually will work out better. "In my opinion, that piece of land is one of the most attractive properties in east Pasco," said Koutroumanis, also co-owner of John's Steak and Seafood Restaurant in Zephyrhills. "To me, this is something that's going to add a lot of value to the town, such as tax revenue and new jobs. "I'm happy for that. Anything that's good for Zephyrhills is good for my business." An official from Sav-A-Lot declined Monday to comment about the grocery chain coming to town, saying only that "we're working on something." But Koutroumanis said the grocery store is almost certain to come. He said it will occupy about 10,000 square feet on the south end of the building. That leaves about 8,500 square feet of vacant space for which Koutroumanis is still searching for another tenant. For now, he said the building needs internal repairs before either business can move in. He said everything, from the parking to the sprinkler system to the electrical wiring, will be upgraded to meet building codes. With all that finished, Koutroumanis said he'll gladly hand over the keys to the new tenants. "I think this will become a real gathering place in the city," he said. -- Brady Dennis covers the city of Zephyrhills and crime in east Pasco. To reach him, call (352) 521-5757, ext. 23, or toll free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6108, then 23. His e-mail address is dennis@sptimes.com.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From today's Pasco Times |
