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Stores casting for fishermen, parents

The two retailers have relocated to the old La Petite Plaza.

PEEPS, FLIES FIND NEW HOMES: The Saltwater Fly Fisherman and Little Peeps children's clothing and furniture store have moved into the old La Petite Plaza at the corner of S Dale Mabry Highway and San Miguel Street.

The Saltwater Fly Fisherman devotes about 40 percent of its inventory to freshwater fly fishing and the rest to the rapidly growing saltwater segment of the industry, said marketing manager Carolyn Homer.

Homer says the store moved from downtown Clearwater to be more centrally located in the Tampa Bay area.

Fly-fishing great Lefty Kreh will sign books from 6 to 9 p.m. today and give casting demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

A grand opening is planned for June 13 and 14. Fly-fishing celebrity Stu Apte will sign books from 6 to 9 p.m. June 13 and give casting demonstrations from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 14. Outback Steakhouse will provide catering.

The store sells fly rods and reels, flies, fly-tying supplies, outdoor clothing, books and gifts. It also will offer fly-tying classes at 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and casting classes at 1:30 p.m. Saturdays.

Next door, Little Peeps expanded from its former location at Dale Mabry and Neptune Street, which is slated to become a new retail development.

Co-owner Ashley Moran says she has twice as much space in the new store, which opened in March. The bigger digs allowed her to expand her selection of bedding, furniture and clothing for boys and older children.

Little Peeps also sells toys and children's decor.

DIVE SHOP RESURFACES: The busy intersection at Swann Avenue and Henderson Boulevard now has a strong claim as South Tampa's most buoyant. Less than three weeks after the long-lived Adventures Underwater dive shop closed there, a new one has replaced it.

Adventures Under the Sea was scheduled to open Thursday at 3418 W Swann Ave. A husband and wife team, Tina and Ben Harris, outfitted the 3,700-square-foot store as a full-service dive shop, along with kayak, wake board, water skiing, hiking and camping supplies. They'll offer Scuba classes, snorkeling and children's summer programs in a 19,000-gallon, above-ground pool behind the shop.

The Harrises also plan to sponsor dive classes for all levels and dive clubs that will make excursions.

Ben Harris, a cave and night-diving enthusiast, previously worked at the Peter Glenn of Vermont ski shop in Carrollwood. Adventure Under the Sea's service manager, Paul La Joice, is a former Scuba service manager at Mac's Sports in Clearwater.

WHO PUT THE "Z' IN BANGS? Gina Staton did. As new owner of the Bangs and Burns Hair Network, she's renamed it BangZ Salon and Spa and is reconfiguring it to reflect the name change. She's also throwing a grand re-opening event all day today. Staton bought the 25-year-old business at 4027 W Kennedy Blvd. in late February. Since then she changed some of the decor and started remodeling to make way for a massage room. Staton says a massage therapist should be on board sometime in June. She also plans to add another four or five hair stylists.

For today's festivities, BangZ is offering free extra services - scalp massages or deep conditioning treatments for hair appointments, nail art for nail appointments and five-minute hand massages for facial or waxing appointments. There also will be free food and drinks, balloon animals for kids, prize giveaways and discounts on hair products.

BangZ is on the north side of Kennedy, between Hale and Grady avenues.

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

Take a whack at a pinata, either for birthdays or upcoming Cinco de Mayo fiestas. Fill them with candy for the kids, or leave them empty and hang as decorations. This mariposa (Spanish for butterfly) sells for $14.99 at Columbus Gift and Party, a division of Florida Bakery, at 3316 W Columbus Drive. Call 350-9558 for details.

- AMY SCHERZER