The deli and caterers, in Tampa since 1959, will open up a shop on W Platt Street near Bayshore Boulevard.
By MICHAEL CANNING
Published September 5, 2003
SWEET NAME SPREADING: To many South Tampa sweet tooths, the Zudar name is synonymous with killer desserts. And after being posted at numerous locations since 1959, it will go up at yet another in early October.
Construction has started for Marc and Didi Zudar's Deli Cafe and Caterers at 201-A W Platt St., next to the Publix at Platt and Bayshore Boulevard. It's also the site of Bayshore Cleaners, which will be sharing a wall with the new Zudar's.
Marc Zudar says the 2,400-square-foot restaurant and bakery will have many of the items his family has sold to generations of South Tampa customers. It also will have indoor seating for 60.
The menu will feature deli-style sandwiches, soups, salads, baked breads and pastries. Zudar is also planning some entrees, plus beer and wine, to better accommodate later business hours, which will stretch until 9 or 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Zudar fans can expect to see the return of coconut cream pie, Chocolate Fantasy Cake, peanut butter pie, turtle pie, cheesecakes, loaded baked potato soup, Hungarian beef and cabbage soup, Irish chicken soup and white sangria.
Zudar's family first opened a restaurant on Davis Islands in 1959. Over the years the business moved to three downtown locations, to MacDill Avenue and to Bay to Bay Boulevard.
In 1998, Zudar's Deli Cafe opened at 1818 W Platt St., a few blocks east of Howard Avenue. Marc Zudar sold the business in 2000, but it remains open under different ownership.
WHO NEEDS A BACK YARD? South Tampa townhouse developments continue to pop up like mushrooms after the rain. Three separate projects are under way within a few blocks on MacDill Avenue south of Gandy Boulevard.
The farthest along is Seven Palms Townhouses, a three-story, seven-unit building between Wallace and Leila avenues. It broke ground in February, and an imposing framework of solid concrete now rises from the lot.
Bill Wilson, administrative assistant for project developer Ossi Consulting Engineers Inc., admits that it's unusual for this type of building to use so much concrete.
"He just likes to build good stuff," he said of his boss, Fareed Ossi. Each three-story unit has 2,100 square feet, a garage, two bedrooms, two full baths, two half baths and two balconies. Prices range from $260,000 to $270,000. Two have sold already, Wilson said.
Construction was scheduled to be completed Aug. 1, but Wilson said excessive rains have pushed back the date to the end of October.
Across the street and a block north, crews have cleared land for Toscana, a 15-building project on MacDill between Wallace and Tyson avenues.
James Landers, CEO of project developer Landcraft Development, says Toscana will have 41 townhomes. Most will be two story and range from 1,600 to 1,850 square feet. Each will have three bedrooms and bathrooms and a garage. Prices will range from $209,000 to $235,000.
There are contracts on 20 of the units, Landers said. Construction should be done in eight or nine months.
We know what you're thinking now. How can any talk about new townhouses in South Tampa not include the word Mediterranean?
Don't fret. Both Toscana and Southtown Reserve, which will take shape a few blocks south on MacDill Avenue, will have the ubiquitous Med look.
Southtown Reserve will rise at the southwest corner of Wyoming and MacDill avenues. Jolene Saladino, of project developer LIST Realty, says the property will be gated and have 15 townhomes, each boasting 2,200 square feet, two stories, a two-car garage, three bedrooms, two and a half baths and a gas fireplace.
Prices will range from $299,900 to $349,900, and construction should be complete by July 2004. Four units have sold, Saladino said.
ANTIQUE SHOP GETTING MAKEOVER: The former home of Neta Winders Antiques on Bay to Bay Boulevard west of MacDill Avenue is going through extensive renovation.
Building owner Majdi Falasiri, who also owns Shiraz Oriental Rug Gallery next door, says he is redeveloping the building at 3109 W Bay to Bay Blvd. as a retail showroom. He plans arches and columns on the facade and marble and granite surfaces for the 4,700-square-foot building.
Falasiri said he hasn't decided who will occupy the building when the project is completed later this month.
- Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3382, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com
THE FIND: Baby Buc wear
Future quarterback Jonathon Quoc Cotey, 6 months, starts football season in style with a Tampa Bay Bucs uniform-style onesie with pants from Authentic Team Merchandise It's Buccaneer Heaven. The retailer of licensed Tampa Bay Buccaneers stuff is now open in Ybor City at 1524 E Seventh Ave. The outfit goes for $25.99. Call 241-0539.
