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Local business

By CHRISTINA COSDON
Published December 3, 2006

Carillon Carpet & Rugs opens new retail store

CLEARWATER - Carillon Carpet & Rugs, a family-owned and -operated business downtown for more than four decades, has opened a $2.8-million expansion in north Clearwater.

The new, 12,500-square-foot retail store offers items including traditional flooring; contemporary, handmade Oriental and machine-made rugs; custom carpeting; ceramic and porcelain tile; exotic woods; and laminates. It also has a 4,000-square-foot air-conditioned warehouse.

Tyler Rice, son of Carillon founder Robert Rice, has been the principal owner of the business for six years. A year ago, his sister Kathie joined him as a partner and operates the new store, 29450 U.S. 19 N.

The new Carillon has eight employees, and the store manager is Nick Argiris. The single-story building is 30 feet tall, Tyler Rice said, to display the rugs, which are hung vertically.

Cleaning and restoration of Orientals will continue to be handled downtown, Rice said. The new business is strictly a retail center, he said.

Robert Rice grew up in his family's dry cleaning and rug cleaning business in Vero Beach. After graduating from college, he became a Navy pilot. While assigned to the Mediterranean, he visited Turkish rug-weaving centers and developed a lifelong interest in the art of designing and hand weaving Oriental rugs.

He and his wife, Jeanne, and their seven children moved to Clearwater in 1964, and he established Carillon, 1107 N Fort Harrison Ave., to specialize in the cleaning and care of Oriental rugs. Over the years, the business expanded to include rug restoration and retail sales in new rugs, carpeting and flooring.

In keeping with the family tradition, Tyler Rice said he travels once a year to China and India to select and buy rugs.

"I purchase 90 percent of my rugs directly from overseas," he said.

While the downtown store offers mainly traditional Oriental rugs, the new store reflects the current trend in more decorative and contemporary rugs.

Maker of broadcast vehicles wins award

Frontline Communications, a manufacturer of custom broadcast and communications vehicles, has been awarded the U.S. Department of Commerce's Export Achievement Certificate for outstanding work in the export marketplace.

The award, presented by U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, at the company's headquarters, 12770 44th St., near Largo, recognizes the company's efforts to develop new markets for its command and communications products in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.

It also has opened new markets in Morocco and Saudi Arabia.

Frontline is a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corp., a designer, manufacturer and worldwide marketer of specialty commercial, fire, emergency and military trucks and truck bodies.

Businesses win annual North Pinellas awards

At the recent Upper Pinellas Business of the Year awards ceremony at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Susan and Bill Strachan, owners of Strachan's Homemade Ice Cream, 105 Alt. U.S. 19 N, Palm Harbor, received the Small Business of the Year award.

The accounting firm of Harper, Van Scoik & Co., 2111 Drew St., Clearwater, was named the Medium Business of the Year. Bright House Networks, representing its office at 935 Main St., Safety Harbor, received the Large Business of the Year award.

Compliance manager joins Market Street

Leslie Schielka has joined Market Street Mortgage as a compliance manager responsible for ensuring the company's compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. She previously was assistant vice president, senior compliance officer, at JP Morgan Chase Bank in Tampa.

Established in 1986, Market Street Mortgage, 11701 Belcher Road S, Largo, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NetBank. The company and its subsidiaries have more than 80 locations serving home buyers, home builders and real estate agents in 49 states. Last year, the company closed $3.4-billion in mortgage loans.

Colonial Bank names president of Pinellas

Colonial Bank, 350 East Bay Drive, Largo, has named T. Gene Evans president of Pinellas County for the bank's West Coast Florida North region. He is responsible for the commercial lending team in the area. He has more than 23 years of experience in the banking industry and extensive knowledge of the Pinellas market.

Colonial Bank is a division of Colonial BancGroup in Montgomery, Ala., a $23-billion bank holding company with more than 300 offices in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Nevada and Texas.

Clearwater physician joins program's board

Dr. Greg M. Silver, in family practice at 1831 N Belcher Road, Clearwater, has been named to the board of directors of the Physicians for a National Health Program in Chicago.

The organization of 14,000 physicians supports a single-payer national health insurance system.

News of businesses and business people can be faxed to 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.

[Last modified December 3, 2006, 01:16:28]