Business digest

By Times Staff Writer
Published January 22, 2008

Bank of St. Petersburg plans branch at center

The Bank of St. Petersburg plans to build a 6,500-square-foot branch at the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel, a retail shopping center under construction one-half mile north of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The bank purchased an outparcel in the 4.2-acre shopping center property from the developer, Strategic Properties Group. Strategic Properties purchased the land from Crown Community Development, developer of the adjacent 3,000-home Seven Oaks community. There will be 35,500 square feet of retail space in addition to the bank.

A number of leases have been signed at the Shoppes, with the first restaurants and stores expected to open in the summer. Other new tenants are Quizno's, Prestige Bridal, the party supply center Party Fever and Exit Extreme Realty, which offers residential real estate brokerage services.

The Pasco Building Association has recognized Seven Oaks nity with the best amenities. The community has set aside more than half of its 2,000 acres for conservation, upland habitats, parks and common areas. For information on Seven Oaks or Crown Community Development, call Teri McGinnis at 813 994-2277 or visit crown-sevenoaks.com.

Cancer institute plansprograms for patients

The Florida Cancer Institute has announced it will conduct various programs throughout the year in Pasco County. One will begin Thursday with a "Lunch and Learn" program at the Humana office at 7400 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills. The second will start Feb. 1 at 8763 River Crossing Blvd., New Port Richey, with the American Cancer Society's "Look Good ... Feel Better" program once a month.

Topics and issues will vary. The institute is affiliated with US Oncology, the nation's largest health care services network dedicated exclusively to cancer treatment and research. For information, call (727) 842-8411 in west Pasco, (813) 783-1676 in east Pasco.

Republic Bank names a new executive

Republic Bank has announced that Doug Wintonhas joined the company as Florida market president. With more than 40 years of banking industry experience, Winton will be responsible for expanding banking operations.

Winton's previous experience in the Tampa Bay area includes positions as market president for Mercantile Bank and founding president and chief executive officer of the Terrace Bank of Florida.

Winton's office is in the Republic Bank at 9037 U.S. 19, Port Richey, (727) 846-0066.

Republic Bank has banking centers in Palm Harbor, Port Richey and New Port Richey, plus Internet banking at www.republicbank.com.

Kayak rental business opens in Anclote park

LLC Kayak Rentalsrecently started doing business at Anclote Gulf Park in Holiday. For fishermen, it is a great spot for fishing the flats. For the nature-loving, there is plenty to see. In cooler weather, the warm discharge waters from the power plant next door attract the manatees and dolphins. You can often see the bald eagle that has nested on the power plant property for years.

The park is on Baillies Bluff Road on the north side of the power plant. Weekends only. Single rates are $15/one hour, $25/three hours, and $38/five hours. Tandem rates are $22/one hour, $38/three hours and $54/five hours. Call (727) 808-6655 for information.

E-mail business news items to lazich@sptimes.com or mail to Pasco Times Business Digest, P.O. Box 879, Port Richey, FL 34673-0879.

[Last modified January 21, 2008, 21:50:20]