Edy's sundaes to tempt teens

An ice cream parlor will open across from Plant High School, offering an old-fashioned hangout just in time for summer.

By MICHAEL CANNING, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published April 11, 2003

WE ALL SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM: Or at least somebody did. So an Edy's Grand Ice Cream parlor is opening across from Plant High School in early May.

After trying to secure other locations on busy Dale Mabry Highway for more than a year, Edy's finally settled on the 960-square-foot store at 2401-B S Dale Mabry.

Edy's district sales manager Heidi Hostnick says the parlor will feature the company's distinctive old-fashioned look with chair railing and a pale yellow and brown color scheme.

The store will serve 32 flavors, including fat-free and sugar-free choices, frozen yogurt, sorbet and sherbet. Cakes, milkshakes, sundaes, banana splits, espresso, cappuccino, cookies and brownies will also be sold.

The parlor will mark the second Edy's in South Tampa. The other is at 4616 W Kennedy Blvd.

ARRIVEDERCI PRIMADONNA: A veteran of the days when SoHo's Restaurant Row nickname was still fresh has closed its doors.

The demise of Primadonna Trattoria at 915 S Howard Ave. comes a few weeks after the sale of Primadonna North, which was run by Stefano Tini, the son of Primadonna patriarch Cesare Tini.

The Tini family, which also includes Cesare's son Dino, isn't saying much about the restaurant closings. It's also unclear what will become of the building on Howard.

Before Cesare Tini opened the SoHo Primadonna in early 1996, he already had established a profile on the South Tampa restaurant scene as creator of Caffe Paradiso, and former owner of Donatello.

The former Primadonna North, at 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., is now called Savino's. It opened for business on April 3.

SWANN, HENDERSON REBORN: Early last year, the development of retail and office space at the southwest corner attracted T-Mobile, Chavin Arte de Peru and Statscript Pharmacy/Chronimed.

Now three more storefronts are being renovated next to Statscript at 3617 Henderson Blvd., a former Church of Scientology site.

Building owner Brier Grieves says about a third of the 7,000-square-foot space will be occupied by a new office of his Nationwide Insurance agency. The remaining space will be leased for office or retail use.

The building will sport a new Mediterranean look when construction is completed in about early June. The site has 35 parking spaces, including about 25 in back.

The changes are the latest for the prominent intersection at Swann Avenue and Henderson. Dan Harvey, owner of the Adventures Underwater dive shop on the southeast corner, closed the business this week after 28 years. No word yet on what will replace it.

ANTIQUES IN DISTRESS: But don't organize a rescue. They're supposed to be that way.

A new antique shop called Rustic, 5025 Bayshore Blvd., specializes in antiques that have been given the "distressed" look.

The distressed style is often considered an alternative to the traditional school of restoring antiques to original condition. Distressed restorers use a series of techniques like scraped paint, crackling and partial whitewashing to simulate a worn and aged look.

Rustic co-owner Derek Metzler followed the same principle when he decorated the building's gable sign in corrugated metal. He also deviated, doing the entrance foyer in terrazzo and turning the front drive's former gas pump island (the property was once a filling station) into a flower planter.

In a month or two, Metzler plans to install an "outdoor living room" out back, where a selection of outdoor iron furniture will be displayed under a tent.

The shop, which is just west of Bay to Bay, was formerly Rosebud's antique shop.

NEW AT WESTSHORE PLAZA: Opening last weekend was Evos and Metropolitan Deluxe. Both somewhat increase the mall's hip quotient. Healthy fast-food minichain Evos started out as a scrappy, innovative and overly earnest food boutique on Bay to Bay Boulevard nine years ago. Now it holds down primo SoHo and New Tampa real estate.

Metropolitan Deluxe is a clearinghouse of eclectic personal and home decor and furnishings. It already has a location in Ybor City's historic Centro Espanol building.

Ann Taylor Lofts, the casual adjunct of the women's store famous for business attire, opened two weeks ago, offering shorts, sundresses, Capri pants, jewelry, perfume, shoes and handbags. And the place actually does have a loft in it. Think of it as the wild side of Ann.

-- Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3382, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com.

THE FIND: Planters

Bring spring indoors with three moss-covered planters like these from Silk Gardens, 3407 W Green St. Fill them with silk orchids or fresh greens for an earthy look. Planters priced at $4.90 and up. Call 877-2773 for hours.

-- AMY SCHERZER

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