Business headlines

Train Station: platform for pottery sale

ST. PETERSBURG -- The 1926 Seaboard Coastline railway station on 22nd Street S formally marks the beginning of its new life as the St. Petersburg Clay Co. Saturday with a holiday pottery sale from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The historic station, at 420 22nd St. S, now features artists' studios, kilns, equipment and supplies for ceramic artists as well as programs, workshops and galleries. Wares from 50 clay artists will be on sale Saturday.

St. Petersburg Clay Co. bought the station in 2000. It was designated a local historic landmark in 1992.

In addition to reviving a historic structure, the Train Station, as it is now called, is involved in the effort to revive 22nd Street S, once one of St. Petersburg's busiest commercial thoroughfares, mainly populated by African-American businesses.

Lender will share new building

ST. PETERSBURG -- Creative Mortgage Lenders is scheduled to open Feb. 1 at 2300 Fourth St. N in a two-story building still under construction, according to Jeannie O'Grady. She is renting temporary offices at 2411 Fourth St. N.

O'Grady said her husband, Gary Orthner, will share the building with her. His business is Creative Conceptual Builders. O'Grady said the two had been looking for property on Fourth Street N because they live in the Old Northeast and wanted their businesses to be near their home.

She estimated they are spending about $500,000 on their building, which has hints of Mediterranean Revival in its architecture. O'Grady said she was happy to be near an area of Fourth Street N where a lot of new construction and renovation is going on.

Within sight of her building is the new Outback Steakhouse, in a renovated building that also houses Panera Bread. Across Fourth Street N from Outback is Sunken Gardens, an old tourist attraction that is being renovated into a major destination. It will be the home of another restaurant and the Great Explorations museum, in addition to the gardens, which the city has restored.

Black Chamber, city sponsor mixer

ST. PETERSBURG -- Holiday Market Place, a retail showcase and mixer, is being sponsored by the St. Petersburg Area Black Chamber of Commerce and the city on Tuesday in the Sun Pavilion Room at Bayfront Center from 6 to 8 p.m.

Admission is free.

Rib City Grill takes Tyrone site

ST. PETERSBURG -- Rib City Grill will join Tyrone area restaurants Dec. 16, adding the second of a planned five or six grills in Pinellas County.

Paul Peden, president of Rib City Grills, said his company has 13 restaurants, primarily in Lee and Collier counties, and is moving north.

"The next big market is the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area," Peden said.

Rib City Grills just opened in Largo. The Tyrone location at 1550 66th St. N will seat between 125 and 150 diners. It used to be a Giorgio's Cafe.

The Fort Myers-based chain specializes in baby back ribs and considers itself an upscale barbecue restaurant where the atmosphere is casual, according to Peden. All the restaurants smoke their own meats.

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