A spy shop opens, a diving shop relocates and the long-awaited Plum Tree restaurant is ready.
By MICHAEL CANNING
Published May 16, 2003
SCUBA SPYING: Kennedy Boulevard has scored two more victories in the perennial battle to reinvigorate Tampa's gateway to downtown.
Surveillance and Spy Innovations and the World of Water Scuba shop opened May 1 on Kennedy, a few blocks from each other.
Owned by private investigator Ray Caruso, Surveillance and Spy Innovations occupies the vividly painted, recently renovated commercial center at 918 W Kennedy, just east of Edison Avenue. The 1,000-square-foot storefront stocks an array of spy, surveillance and personal protection items.
Choices range from the basic spy stuff, such as mace, stun guns and vehicle tracking devices, to more James Bond-like products, such as a camera the size of a quarter. It also has elaborate remote digital surveillance systems.
Caruso runs two other businesses from the store, GSR Investigative Group Inc. and GSSR Security, Inc.
Farther west, at Kennedy and Willow Avenue, World of Water opened at Independent Plaza, a new office/retail strip. It sells and rents "everything for diving," said owner Scott Lucci. It also coordinates diving trips and sponsors lessons at a pool at University of Tampa, where Lucci is an adjunct professor of scuba diving.
Lucci moved the long-standing South Tampa Scuba shop from 4323 W Kennedy to be closer to UT's pool. In the process, he also gained more space.
South Tampa divers will recall that this is the same World of Water that burned down next to the Kennedy Boulevard Krispy Kreme in 1994. The business rose from the ashes to occupy a few other South Tampa locations before settling at Independent Plaza.
PLUM TREE BLOSSOMS: The long-anticipated Plum Tree sushi and Chinese restaurant opened May 3 at 215-C E Davis Blvd. The small storefront nestled in the Davis Islands business district is primarily a takeout restaurant, but it has seating for 12 inside and four outside.
Manager Eva Jiang said the opening was delayed because the permitting and inspection process took longer than expected.
The Plum is open 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday through Saturday, and noon to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
EGG HEAD'S GONE: The "unique gift shop" on Bay to Bay Boulevard - which would have been called a head shop in the not-so-distant past - closed a month ago after about a year in business. Egg Head's featured water pipes, hookahs, hand pipes, tobacco accessories, lava lamps, sex toys and incense.
Some might be surprised it lasted as long as it did on the stretch of Bay to Bay known more for its upscale boutiques and antique shops.
Real estate broker John Ayers said the owner decided to sell the building, forcing Egg Head's to close.
Now the 3,000-square-foot building at 3253 W Bay to Bay Blvd., on the northeast corner of the Ferdinand Avenue, is being renovated for its next tenant. Ayers isn't ready to announce the tenant but said it will use the building as office space.
No word yet on whether Egg Head's will reopen elsewhere.
- Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3382, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com
Fish prints
Instead of mounting your catch of the day, consider gyotaku (ghee-o-tah-ku), the Japanese art of printing fish on rice paper. Artist Burt Lancaster will take any catch, ice it and paint it. Then he transfers it onto the paper, rubbing the features into a colorful print. When he's done, he'll fillet the fish for you, too. (Cooking costs extra.) Gyotaku prices start at $125 at the Frame Factory and Gallery at 3202 S West Shore Blvd. Call 837-9313.
