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Grand Central's as hot as the chili

At the cookoff, hundreds see a revitalization that was seven years in the making.

By MELANIE AVE
Published November 26, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - Joe and Denise Maloney made a surprising discovery Saturday that had little to do with spices and ground beef.

They thought they were just going to the second annual Grand Central Chili Cookoff, but the Largo couple said they found the once-rundown neighborhood west of downtown on Central Avenue transformed into a small but thriving shopping and restaurant district.

"I didn't know this existed," said Joe Maloney, 62, looking up and down the block. "This is new to us."

"We've lived in Pinellas County forever, and we didn't know this was here," his wife said.

Between 400 and 500 people were expected for the daylong event featuring fresh chili created by 27 amateur and professional cooks. The event benefitted Pet Pal Rescue, a not-for-profit group that rescues animals from overflowing shelters.

Last year, eight cooks served about 100 tasters.

On Saturday at various times, some of the sidewalks were nearly impassable as men, women and children sampled chili.

"There's a new life down here," said Richard Valmain, owner of Grand Kitchen and Bath. "It's all different.

"Two and half years ago, this was not an area where you'd walk down the street, much less do business."

While the chili was tasty, it was clearly the runnerup to the star of the day: the gentrified Grand Central neighborhood between First Avenues North and South from 18th to 31st streets.

In recent years, Grand Central has undergone a renaissance.

The city has installed traffic-calming medians with large metal sculptures, light poles and large planters with flowers, shrubs and trees. And the street improvements have helped draw businesses, like that of Valmain, who relocated his kitchen renovation business about 2½ years ago from Treasure Island.

He said his business has more than doubled in its new location.

But the changes have not been without effort.

A group of residents and businesses joined together in 1999 and outlined a plan to improve the neighborhood.

Five years ago, the Grand Central District won a Main Street designation.

Vacant warehouses and buildings are now home to locally owned businesses.

Some residential units are also being built above the Central Avenue businesses.

"We've really pushed it as a small village feel," said Brian Longstreth, a real estate broker and president of the Grand Central District neighborhood association. "It's really where you can keep everything local and close."

Bernard Scott said his family's restaurant, Gillie's Bar-B-Que, is flourishing right alongside the neighborhood.

"We've been doing really really good," Scott said, sampling some competitor's chili. "Business has really exploded."

Melanie Ave can be reached at 727 893-8813 or mave@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 25, 2006, 23:54:04]