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Business Headlines
By WAVENEY ANN MOORE and SHARON L. BOND Posh new buses on the wayCommuters from the Gateway Mall area to downtown Tampa will be among those to benefit from a new fleet of luxury buses that will be introduced by the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority in April. The new coach buses will have more leg room, reclining seats and reading lights. They also will have the capacity to offer cable news and laptop connections, two features that may be added in the future, said Janet Recca, director of marketing for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority. Of the 10 buses being purchased, five each will be designated to the Gateway Mall route and a new express route, the 300X, that will connect the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport area with downtown Tampa. "This is state-of-the-art equipment, and for the type of trip these commuters make, it makes perfect sense," Recca said. She said the new buses will replace ones currently used on the Gateway route, properly known as the 100X. The route runs from the Gateway Mall area -- along 77th Avenue N to Dr. M.L. King (Ninth) Street N and 83rd Avenue N, to Fourth Street, across the Gandy Bridge to the Crosstown Expressway and then to the Marion Street Transit Parkway in downtown Tampa. Buses on the 100X route make 16 trips in each direction, Monday through Friday, except on holidays. The cost per ride is $1.50 each way, or riders can purchase a 20-ride pass for $27. Recca said 4,532 people used the route in August. The new luxury buses are among several efforts the transit authority is making to encourage the use of public transportation. The popular beach trolley debuted on Dec. 31, 2000. It links the beaches with St. Petersburg, taking tourists downtown to BayWalk and the Pier. There are three different routes. The Suncoast Beach Trolley travels from Pass-a-Grille to the Sheraton Sand Key. Route 3 runs from downtown St. Petersburg to Treasure Island via Central Avenue and connects with the trolley on Gulf Boulevard. The route 35 trolley travels from downtown St. Petersburg to St. Pete Beach. In December, the agency will launch a new trolley route between John's Pass Village and Tyrone Square Mall. Since 1998, the transit authority also has encouraged cyclists to hitch their bikes to the front of its buses. In August, 12,000 riders took advantage of the feature. Beginning Monday, as part of Commuter Choices Week, the transit authority will promote a program that encourages businesses to purchase commuter passes for employees. Furniture store debuts on CentralST. PETERSBURG -- The once-vacant space at 465 Central Ave. that was the Thrifty Discount store has a new life as Dwelling Furniture. Owner Lori Wall, in partnership with her father Gilbert Wall, opened the store in August after spending about $15,000 on renovations. Wall, 31, said she worked in the broadcasting department of the Home Shopping Network but was laid off in January. She came to the Tampa Bay area from St. Louis to work at a television retailer and because her parents had retired here. She decided she wanted to stay and convinced her father that downtown St. Petersburg was busy enough for a furniture store. Her father has a furniture store called Golden Elegance at the Oldsmar Flea Market, Wall said. Dwelling features an eclectic mix of armoires and entertainment centers in dark wood, overstuffed sofas and chairs, bedroom furniture, occasional pieces, wrought iron and painted furniture for moderate prices. New Bealls outlet set for OctoberST. PETERSBURG -- Bealls Inc. is locating its fourth outlet store in St. Petersburg at 1950 34th St. N in the Suncoast Plaza. The outlet is expected to be open in October. Bealls Outlet carries vendor closeouts, private label imports and off-price lines. It is part of Bealls Inc., which operates several department stores in St. Petersburg. Bealls Inc. is privately owned and has headquarters in Bradenton.
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