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Everybody's Business

Niche filled

An organic grocery store opens in Palma Ceia Village, taking the last vacancy in the old Giancola's Market.

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published June 24, 2005

It's taken nearly three years, but the entire space of the former Giancola's Market has been filled.

Village Health Market opened May 21 in the Palma Ceia Village shopping center at 3225 S MacDill Ave., a few blocks south of Bay to Bay Boulevard.

It's got most of everything you'd expect at a specialty food market, so long as you tack on the words "organic" and/or "natural."

There are meats, produce, frozen foods, vitamins and supplements and cosmetics. A cafe sells smoothies, sandwiches, soups, salads and Mediterranean dishes.

There's also a selection of about 200 organic and regular wines, and co-owner Roni Levi said he plans to add more soon. The frozen food section spans 40 freezer doors, more than usual for a store this size, he said.

Levi owns the market with his brother Dave Levi of Abby's Health and Nutrition on N Dale Mabry Highway in Carrollwood.

The market is next door to Pane Rustica, which opened in the other portion of Giancola's in May 2004. Giancola's closed in May 2002 after a long run as a gourmet market.

BIG-TIME BOUTIQUE: "Jolie" is French for pretty, but the Jolie International Fashion Boutique goes way beyond that. It's a women's store filled with high-end stuff by big-time names.

"We also carry things that are very, very unique, stuff that people won't find anywhere at the mall or no other boutique," manager Samantha Elkhouly said.

Jolie International opened June 13 at 3640 W Kennedy Blvd., just west of Dale Mabry Highway, in the former SGO women's boutique.

Jolie features designer labels such as Gucci, Versace, Dior, Seven, BCBG, Dolce & Gabbana, Bebe and Parasuco.

Items include day outfits, club wear, lingerie, casual dress, bathing suits, sunglasses, hand bags and jewelry - almost everything but business suits and formal gowns, Elkhouly said.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Call 875-2090.

THE GOURMET ON HENDERSON: The gourmet meal prep business still hasn't caught on here like it has on the West Coast.

But it's gaining interest.

Michelle Demo, co-owner of the new Week Day Gourmet, says her location at 3605 Henderson Blvd. near Swann Avenue is ideal for drawing customers who like to eat well but want to eliminate the chore of shopping and preparing food.

Week Day Gourmet is essentially an attractive commercial kitchen with accommodations for up to 16 people to prepare meals in bulk.

The shop provides the menus, food and utensils, and guides customers through the cooking process. Customers leave with packaged meals ready for freezing or cooking at home, plus instructions.

Customers can't bring their own food but are free to add or subtract from Week Day's menu and pantry to suit their palettes, Demo said.

Choices on the latest menu include apple cranberry pork loin chops, mozzarella stuffed Italian meat loaves, teriyaki-marinated London broil with horseradish chive cream, crab quiche and breast of chicken with pinot blanc and capers.

The cost is $144 for an eight-serving meal and $16 for additional servings.

Week Day also offers to-go style meals for those who want to pick up prepped and packaged meals. Those cost $72 for four-serving meals, plus a $25 prep free. Additional servings cost $16.

Week Day Gourmet sells prepped and frozen side dishes, such as broccoli and Parmesan, and garlic and rosemary roasted red bliss potatoes, along with award-winning desserts from Mike's Pies.

Cooking sessions are at 10 a.m., 5:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and at 9:30 a.m., noon and 2:30 p.m. Saturdays. Private sessions can also be scheduled.

Demo hopes to franchise the business and says she has had talks with prospective franchisees in Reno, Nev., Atlanta, and Charlotte, S.C.

Call 875-3663 or go to www.wdgourmet.com

Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3382, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com

The go-anywhere, go-with-everything Sharon Rose purse is made by the artist herself in Ybor City and sold in gift shops all over the world. Try on assorted sizes in many different fabrics at her shop, Mermaid's Slipper, 1911 N 19th St., a former cigarmaker's casita. Prices start at $18. This one sells for $51. Call 247-4400.

- AMY SCHERZER

[Last modified June 24, 2005, 09:04:19]