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Shopping plaza's facelift under way

Gulf-to-Bay Plaza will expand east, though the work might close a Publix for several months while it is moved and made bigger.

By TAMARA EL-KHOURY
Published October 4, 2006

CLEARWATER - Construction has started on the renovation and expansion of the Gulf-to-Bay Plaza, a project that will add retail and restaurant space to the complex and may close a Publix grocery store for several months.

The first phase of the two-phase project, at Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard and Belcher Road, is under way, said Michael Leeds, president of RMC Property Group in Tampa. Phase I includes construction of almost 14,000 square feet of new restaurant and retail space on land acquired east of the property and facing Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard, according to plans filed with the city.

The property owner, Ellis & Co. Ltd., has owned the property for 35 years and is in negotiations with several retailers, including a dry cleaner, several banks, an upscale wine retailer, a florist and a tanning salon, said John Hotchkiss, director of leasing and acquisitions for Ellis & Co.

So far, demolition of a former Eckerd pharmacy building is complete, but construction can't begin until the city issues a permit, Hotchkiss said.

Hotchkiss said the first phase is expected to take 6½ months.

Hotchkiss estimates the overall project will cost $13-million to $14-million. He expects the entire project to be completed by February 2008.

The second phase of the project includes a relocation of the Publix.

The store will remain in the shopping plaza, but will move north to a more prominent location facing Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. It currently faces Belcher Road. Plans show the store will be bigger than it is now.

The store could be closed for five to nine months, depending on whether the grocery chain opts for fast-track construction, Hotchkiss said.

McCabe's Cafe and Ocean Nails will also be relocated within the development but will remain open during most of the construction, Hotchkiss said.

Shannon Patten, a Publix spokeswoman out of Lakeland, would not confirm any plans for the store.

However, she said that typically, when a Publix is remodeled, customers are notified in advance and are given maps and directions to other nearby Publix stores. Employees are usually relocated to other Publix stores, Patten said.

Once the remodeling is complete, employees are given the choice between staying where they are or returning to the store that was closed for remodeling.

[Last modified October 4, 2006, 12:23:45]