Print

Email story

Comment

Letter to the editor

He has market cornered for filling tanks, tummies

By SHARON GINN Times Correspondent
Published October 12, 2007

His Zelda's Cafe and Deli is attached to a BP station he owns at 1239 E Kennedy Blvd., a sleek, sharp-looking surprise in a space that used to house - believe it or not - a carwash and service center. Smalling said he wasn't trying to test a new restaurant concept as much as he was trying to, well, fill a need in the neighborhood.

"I just decided to put a little restaurant in because there's nothing here," he said.

Zelda's, named after Smalling's late mother, has been open since August and is attracting a steady clientele, from Channelside residents to the lunchtime business crowd to the cruise ship crew members who come by after their ship has docked. What attracts a lot of them are the daily specials that have an international flair.

Smalling has been a chef all his life, starting in his native Jamaica, and he spent 19 years as the sous chef at the Tampa Yacht and Country Club. He and Zelda's manager Solomon Facey, also from Jamaica, worked together on cruise lines. Smalling said he has owned several restaurants over the years, but has sold everything in preparation for his "retirement," which is what he called his decision to open Zelda's.

"I thought I was retired, but I don't know what to say because I'm working a lot harder now," Smalling said.

The extensive renovation and expansion of the space was only the beginning. Zelda's is open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Smalling said he plans to add a courtyard soon where he can serve beer and wine, and will extend the restaurant's hours.

"This place means a lot to me," he said. "I never wanted to be like every other restaurant in Tampa. I needed something different. I think I've got it."

New salon selection

Hyde Park Village has been without a place for a cut and color since longtime tenant Alan Ledo Salon closed suddenly and filed for bankruptcy in February. Next month, a brand-name replacement will move in to fill the void.

Level2, an Aveda salon and a spin-off of the Level Salon on Bearss Avenue near the University of South Florida, is scheduled to open Nov. 16 on the second floor in the old Alan Ledo space. Like the previous tenant, Level2 will hold exclusive rights to salon services in the village.

Level2 will be a full-service salon and spa, offering hair and nail services as well as massages, facials and body treatments, said owner Martha Suarez, who also owns Level Salon. A prominent section will feature Aveda products, and most of the employees will come from the 5-year-old Aveda Institute in St. Petersburg.

The focus will be on providing the "full Aveda experience," Suarez said. That means a complimentary hand massage with a manicure, or a makeup retouching after a full highlights session.

"There's value added, little extra touches to help you get relaxed to help you enjoy that time," Suarez said. "Everybody's so stressed that we want to make that hour a time that you can really relax and chill out."

Hours at Level2 will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Village has new store

Hyde Park Village is adding another store, B'szene Boutique, a contemporary clothing shop that is scheduled to open Nov. 1 next to Color Me Mine. It will be the first business for owner Sabine Rada, who has a background in fashion design and recently managed an upscale boutique in Bethesda, Md.

"My parents have a house down here," said Rada, who just moved to Tampa. "I love the Hyde Park area and think it's so cute and perfect."

B'szene will sell clothing from brands such as Grassroots, C&C California and Luna Luz, ranging in price from about $40 to more than $250. Handbags average about $300 and higher; the store also will sell jewelry.

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

The find

Witch T-shirt

Fly Me to the Moon, says the witch on this long-sleeved, black T-shirt. It's $44 at Mattie G's accessories and clothing store, 2408 S MacDill Ave. Call 837-2450.

Amy Scherzer

[Last modified October 11, 2007, 07:24:36]