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MICHAEL CANNINGA branch of New York City-based Tiger Schulmann's Karate will open this summer for students as young as 3.
TIGER POUNCES ON HENDERSON: A franchise of Tiger Schulmann's Karate will open in early August at 3617 Henderson Blvd. in a redeveloped strip center near Swann Avenue.
Franchise co-owner Krisandra Mitchell said the 3,600-square-foot tojo (a common Japanese term for karate school) will offer classes for young children to adults, including the Tiger Cub program for 3- to 5-year-olds.
The Tiger Cub will focus on gymnastic coordination and basic discipline as much as karate, Mitchell said. Older students will adhere to Schulmann's underlying curriculum, a blend of karate, muay thai kick boxing and submission grappling. The latter refers to fighting techniques needed for being on the ground.
"Nine out of 10 times in an attack, you go to the ground," she said.
Mitchell, 25, has a first-degree instructor black belt with Tiger Schulmann. She also has a third-degree black belt with the International Tae Kwon Do Federation and has studied judo and Filipino stick and knife fighting. Her husband and franchise co-owner, Eric Mitchell, 25, has a Schulmann first-degree black belt and a second-degree black belt in tae kwon do.
Sixth-degree Schulmann black belt Gary Hellman, a sort of regional manager for Tiger Schulmann's Karate, will occasionally oversee classes at the Henderson location. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Tiger Schulmann's Karate was founded in New York City by Daniel "Tiger" Schulmann, a champion martial arts competitor and instructor. There are 37 locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. In the Tampa Bay area, there's one in Clearwater and another is scheduled to open in Carrollwood on N Dale Mabry Highway in a few months.
SOUTH TAMPA LIST-INGS: LIST Realty, arguably South Tampa's most active redeveloper, has added three more townhome projects to its portfolio.
Bayshore Beautiful Townhomes are slated to rise on the southwest corner of El Prado Boulevard and MacDill Avenue. Soon to be demolished on the site is a former gas station and auto shop, now vacant and dilapidated. LIST bought the 1950 building six months ago after plans by the previous owner to convert it into a gift shop and art gallery fell through.
Four townhomes and a single-family house are proposed for the lot, said LIST co-owner John Lum. The two-story, 2,000-square-foot townhomes will have three bedrooms and 21/2 bathrooms. The two-story, 3,500-square-foot house will have four bedrooms and four bathrooms. True to LIST form, the buildings will be Mediterranean style.
Lum said demolition should start in two to four weeks, and construction will take six to nine months.
In Port Tampa, crews will break ground in about six weeks on LIST's Rattlesnake Point Townhomes at Kissimmee and Prescott streets. Each of the 22 two-story units will have 1,200 square feet, two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage.
Surprisingly, the Rattlesnake Point Townhomes will be Key West style with metal roofs.
About 11/2 miles north, construction for the 10-unit Casa Marina, 4905 Price Ave., is expected to start in four to six weeks.
The two-story Spanish Mediterranean-style townhomes will have 1,500 square feet, two bedrooms, 21/2 baths and garages.
Prices for any of these townhouses haven't been determined yet.
SOHO OASIS: We're not alluding to a figurative place. It's actually the name of the new restaurant at 410-C S Howard Ave. Whether it actually is an oasis depends on your notion of authentic Middle Eastern cuisine.
Owner Richard Azar is confident, having run the Oasis Bakery, 1450 Skipper Road, with his family for seven years. A native of Broummana, Lebanon, he said he's wanted to open an adjunct to the bakery for five years now. He was particularly keen on the space on Howard Avenue, formerly the Off the Eaten Path deli.
The 900-square-foot restaurant sells baked goods from Oasis Bakery, plus Mediterranean staples such as shish kebab, shish taouk, hommous, tabouli, baba ganouge, falafel, kafta beef and baklava.
Primarily a takeout business, the restaurant seats 10 inside. Azar plans to add an outdoor deck in the front that will accommodate 40.
- Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3394 or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com
Yard ArtSt. Petersburg artist Stig Lindow makes flowers "bloom" from recycled aluminum. This one stands 3 feet tall and costs $60. It was found among a variety of gifts and accessories at Mother Earth, 4711 W Gandy Blvd. Call 493-1721.
- AMY SCHERZER