Designer expands at Court Street site
By CHRISTINA COSDON
Published August 8, 2006
CLEARWATER - Suzan Decker Ross, one of the Tampa Bay area's top interior designers, has expanded and moved her business to new quarters in Clearwater.
"I was on Cleveland Street for about 14 years and when the lease was up, I decided it was time to buy," she said. "I love Clearwater and wanted to buy in the area. My daughter found the building that we purchased at 1445 Court St."
She purchased the two-story property built in 1948 for $395,500 and invested $100,000 in interior renovations and exterior improvements that include a custom awning, ironwork and fountain.
The new 3,500-square-foot Decker Ross Interiors has eight designers, three support staff and a showroom on each floor.
"We are a full design firm," said Decker Ross. "We do everything from space planning to paint treatments, furnishings and flooring. We can take a project from conception with the architect to the moving in day. We also work with developers and builders to do their model homes."
Residential work is 70 percent of the business and commercial work 30 percent. Commercial clients include Prudential Tropical Realty, University of South Florida, Mease Manor, Crystal Bay and Imperial Cove.
Over the years, the firm has received a number of prestigious awards, including the 2004 HGTV's Designer Challenge. Last year, the firm was named a Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year. The firm won the honor in the medium business category, those with annual revenues between $1-million and $5-million.
Decker Ross came here in 1977 from Ocean Township, N.J., and has worked in the interior design industry for more than 24 years. For more information about the firm, go to www.deckerross.com.
Phaze Artistic Design opens in Largo
For the fourth time in three years, Mike Martinez and his partners Sean Curran and Drew Karnstedt have expanded their business.
Phaze Artistic Design opened Saturday at 198 West Bay Drive, and features the work of nine artists in mediums that include watercolors, photography, murals, oils and ceramics.
This new business is in the same shopping complex with the partners' other two ventures: the Strip furnishings at 158 West Bay Drive and All Together Home Decor at 214 West Bay Drive.
Martinez started a retro furnishings business three years ago. Last fall, he opened his space to 12 other vendors and changed the business name from Renovations to the Strip.
"I started a waiting list for other vendors and when it grew to 36 people, we leased a newly renovated space at 214 West Bay Drive in February and put them in there," Martinez said.
"The list kept growing, so in June we moved a few doors down from our original location to 158 West Bay Drive, and opened with 26 new vendors," Martinez said. "We never expected this growth. In the beginning, we hoped to do enough business to pay the rent."
Largo woman inducted into Manchester Registry
Doris I. Logar, vice president and part owner of AAA Services of Central Florida, at 141 First St. NW, Largo, has been inducted into the Manchester Who's Who Registry of Executives and Processionals. The registry provides professional networking services and recognizes the achievements of executives and professionals worldwide.
Logar's background is in commercial and government contracts for home renovation, remodeling and repair services.
She has been recognized for her work in marketing and business development at AAA Services, efforts that have enhanced the 23-year-old general contracting company's services.
Her memberships include the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and Construction Administration Inc.
In 2004 and 2005, she received the Angie's List super service award.
Clearwater Beach project gets financing
JMC Communities, headed by founder and chief executive officer Michael Cheezem, announced Friday that it has received an $81-million loan commitment from AmSouth Bank to begin construction on its Marquesas project on Clearwater Beach.
Marquesas will be built on the site of the former Holiday Inn SunSpree at 715 S Gulfview Blvd. The hotel closed July 31.
The project is to feature two 15-story towers with 142 beachfront residences and six penthouses. The residences will range from 1,675 to 2,579 square feet and the penthouses from 3,100 to 4,687 square feet.
Amenities are to include social and club rooms, fitness room, private beachfront cabanas, sauna, garden pavilion, outdoor fireplace, whirlpool spa, swimming pool, reserved covered parking and gated entry.
Prices will start at just under $1-million.
News of businesses and business people can be faxed to the Business Digest at 727 445-4119, 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.