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Everybody's business

Jimmy Mac's is on the move again

This time the waterfront restaurant is in the path of New Port Tampa Bay.

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published August 12, 2005

You could say that Jimmy McNorrill is feeling the squeeze. Soon, his restaurant, Jimmy Mac's, will be displaced for the third time because of redevelopment.

Finding a new location hasn't been easy. That's because he wants to keep his business where it has been for its entire 31 years - in South Tampa. "I was born and raised in this part of town," McNorrill said.

During that time, he has seen its real estate skyrocket in value.

"Between Gandy and Kennedy, if it's got enough parking, it's condo potential," he said.

Sure enough, Jimmy Mac's current location, 5000 Gandy Blvd., next to the Imperial Yacht Basin on Rattlesnake Point, is in the middle of a proposed 53-acre residential and commercial development called New Port Tampa Bay.

Ed Oelschlaeger, president of project developer EcoGroup, said he wants to give Jimmy Mac's "as much time as they need to relocate." He couldn't say exactly when McNorrill's time will be up; his company still has issues to resolve with the city.

Oelschlaeger did say that when demolition begins - in September, he hopes - it will start at the old Hendry shipyard on the south side of Rattlesnake Point. Then it will work its way north toward Jimmy Mac's. The old Moody shipyard and the Imperial Yacht Basin will be claimed as well.

McNorrill said he considered moving into the former the Red Dog Bar and Grill on Bay to Bay Boulevard "but the building was in such disrepair that the cost would have been prohibitive."

So the search continues. McNorrill said he's looking into several South Tampa locations, and even one in Pinellas County.

Jimmy Mac's moving to Pinellas?

McNorrill admits it sounds strange for a South Tampa restaurant fixture. "Only Bern's and the Colonnade have been open longer than me (in South Tampa), and they're on their second and third generations."

Jimmy Mac's opened in 1974 on West Shore Boulevard across from WestShore Plaza. In 1979, the land was sold, so McNorrill moved to an old bungalow at Armenia Avenue and Cleveland Street. In 1999, Jimmy Mac's Waterfront opened next to the Imperial Yacht Basin, and the following year the Armenia location closed when the land was sold for redevelopment.

Another Jimmy Mac's briefly held sway on Seventh Avenue in Ybor City in the mid 1990s.

PETS PLACE GROWS: It has been a long time coming, but the Bayshore Grooming and Pet Resort at 4804 S Manhattan Ave. will soon complete a considerable expansion and upgrade.

The business plans to expand from 1,200 to 8,500 square feet by the time construction ends in early September, said owner Robin Hirsch. The business will remain a grooming, boarding and day care facility for dogs and cats.

A 3,500-square-foot fenced and screened outdoor play area is being added. It will have dancing water fountains and water bowls. Inside will be 68 partitioned stainless steel runs with cots and blankets. A day care room will be stocked with dog toys and have dog doors that lead to the outside potty area.

A cattery will have kitty "condos" and accommodations for multicat families. New pet grooming facilities will take up 1,200 square feet. Everything will be monitored on closed circuit television, Hirsch said.

Hirsch said she has been planning the expansion for 21/2 years. She used to work in hotel sales. "I put butts in beds, as we called it. Now I'm putting mutts in beds."

BANK BRANCH EXPANDING: You'll have to pardon the Bank of Tampa's dust, if you use its Sunset Park branch.

The office at 4355 Henderson Blvd. is adding 1,000 square feet that will include two offices, a conference room and a new facade, said bank senior vice president Steve Fluharty. Construction started in early July and is expected to take six more weeks, he said.

The branch will remain open through the construction.

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

[Last modified August 11, 2005, 09:00:07]