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Letter to the editor

Tampa Artist Emporium takes Ann Taylor space

By SHARON GINN
Published June 22, 2007

If the interior of Shelby Boggs' new Tampa Artist Emporium looks familiar, it's because dresses, suits and shoes used to occupy the very spaces where Boggs will be hawking paintings, jewelry and photography.

Boggs has done little to update the former Ann Taylor store in Hyde Park Village that she is using for her new fine arts gallery, which is expected to open July 1. She is billing the gallery as an accessible place for artists, most of them local, to show and sell their creations.

The building housing the Tampa Artist Emporium will be torn down next year if Hyde Park Village gets the approval this summer to build condos with retail on that side of the shopping village. Ann Taylor has moved to a prominent storefront at Swann and Dakota avenues, and the other stores nearby on Snow Avenue are on notice that changes probably are on the way.

The specter of the wrecking ball is not a big issue for Boggs, a photographer who said she is just happy to have a place to promote not only her art, but also the work of others.

"I think I've exhausted every coffee shop and venue out there, " Boggs said. "I've almost moved out of Tampa because I figured we needed more art. Instead of waiting around for someone to do it, I figured I'd do it myself. My vision is to let everybody know in the Tampa Bay area that we have unbelievable artists."

So Boggs is cheerfully moving into what likely will be temporary digs, making only a few changes. Interior walls are being added to create spaces for each artist. A photography studio will go up in the former shoe department. Artists will sublet their spaces and then can sell whatever they want and set their own prices.

It's an unusual approach for a gallery, Boggs said. Traditional galleries have more control over pricing and take 50 percent of the proceeds, she said.

"I don't want to mark my stuff up so much that someone's not going to buy it, " Boggs said. "Here you sublet your space, and we'll promote you and ... you recoup every bit of your profit.

"If everything works out the way we intend it to, we'll (eventually) move into a permanent space designed specifically for how I envisioned it."

The gallery will have room for about 30 artists, Boggs said. An evening "art mixer" will be held every month. Hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 on Sunday.

Almost hidden treasures

Chris Cordell and Martha Azzarelli have done everything they can think of to make it easy for visitors to their new store to find an appropriate gift. Finding the store itself - well, for now that's another matter.

Cordell and Azzarelli, longtime friends and recent empty-nesters, opened Occasions at 4004 W Neptune St. in May, right as stormwater drainage work was starting in front of their parking lot. Work is ongoing, and getting into the store still can be a bit of a challenge, but those who do will find upscale gifts of all types, from serving pieces to linens to Christmas items.

A large portion of the store's items can be personalized, Cordell said, and they go beyond the norm. Picture frames, acrylic barware, cutting boards, laundry bags and coolers all can be special ordered with names or initials. Occasions also offers a gift registry.

"We've just got such a variety of stuff, " said Cordell, who combined her retail knowledge with Azzarelli's experience in interior design to come up with the eclectic mix.

Occasions is open Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday 10-4.

Bang for your buck

Tampa's 11th Family Dollar store will open sometime this summer in the vacant building that once housed Blue Ribbon Supermarket at 2503 N Tampa St. Spokeswoman Kiley Rawlins said it is one of about 300 stores the company is opening this year. An opening date has not been set, she said.

Family Dollar, despite its name, is not strictly a so-called dollar store, Rawlins said. About half the items in the company's 7, 000- to 8, 000-square-foot stores cost more than $1, with an emphasis on health and beauty, paper products and seasonal items.

Do you know something that should be everybody's business? Call 226-3394 or e-mail sharonlginn@yahoo.com.

The find

Ricardo Luccia handbag

Liz Messineo teamed up with Ricardo Luccia to design these unusual pinewood and Colombian leather handbags. Handmade in their factory in Bogota, the purses are available online and cost $200 and up. Visit www.ricardohandbag.com or call (813) 855-5374.

[Last modified June 21, 2007, 07:51:47]