By Times Staff Writers
Published November 16, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG - The former Swanholm nursing home is being torn down to make way for a headquarters building for Mortgage Investors Corp., which already has offices a couple of doors down on Central Avenue.
Bill Edwards is head of the mortgage company and owns BIG3 Records and BIG3 Entertainment. His companies share space at 6090 Central Ave. The record-entertainment companies have an inhouse recording studio and production, promotion and marketing facilities.
The new building on the Swanholm site will be for the mortgage company, which does VA refinancing loans. Once the mortgage company moves, the record and entertainment entities will expand at the current site.
New Chick-fil-A a smash hit
SEMINOLE - Chick-fil-A had a crowd waiting when it opened its new location last week on Park Boulevard.
Some folks had camped out overnight in hopes of being among the first 100 into the restaurant at 6:30 a.m. Thursday. If they were, they got a year's supply of Chick-fil-A combo meals.
"The first customer showed up at 2 p.m. the day before," said Karen Bernard, grand-opening unit marketing director for Chick-fil-A.
About 90 people spent the night, Bernard said. Chick-fil-A employees were on hand and played games with those waiting who brought lawn chairs, sofa cushions and sleeping bags to make their stay more comfortable.
The Seminole restaurant, at 10790 Park Blvd., is owned by Gary Malanowski.
Chick-fil-A only recently began the meal giveaways at grand openings, which amount to $260 per person in food. Winners get 52 combo meals, which include a Chick-fil-A sandwich, french fries and a drink. Bernard said other prizes were given away to those who did not make the first 100 diners.
Waffle House sets new location
PINELLAS PARK - City officials renewed a lease agreement with Waffle House during Thursday's City Council meeting. But the lease is not destined to last long, they said. The Waffle House, 6999 U.S. 19, will be moving to nearby Lealman when its new building is complete, Pinellas Park officials said. The building, which is under construction, will be at the northwest corner of 54th Avenue N and Interstate 275.
Ferg's owner buys Philthy Phil's
ST. PETE BEACH - The owner of Ferg's Sports Bar and Grill is expanding from his spot near Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg out to the beach.
Mark Ferguson bought Philthy Phil's in St. Pete Beach. He said he has no plans to change Philthy Phil's from a casual beach bar to a sports bar such as Ferg's. It will keep its name.
Ferguson frequented Philthy Phil's and let owners Phil and Belinda Albert know he was interested in buying it when he heard they wanted to sell. (A story on this purchase previously appeared in some editions of the Neighborhood Times.)
- SHARON L. BOND, ANNE LINDBERG and MAUREEN BYRNE AHERN
