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Around the Bay: Business news from the Tampa Bay area

By Times Staff
Published April 9, 2007

Dade City

Biodiesel producer behind schedule

Back in February, a little-known company came forward with big ambitions to turn a shuttered citrus plant into the nation's largest producer of biodiesel. Agri-Source Fuels, which was founded and funded by Pensacola residential developer Rick Higdon, projected it could pump out more than 120-million gallons of the clean-burning fuel a year. Agri-Source said in February that production would start at the former Pasco Beverage plant within two weeks. But nearly two months later, the facility hasn't produced its first batch to sell. Spokeswoman Peggy Mathews acknowledged that the company was overly sunny in announcing its early start time. Mathews said transforming the 60,000-square-foot space at what is now the Dade City Business Park has taken longer than expected. So has securing contracts with fuel distributors, who would buy the biodiesel and sell it to such customers as trucking companies and retail stations. She would not say how many contracts Agri-Source has finalized, but said it is still taking orders. The company is looking at starting production this month, she said, and is hiring about 50 workers, many of whom worked at the former citrus plant. "When we start," she said, "we're going to start up big time."

Pinellas Park

Another chicken wing competitor takes roost

When Vincent Lawrence retired after 20 years in the U.S. Navy, his dream was to start his own business. He liked Buffalo wings but was having a difficult time finding the right arrangement in his native Long Island, N.Y. So he moved to Pinellas Park. "Pinellas County is the wing capital of the world," said Lawrence, 44, who has opened the only Wing Zone restaurant in Pinellas County at 11182 66th St. N. Wing Zone is the latest entrant from outside national chains including Buffalo Wild Wings, Quaker Steak and Lube and Wing Stop. They compete with homgrown businesses like Hooters, WingHouse and Beef O'Brady's. "Outside of Buffalo, the Tampa-St. Pete area is huge for wing consumption," said Nick Vojnovic, president of the Beef O'Brady's chain that has 220 outlets in 19 states. Wing Zone founder Matt Friedman said the chain will nearly double its Florida stores this year. Wing Zone is unique, Friedman said, because it focuses on the wings. The chain offers its 25 flavors in-store, for carryout or for delivery to appeal to the die-hard that has to have product. "A lot of bars see wings as an opportunity to sell more beer," he said. "We have to rely on the quality of our food, not cold beer or cute waitresses."

Palm Harbor

Rival stylists ensnared in a hairy mess

It's the sort of thing that happens a lot in the hair salon industry. Fresh-faced stylist comes into salon under the wing of well-known owner. Cuts her teeth while learning from the best. Amasses a following. Same fresh-faced stylist now has it-factor and branches out on her own. Owner is left somewhere between proud teacher and betrayed friend. Enter Olga Boudreau and Lulieta Zeqiri. Boudreau and her husband, Dan, own the well-known La Mirage Salon in Palm Harbor. The couple hired Zeqiri about eight years ago and she quickly became a Boudreau protegee. In June, Zeqiri left La Mirage to open Salon Metro in Oldsmar. Two months before leaving, Zeqiri signed a contract that, among other things, stipulated that if she left La Mirage, she wouldn't hire any of Boudreau's stylists for at least a year. Four former La Mirage employees are now working at Salon Metro, with a fifth on the way. Boudreau and her husband have sued Zeqiri and the employees who joined her at Salon Metro. The suit asks for $15,000 in damages. "I made all these people," said Olga Boudreau. "I don't just teach cutting hair, I teach them how to stand, how to consult ... even self-esteem." But Salon Metro co-owner Benny Dalip said, "nobody owns anyone in this business."

Clearwater Beach

Too many condos for sale? There's not enough, one developer says

Condominium sales on Clearwater Beach have slowed to a crawl, and there are more than 800 units on the market in the area. But that isn't stopping one local developer. JMC Communities has broken ground on its fourth Clearwater Beach mega-development: Marquesas, a $200-million project that features two towers with 142 residences and six penthouses. JMC Communities has been one of the few successful developers along the beach in recent years, building Mandalay Beach Club, Belle Harbor and Sandpearl Resort and Residences, which is set to open this summer. Other developers haven't been as fortunate. Of the nine high-end projects that cover a one-mile stretch on S Gulfview Boulevard, two are under way. The others have been delayed or have changed in scope. Developers blame a soft market caused by skyrocketing taxes and insurance rates. "There's always going to be a demand for a new product and (JMC) in Pinellas County is a premier developer as far as I'm concerned," said Jim Warner, a broker with VIP Realty on Sand Key. "I think these will sell."

[Last modified April 6, 2007, 18:16:37]