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Is downtown ready for a nightlife?

The area used to be dead after 5 p.m. Now, Dade City businesses are rolling out the red carpet to entice evening customers.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD
Published April 23, 2006

DADE CITY - After two years of serving lunch to tourists and local business people, Edna Gonzalez decided to take a chance and keep her restaurant open for dinner.

It was a risky move downtown, which for years has rolled up the sidewalks at 5 p.m.

"I think Dade City has so much charm, so much flavor, there was no reason that the locals wouldn't come down here at night," Gonzalez, 43, said.

So Tropical Breeze Cafe, which shares its space with an antique mall on Seventh Street, began serving its menu of traditional Cuban dishes, along with beer and wine, six nights a week.

Now, more lights are staying on past the workday.

The suggestion of a "nightlife" in sleepy Dade City still draws a few chuckles, and plenty of shop windows downtown post hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. But some people say a trend has sprouted, one that the area's growing population will support.

"We've done really well with the daytime shopping crowd. The type of person that will come in the evening is an entirely different type of demographic," said Amy Ellis, director of the downtown Main Street organization.

The group is getting behind the nighttime experiment. Ellis is considering several summertime events such as a monthly concert series, outdoor movies in the park and a gallery walk where art would be displayed in local shops. Plans are coming together for a block party in early fall to welcome back students from nearby Saint Leo University.

"There's no reason that Dade City can't become a little more of a college town," Ellis said.

Gonzalez, who just added 11 tables in Tropical Breeze, said she got a lot of funny looks when she first pitched the evening idea to other downtown merchants.

She also got some takers.

Sean Ashburn, owner of Sugarcreek gift shop on Meridian Avenue, decided to take the plunge, staying open until 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday with hopes of drawing after-work shoppers.

The Coffee Mug, a weekday breakfast and lunch spot that is about to move to a larger space on Meridian Avenue, plans to add weekend night hours. Co-owner Allison Todd said she's considering live music and outdoor tables so people can buy a coffee drink, and then stay to hang out.

A Matter of Taste Cafe and Tea Room now serves its lunch menu, which includes several hot dishes, until 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Owners Jim and Carole Hendry bought the restaurant in 1997, but they only just included dinner because they thought the market was cornered. Kafe Kokopelli on Live Oak Avenue has fed Dade City at night for years.

"There didn't seem to be enough business to go around," Jim Hendry said.

But an influx of year-round and younger residents signaled an opportunity to him. Plus, he said, his customers were asking for dinner.

Hendry thinks what will determine success is enough businesses participating to give customers options. Downtown shops and restaurants compete, but in this case they need each other.

"We need more people involved and the restaurants certainly need as many as we can get to be open," he said.

Grapevine Antiques owner Gayle Hogan agrees a joint effort is needed. She's just not sure all other shop owners are ready to make the leap.

"Most of our antique shops ... are like mom-and-pop shops, so being open late would require hiring extra people to work the extra hours, which we would gladly do if we thought it would be worthwhile," Hogan said.

She keeps her store on Meridian Avenue open late during the monthly Saturday cruise-ins and on some nights during the Christmas season. Business is light, she said.

"It's just hard to know," Hogan said.

Those who are staying open say the risk has paid off. Ashburn, who is offering tea and cocktail samples free to evening shoppers, said he wouldn't do it if he weren't making money.

"People who come down are there to spend," he said. "There are a lot of lookers, but I have good customers at night."

Molly Moorhead can be reached at 352 521-6521 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6521. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 23, 2006, 00:50:21]