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Everybody's business

Out with the old, in with the new

A fashion and accessories shop will drop its antique decor when it moves. A cafe will expand into the space.

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published August 26, 2005

For her store's 10-year anniversary, Sheryl Hope felt it was time for a change and wanted a new beginning.

So she's moving Sheryl Hope Women's Fashions and Accessories from its original location at Bayshore Plaza, 3215-J S MacDill Ave., to the new SouthTown Center at Dale Mabry Highway and Neptune Street.

Hope said she'll have better parking and exposure.

Wednesday will be Hope's last day on MacDill. She hopes to open in SouthTown Center Sept. 6.

The store's decor is changing along with the location. The antique furniture and flower wallpaper won't be making the move.

Hope is switching to a contemporary look with high ceilings and exposed ductwork. She enlisted Glenwood Sherry, "That Paintguy" from WFLA-Ch. 8's Daytime show, to paint the floor and ceiling different shades of teal. He'll paint the walls an iridescent color.

The store will include a display of works for sale by local artists R. Wood and Emily Page, who are scheduled to attend the shop's grand opening, tentatively set for Sept. 16-17. Hope's new SouthTown neighbors, Mama Fu's Noodle House and Moe's Southwest Grill, will provide the food.

Hope, who specializes in clothes and accessories for women sizes 12 and up, said her new 1,300-square-foot space will be slightly smaller than the old one. But she'll have more display space by virtue of the higher ceilings.

"I can just go up with my displays," she said.

Hope's new hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

MURPHY'S LAW - EXPAND THREEFOLD: The pending relocation of Sheryl Hope Women's Fashions and Accessories is big news for neighbor Murphy's Cafe, which is expanding into the space.

Murphy's owner Karen Pizzuto said construction should begin a few weeks after Hope moves to SouthTown Center. The cafe will nearly triple in size - from 800 to nearly 2,400 square feet. Work should be done by Dec. 1.

Pizzuto will turn the new space into a cyber cafe, with 10 wi-fi outlets, three Internet computers, overstuffed leather furniture, card tables, magazines and newspapers from around the country. The overall motif will be "very dark and seductive," she said.

The existing cafe and coffee shop, which has a Tuscany theme, won't change, but the menu may expand. The cafe will continue to offer an eclectic collection of home-style comfort foods subject to the whims of Pizzuto, or her customers. Fifteen choices of coffee and coffee drinks, plus 15 tea selections, round out the menu.

Pizzuto bought the business in April and closed it for extensive remodeling until late July. The shop previously was called Caffe Latte.

Murphy's, which is named after Pizzuto's golden retriever, will remain open during the next round of construction.

BALI BAY STAYING AFTER ALL: Customer loyalty has stopped plans for the Bali Bay Trading Co. to close its store at 3423 W Bay to Bay Blvd.

General manager Carol Pavesi said they decided in April to consolidate the store with Bali Bay's warehouse store in South Seminole Heights. "But then we kind of got the feeling that the people in the neighborhood wanted us to stay," she said.

So Bali Bay stays on Bay to Bay but only as an overstock store. The Seminole Heights Bali Bay at 4222 N Florida Ave. is about 10 times larger and better suited as a showroom and storage facility, Pavesi said.

Bali Bay's South Tampa customers apparently agree. Pavesi said most of them have been willing to trek north to Seminole Heights for items that aren't carried in the Bay to Bay store.

Bali Bay also has a store at 7400 Fourth St. N in St. Petersburg.

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

[Last modified August 25, 2005, 13:55:06]