The city is asking several companies to make proposals for a shop that would fit into the new train station.
By ANNE LINDBERG
Published August 20, 2003
PINELLAS PARK - Imagine this: languidly sipping a frothy latte while the day and the traffic pass by.
Easy to imagine in Seattle, New York or even BayWalk in St. Petersburg. But in Pinellas Park?
That's the vision for Pinellas Park's new train station, and now city officials are searching for someone to fill that niche. They are asking for folks to bid on the opportunity to run a cafe, coffee shop or ice cream parlor in the station when it opens next spring.
The immediate hope is that such a business will encourage passers-by to drop in, visit the Pinellas Park/Mid-County Chamber of Commerce, browse artifacts belonging to the Historical Society and view paintings created by Art Society members.
"It will be a destination ... a hanging spot," City Manager Mike Gustafson said. "We're not talking a hangout place for teenagers; we're talking a hangout place for families."
But the ultimate goal is loftier, Gustafson said.
The shop also could help draw folks into a city center dotted with boutiques and other businesses that officials hope will develop around the train station at 5851 Park Blvd.
Having a faux train station on Park is a long-standing goal of city officials, who see it as the centerpiece of the city's redevelopment area.
The $3.3-million facility, which will include city offices and training rooms, will be surrounded by parking areas and a clock tower.
It also will serve as an entryway into a city center that already includes the police station and adjoining green space, the old city auditorium and the senior citizens center.
Early on, Gustafson said, officials were thinking of ways to make the station stand out among municipal buildings in the bay area. One way is to put in a cafe - rather than the traditional vending machines and microwaves - that could be a gathering space for city employees as well as residents.
City officials are asking several companies to make proposals for something to fit in the train station. They're also hoping others, including mom and pop operations, will hear of the opportunity and offer proposals of their own.
Some among the businesses on the city list are well-known, such as the Atlanta Bread Co., which has stores in Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Tampa. Among its offerings are sandwiches, soups, salads, breads, pastries and gourmet coffees.
Also fairly well known are Barnie's Coffee and Tea Co., Perry's Coffee and Tea Co. and the Coffee Beanery.
Less well-known is Treats, a Canadian company based in Ottawa.
"We're sending them an RFP (request for proposal) so we can find out what their specialty is," Assistant City Manager Tom Shevlin said.
Treats' Web site touts the company's cookies, which come in several sizes, including personal monogrammed designer cookies. The stores also sell quiche, soups, salads, sandwiches and international coffees.
