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Everybody's Business

Jeweler going for lively look

Design students from a Tampa academy lent their talents toward creating a new look for Continental Jewelry.

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published October 14, 2005

It seemed a fitting move for a jeweler who implores his customers to "never pay retail again."

To design his new location, Glenn Smith tapped students at Tampa's International Academy of Design and Technology. But he got anything but cut-rate ideas. "They were unbelievably good," he said.

Many of the students' ideas will be incorporated into Continental Jewelry's future location at 405 N West Shore Blvd., across from WestShore Plaza. Smith sought younger minds for a reason. He wants the new interior to look "very contemporary."

"I don't want a stuffy, dark mahogany kind of a feel. It's going to be a lively, fun place to be."

The new Continental will have a sports-themed complimentary liquor bar with flat screen TV, a jewelry design studio and a children's play area. The 7,500-square-foot space will also allow for two additional custom jewelry designers.

Smith founded Continental Jewelry with his brother Don Smith 25 years ago. The business focused on wholesale until six years ago. Adding retail eventually precipitated the need for better visibility than Continental's current location in the Fifth Third Bank building at 4427 W Kennedy Blvd.

The new location is scheduled to open Nov. 1, Smith said.

BOLTHEADS CAN NOW EAT AT DAVE'S: Toronto has Wayne Gretzky's. Boston has the Fours, a tribute to one Bobby Orr.

Now Tampa has Dave Andreychuk's Grille. The Tampa Bay Lightning captain's name is now in lights at 490 Channelside Drive, across from his home rink. The restaurant opened Monday after a few trial nights, including the Lightning's opener Oct. 5.

Andreychuk Grille's managing partner Frank Margarella said the restaurant, in keeping with many other sports icon restaurants, is a little more refined than a typical sports bar. Changes from its former incarnation as Rivals sports bar, and Beef O' Brady's before that, include a more open floor plan and earth tone colors.

But there's still plenty to gratify super fans. Andreychuk's personal memorabilia will abound, including pictures, his 500th goal puck and jerseys from all six of his teams. The outdoor patio bar will remain. A portable bar can also be deployed next to it, as can a makeshift beer garden in the parking lot on game nights.

The man himself is expected to appear in the restaurant "two or three times a month on a casual basis," Margarella said. "We don't want this to become where Dave does autograph sessions."

Will it become a hangout for other Lightning players? "We hope so," Margarella said.

Margarella described the menu as "fine casual," with steaks, sandwiches, wings, seared salmon salads, ahi tuna and crab cakes. Dave Crusoe, impresario of Cafe Anna on S West Shore Boulevard, is in charge of Andreychuk's kitchen. Margarella's business partner, Jeff Hatjioannou, used to run Harpo's nightclubs in Ybor City and Carrollwood.

Margarella has been involved in restaurant management with his family since childhood. In recent years he branched into country club management and consulting, and commercial real estate.

Andreychuk's hours are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight, and noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. Hours will be subject to events occurring at the St. Pete Times Forum.

WALTER'S CROSSING OPENINGS: The unique design of the Walter's Crossing shopping center at Dale Mabry Highway and Interstate 275 should seem a little less odd to shoppers now that a few more key tenants have opened their doors.

PetSmart opened Sept. 3, followed by Linens 'n Things Sept. 30. Both are underneath the second-story Target in a configuration known as stacked retail. Designer Shoe Warehouse opened Sept. 9 in a storefront visible from Dale Mabry.

The project's multilevel parking garage hides the anchor Target, along with PetSmart and Linens 'n Things, from the view of passing motorists. Wild Oats organic food market is scheduled to open underneath Target in February.

Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3394, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com

[Last modified October 13, 2005, 08:20:12]