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Everybody's Business

Bistro moving, expanding menu

NoHo Bistro will also expand its seating capacity by moving to N Armenia Avenue, where rent is cheaper.

By MICHAEL CANNING
Published December 30, 2005

NoArm Bistro just doesn't have the right ring. So the NoHo Bistro it will remain, even though the small restaurant and catering business is moving from 1912 N Howard Ave. to 1714 N Armenia Ave.

The point also remains: The old city core north of Kennedy Boulevard, including N Howard and N Armenia in West Tampa, deserves as much a rejuvenation as south of Kennedy and is poised for redevelopment.

Jessica Raia-Long knows this, which is why she opened her catering kitchen to accommodate small lunch crowds in May 2004. But as NoHo Bistro's buzz increased, so has West Tampa's. A hefty rent increase recently spurred Raia-Long to move a few blocks away to Armenia Avenue, starting Feb. 1.

"We're basically moving to another location for a little less rent but with more space and the room for future growth," she said.

More space means about 1,800 square feet and room for 20 to 25 diners, up from seven. Like the original NoHo Bistro, which closed Dec. 23, the new location will serve lunch only. Raia-Long's catering business will continue to account for the majority of the kitchen's production.

The lunch menu will still focus on sandwiches and salads with seasonal accents. But Raia-Long is promising new entrees, such as chicken pot pie with cornmeal crust and a nut and cheese loaf. Raia-Long's macaroni and cheese will remain, much to the delight of the regulars.

Raia-Long says closing shop for more than a month is difficult, but with her second baby due in three weeks, a breather may be in order.

MORE RAYDIANCE ON SOHO: A recent change of ownership at one SoHo salon and the expansion of another amounted to good timing for several salon workers.

Raydiance Tanning Center at Hyde Park, 313 S Howard Ave. above Cappy's Pizzeria, has morphed into Raydiance Day Spa. Raydiance co-owner Sandra Rossiter had taken up adjoining office space as it became available and added day spa services.

About the same time, she said, workers at Salon Le Monde farther south on Howard suddenly found themselves locked out of the business. The reason remains unclear, but Rossiter speculated that the October death of Salon Le Monde owner Richard Zalewski was a factor.

"They had no place to go, no place to see their clients," said Rossiter of the Le Monde staffers. "I felt so bad for them. I wanted to do something for them."

It just so happened that Rossiter needed some more people, so she hired two of Le Monde's hair stylists, a nail tech and an aesthetician.

In addition to traditional and UV-free tanning services, Raydiance now offers body wraps, facials, massages, body waxing, permanent makeup and hair styling. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Rossiter owns three other Raydiance Tanning Centers in the Brandon area with her husband, Steve Rossiter, and her brother Keith Hancock.

Salon Le Monde is now operating with new employees. Zalewski's wife, Michele, who took over the business, did not return calls seeking comment.

JILLY JO'S, WE HARDLY KNEW YOU: Superstitious types could begin to wonder if 223 S Howard Ave. is a cursed address.

The seemingly prime restaurant space at Howard and Platt Street is dark once again after the shortlived Jilly Jo's closed around Thanksgiving. Its four-month run roughly equaled that of its predecessor, Mary Z Tampania Cafe, which closed in mid May after a troubled and protracted development phase.

"There's people better cut out to run the restaurant than me," said Jilly Jo's owner Kathy Wiley. Besides, her commute from Dade City to South Tampa "was really oppressive."

So Wiley has decided to stick with her main vocation, direct mail advertising sales. But she leaves the SoHo restaurant scene with goodwill.

"The people from some of the other restaurants up and down Howard were so nice to me," she said.

Wiley plans to hang on to the restaurant's lease and sublet to another restaurant. She's meeting with several potential suitors but hasn't reached a deal yet.

LESS STORE, MORE BEADS: Beads! is moving into a smaller space one door down at 4004 W Neptune St.

This way, it can offer more stock.

The old space is mostly windows, explained Beads! owner Nancy Gruendel, and you can't hang beads from windows. You need wall space, and the new place has plenty.

Gruendel expects to move during the second week in February. The store, www.ebeads.com is tucked away in the strip plaza at Neptune and Henderson Boulevard.

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

[Last modified December 29, 2005, 08:40:09]