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By MICHAEL CANNINGDavani's opened a second store, at Kennedy and Himes, to furnish the South Tampa masses.
It was inevitable. With townhomes, condominiums and lofts springing up all over South Tampa, sooner or later somebody would have to supply furniture to put in these new places.
It's not like there aren't furniture stores in South Tampa. But David Simmons, owner of Davani's Home Furnishings and More at 11842 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., couldn't help noticing that "we were delivering in South Tampa eight times a week."
So he opened a second store at 3642 W Kennedy Blvd., at Himes Avenue, in early October.
His faith hasn't been misplaced. Simmons is seeing customers he served as University of South Florida students when he opened his first store in 2003. Only now they're professionals living on Harbour Island and throughout South Tampa.
Along with being in the right place at the right time, Simmons feels he has the right product.
"We walk right down the line of transitional furniture," he said, referring to a style that's a blend of contemporary and traditional. "Real straight lines, anticlutter."
Futons, sofas, chairs, platform beds and casual convertibles make up the bulk of his stock. A lot of the furniture is designed on a slightly smaller scale ideal for condos and lofts, he said. Within a month he expects to also stock entertainment stands designed specifically for plasma TVs.
The 3,000-square-foot showroom is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
The name Davani's is a combination of David and his wife's name, Vani. She's the buyer for the store.
ACROPOLIS EXPANDING: Not the one in Athens. Can you imagine the red tape for that?
The Acropolis Taverna in Ybor City is absorbing the storefront next door, formerly the site of Ybor Pesto.
Acropolis owner Sam Waez said the expansion will nearly double his seating capacity to about 150. It will also give him the flexibility to create a space for more abbreviated dining, in the tradition of European coffee shops. That means his dessert and coffee selection will expand when the new wing opens in a week or so.
The belly dancing, Greek music and smashing plates that mark weekend nights at the Acropolis will also occur in the new space.
The coming of Taverna Opa, one of a chain of Greek restaurants, a block away in December doesn't have anything to do with his expansion, Waez said. "My customers are completely different," he said. "Opa's more bar."
Acropolis, at 1833 E Seventh Ave., is open from noon to midnight Sunday, 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Thursday and Friday, and noon to 3 a.m. Saturday.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, NO TOWNHOMES: We won't blame you for assuming that yet another new townhome project will rise where Bayside Cleaners recently closed at 2408 W Platt St.
But don't look for the wrecking ball to swing there any time soon. A.S. Weekley, the owner of the property just off S Howard Avenue, isn't interested in redeveloping the site.
"I don't see that in the immediate future," he said. Nor would he consider parceling the property, which consists of several lots, and selling it piecemeal.
He said he simply wants to rent the building to another tenant.
No potential suitors yet, though.
- Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3394, or e-mail mikecanning@hotmail.com
Condom messenger bagUniversity of South Florida fine arts student Carly Champagne fashions purses, belts, wallets, garters - even a prom gown - from colorfully wrapped condoms. Messenger bags like this one sell for $30 and up. They are available online at www.carlyscondomnation.com Her wares are scheduled to appear in tonight's fashion show at Gala Corina in the Channel District.