SEMINOLE - Colonial Bank has a new branch and its first full-service office here at 7600 Seminole Blvd.
The Alabama-based bank moved from its previous location on Park Boulevard into a building it renovated on Seminole Boulevard. It now is what vice president and branch manager Bob Rogers calls a "state of the art facility."
The 4,000-square-foot building features regular banking services, safe deposit boxes, drive-through lanes, night depository and a 24-hour drive-up ATM.
Colonial has 270 banks in a six-state area, including seven in Pinellas, Rogers said.
The new branch, which held its grand opening last week, has seven employees and $30-million in deposits.
New cafe at McNulty Station
ST. PETERSBURG - After being vacant for more than two years, the restaurant space at McNulty Station will reopen Dec. 15 as Cafe Alma.
Dwight and Catherine Watkins own the new cafe that will seat 150. It occupies space that used to be the Firehouse grill.
Dwight Watkins is completely redoing the restaurant space, including changing the kitchen from an all-electric cooking area to gas.
Cafe Alma's fare will be Mediterranean fusion, using a lot of braising, roasting and light sauteing, Watkins said. He was a bartender at the popular Grand Finale restaurant, which closed earlier this year.
The new restaurant joins new developments on a couple of streets south of Central Avenue. University Village, anchored by Publix, just opened and features nine other shops. An Eckerd opened nearby.
Mortgages for first-time buyers
ST. PETERSBURG - A mortgage company with a specialty in federally insured home loans has teamed up with St. Petersburg Neighborhood Housing Services to help first-time home buyers get loans.
Market Street Mortgage, a national company based in Clearwater, is in a three-year deal with NHS to offer loans to would-be buyers who complete NHS' education program. That involves eight hours of classes and help with credit problems.
NHS refers clients to mortgage lenders. It has agreed to send every 10th graduate of its home buyer education program to Market Street Mortgage.
NHS has been in business for 23 years and is a nonprofit housing program that tries to redevelop neighborhoods by getting more homeowners in them.
Dinners-to-go operation moves in
ST. PETERSBURG - The former Spitfire grill on Roosevelt Boulevard in the northern part of the city now is eBistros.com. New owners Paul and Shirley Chelstowski were looking for a place to open a dinners-to-go operation when they found the grill.
"We decided to incorporate our to-go concept," said Paul Chelstowski. eBistros.com, its name taken from the Internet, of course, also serves breakfast and lunch at its location at 10901 Roosevelt Blvd. in the Pinellas Business Center.
Chelstowski said he had previous restaurant experience at Spoto's Steak Joint and the Lobster Pot.
