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Service center a bay area first for boating retailer

By CHRISTINA K. COSDON
Published November 6, 2005

CLEARWATER - West Marine, a popular retailer of boating supplies and accessories, is opening its first Tampa Bay area store to have onsite boat service and installation center.

The new store at 1721 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd. features nearly 23,000 square feet of retail space and will be managed by Kevin Davenport, an avid power boater with many years of retail and boating experience.

Industry-certified technicians will work in the store's service bays to provide engine tune-ups, trailer repairs, as well as boat service and installation.

Grand opening festivities are planned for Friday through Sunday with special guests and prizes.

West Marine has more than 400 West Marine stores and BoatU.S. marine centers in 38 states, Puerto Rico and Canada. The company carries more than 100,000 products, ranging from rope to the newest marine electronics. The company also serves boaters worldwide through its mail order and internet divisions.

Artists Dennis and Dorothy Brown of Tarpon Springs have opened Blue Moon Gallery in an 1890s building at 204 E Tarpon Ave. The fine arts gallery features original oils and watercolors, etchings, engravings, sculpture, jewelry, photography and textiles and has custom framing and photo restoration services.

In their first exhibition, the Browns are showcasing the works of Rocky Bridges, Lin Carte, Robyn Hillary, Elizabeth Indianos, Mitch Kolbe, Jack Roseman, Robin Saenger and Nick Toth.

The gallery's grand opening is Saturday evening. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Jocelyn Chapman has joined Old Harbor Bank as a vice president, retail banking executive and branch manager of its Countryside office at 2605 Enterprise Road E, Clearwater. She is a veteran banker with 25 years experience and most recently was branch manager of the North Countryside office of South Trust/Wachovia.

The community bank is locally owned and operated. Its corporate office is at the Enterprise Road location. Its second branch is at 1352 Main St., Dunedin, and the newest branch is at 32700 U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor.

Medical Ophthalmics Inc., a dietary supplement manufacturer, medical supply distributor and pharmaceutical supplier, has moved from Tarpon Springs to 630 Brooker Creek Blvd. in Oldsmar. The company also has changed its name to MedOp Inc.

The business was established in 1985 by Dr. Rodney O. Horton and Dr. James P. Gills. Horton became the company's sole owner in 1994.

In early 1997, Horton began developing MaxiVision to help prevent macular degeneration and maintain eye health and MaxiFlex for joint problems. The company provides eye care professionals and consumers with an extensive selection of health care products.

Brett Blumencranz has joined Acordia Southeast, 311 Park Place Blvd., Clearwater, as a sales associate and member of its commercial lines division. He is the third generation in his family to be an insurance professional.

Acordia Inc., a Wells Fargo company, is the largest bank-owned insurance brokerage in the United States with more than 150 offices in 38 states and 4,500 insurance professionals.

News of businesses and business people can be faxed to the Business Digest at 445-4119, e-mailed to cosdon@sptimes.com or mailed to Business Digest, 710 Court St., Clearwater, FL 33756. We are interested in new and unusual businesses, promotions, expansions and major new contracts. Photos can be sent, but not all will be used and they cannot be returned.

[Last modified November 6, 2005, 01:59:22]