Crispers attracts a line in West Bay Village. The city hopes that's a good omen for the complex and downtown.
By LORRI HELFAND
Published June 29, 2004
LARGO - Before getting lunch at Crispers restaurant at West Bay Village, a handful of workers from the Bardmoor YMCA pressed their faces against the window of an empty shop next door.
They couldn't help but be curious.
Aside from Crispers, which opened eight weeks ago, the new complex near Seminole and West Bay Drive is practically vacant.
Merchants across the street are curious, too.
Since fall, Bloomtown Florist owner Hugh Geren has heard about other shops coming in, but, he said, "It's been so many months and we haven't seen anything but Crispers."
And Mike Martinez, who owns Renovations furniture store, has the same question.
"Why is it taking so long to get filled?" he asked.
Not to worry, said West Bay Village developer Scott Shimberg of Hyde Park Builders. Crispers will have company soon when the complex becomes home to 10 to 12 merchants. Deals have been completed with all but a couple of retailers, he said.
In mid July, A & A Jewelry Corp. plans to open Alexis, a store specializing in gold and platinum jewelry, diamonds and on-site designs and repairs.
In late August or early September, the Vitamin Discount Center will have its debut, said company chairman Art Gore. The company has eight stores in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, but none in the Largo area and local customers were traveling too far, Gore said.
"We liked what Scott (Shimberg) had done with the townhouses, and we wanted to be close to the beach, residential areas and our customers," Gore said.
PJ's Coffee and Wine Bar, a hair salon, health spa and boutique gift store will soon call the center home, too, Shimberg said.
Even though they're alone at the center, the crew at Crispers isn't lonely.
"We can't be," said assistant manager Sam Scarpaci. "We're always busy."
Tonya Wood comes to Crispers every week to pick up lunch for the employees at McGill Plumbing.
"It's always hopping," Wood said. "Around lunchtime, there's usually a line out the door."
West Bay Village and its commercial center are the culmination of several years of planning and bargaining. City leaders believed the project could jump-start downtown revitalization, and they offered several incentives to entice the developers.
In fall 2002, Hyde Park paid the city $1.08-million for the old City Hall site, slightly more than half of the appraised value of $1.9-million. Largo also waived building permit and planning fees and spent $4.2-million to widen and beautify West Bay Drive.
Now, city officials say Crispers' popularity is a good sign.
"I think the response to the Crispers has been fantastic. It has obviously established downtown as a destination, and, hopefully, the additional shops will bolster it as a destination for evening as well," Community Development Director Mike Staffopoulos said.
Scarpaci said his clientele are mainly seniors and professionals, especially those who work at nearby medical centers, and on weekends the restaurant draws a family crowd.
The healthy fare is what brings them in, he said. The Lakeland-based chain specializes in fresh soups, salads and sandwiches. It also serves Publix Premium Ice Cream. Publix Super Markets Inc. bought an undisclosed portion of the privately owned chain in August 2002.
"You can tell people are fed up with the regular rigmarole," he said.
Martinez, who previously wasn't sure whether people would patronize West Bay Village, thinks the large chain's effective advertising campaign gives it an edge over mom-and-pop shops.
Crispers first opened in 1989. The chain has more than 20 restaurants throughout Florida; West Bay Village is its first Pinellas location. Crispers plans several more outlets in Pinellas and 50 in Florida by the end of 2005.
Despite the action across the street, Geren doesn't expect an influx of pedestrian patrons. For now, his business relies mostly on phone orders.
"People will see us here, but people won't walk across traffic to get to us," he said.
Martinez said a few folks have trekked across the street from Crispers, but he's afraid they're taking their lives in their hands.
"I'm worried that there's no walkway (to cross the street). It's just a matter of time. There's going to be an accident," he said.
