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Around the Bay
Business news from around Tampa Bay
By Times Staff
Published January 14, 2008
Port Richey Swingers club prompts law review Club Elite considers itself a classy place. It has a dress code (no jeans), rules of conduct (no loud talking) and a landlord with only kind words for his tenant ("consummate professionals"). Club Elite is also a swingers club, one that wants to become the "home for Floridian swingers and swinging visitors from around the world," according to its Web site. Nonswinging Floridians may have something to say about it. Since it opened in September, Club Elite has prompted complaints from dozens of local residents worried about what exactly goes on behind the dark windows of the U.S. 19 strip mall storefront. Government responded to the call. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office says it is investigating. County code enforcement officers took a tour during daylight hours. And Pasco commissioners are considering clarifying an ordinance to help officials enforce regulations on sexually oriented businesses. The language, which county officials acknowledged is related to Club Elite, includes new definitions to better identify what constitutes a "sexually oriented business," a distinction that means the county can regulate where the establishment is located. The proposed definitions identify exposure of specific body parts and specific sexual activities. Wesley Chapel Bagel place closes as dough dries up A handwritten note on the glass door of Bagel Bagel delivered the bad news: "We are sorry but we have to close our doors as of Jan. 1, 2008. Thank you for all of your support. Have a great 2008. Janis and Howard." The restaurant on State Road 56, near Sam's Club in the Seven Oaks development, was a little more than a year old. It offered wraps, sandwiches, bagels, soup and good coffee. It was never empty at lunchtime. But weekdays were tough, said Janis Schechter, the local franchisee who wrote the sad farewell note. "The times are bad," she said. "Our weekend business was good, our catering business was good. But during the week, it was slow. My manager was fabulous, but we kept losing money. I truly am sorry, because I loved what I did." Janis and Howard Schechter also owned the Bagel Bagel next to the Westfield Brandon mall. That's gone now, too. "My husband and I will miss everybody," Janis Schechter said.
[Last modified January 11, 2008, 21:24:23]
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