Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

What's Brewing

Market brings a fresh look

By SUSAN THURSTON
Published October 13, 2006

What I like most about the new Fresh Market in South Tampa isn't the super-thick wild Chilean sea bass, the grapefruit-sized Prima peaches or even the barbecue pork loin roast.

It's the store's transformation of the grungy, old retail plaza on Henderson Boulevard.

Fresh Market's opening on Wednesday gave a much needed facelift to the Henderson Boulevard Shopping Center, which has sat neglected and nearly empty for months. It also brightens up that stretch of Henderson, dominated by auto mechanic and car part stores.

Gone is the nondescript, dated facade. In its place, an attractive strip plaza with brick accents and neutral yellows, greens and reds. Even the parking lot looks better, with its fresh paint and new palm trees.

Hail it as a great example of progress that didn't require sucking the juice out of wetlands or leveling a swath of trees.

Locals certainly took notice.

"This gives the center a boost," said Marge Richards, who used to shop there before U-Save supermarket closed in July 2005.

Richards and friend Pat Colvard were among a few dozen shoppers who waited for the doors to open at 9 a.m.

Colvard knew about Fresh Market from shopping at the store in Hendersonville, N.C., not too far from the company's headquarters. She loved the selection and always brought back items to Tampa. Among her favorites: stuffed chicken, fresh flowers and roasted cashews.

"They have things you can't find elsewhere," she said.

Once inside, shoppers huddled by the deli and meat counters, admiring the huge kebabs and grilled Reuben sandwiches. Servers passed out pineapple chunks with pretzel toothpicks, vegetable chips and free ground coffee.

"We're happy you're here," said one customer as she walked through the door.

"We're happy to be here," responded the greeter.

Happy, indeed. For years, the Fresh Market on Fletcher Avenue in Carrollwood was one of the few reasons some South Tampa shoppers ventured north of Kennedy Boulevard. Many people, myself included, figured it wasn't worth the trouble.

Fresh Market officials hope we feel differently now. So do the businesses around the store.

Sue Carey, owner of Sports 4 Girls a few doors down, said foot traffic from the grocery should be great for her 5¹/₂-year-old store, which sells clothing, athletic and dance gear for girls.

"We've lived through the dust," she said triumphantly.

Next door, Carl James, owner of Hair Now of London, said his customers have been talking about the store for months. Many look forward to grabbing dinner after a haircut.

James opened his salon six years ago when the center was starting to decline, he said. When U Save and the adjacent Eckerd closed, his walk-in business trickled to nearly a halt. Fortunately, most of his clients are regulars.

James expects business will grow as more people discover Fresh Market.

He recently added an eighth stylist and may expand his retail selection of shampoos and other hair products.

His only worry: Fresh Market might put a squeeze on parking.

And it could get worse. Eckerd's 14,000-square-foot space remains vacant, as does about 16,000 square feet of the U-Save space that Fresh Market didn't take.

I imagine interest in those spaces will soar as businesses see all the Fresh Market traffic. After all, the new center and the old center are about as different as, well, pork and peaches.

THE LAST DROP: Get a taste of what downtown's Curtis Hixon Park could be on a regular basis during tonight's Pops in the Park. The free Florida Orchestra concert starts at 7 p.m. and concludes with fireworks. Bring a blanket and chair.

Susan Thurston can be reached at thurston@sptimes.com or 226-3394.

[Last modified October 12, 2006, 08:03:59]