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Talk of the bay: Put a taste of Carrabba's in your Publix cart

By Times staff
Published July 14, 2007

Takeout's taken on new meaning at a Sarasota Publix that now comes equipped with an experimental Carrabba's Italian Market. The Tampa-based chain, a unit of OSI Restaurant Partners Inc., rents the space and staffs the 1,000-square-foot market that serves a shrunken version of the restaurant's soup, pasta and salad menu hot or cold. The unit also has its own line of panini sandwiches, a wood-burning pizza oven and a few seats. The Publix is at 2875 University Parkway. "We want to make it easy for our customers to take home great food," said Damian Carrabba, one of the founders. Publix said it was less concerned about new competition for its deli next door than "having more convenient, quality carry-out options," said spokeswoman Shannon Patten.

Home Depot helps in hurricane preps
It pays to be plugged in with the state. After sitting on Florida's Windstorm Study Committee, which reviewed ways to strengthen homes against hurricanes, Home Depot stores across Florida now are offering themselves as the initial sites to help promote the state's and other programs to prepare homeowners for storms. This weekend and next, Home Depots in nine Florida cities will host the program Hardening Your Home Against Hurricanes: A Trusted Choice Safe Living Expos. The expos are expected to draw Floridians to meet with representatives of the Florida Association of Insurance Agents, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, the National Weather Service, County Emergency Management and the state's My Safe Florida Home Program. The July 21 program includes stores in St. Petersburg.

[Last modified July 13, 2007, 23:34:56]