New buildings for business popping up in Land O'Lakes

Among those planned are a gas station, auto parts store, pizza shop and fitness center.

By JAMES THORNER

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 17, 2000

LAND O'LAKES -- An auto parts store, gas station, pizza shop and fitness center are among the businesses laying brick and mortar in Land O'Lakes so far this year.

NAPA Auto Parts, long confined to cramped quarters at Village Lake Shopping Center, plans to relocate to property once belonging to Smitty's Restaurant at 3911 U.S. 41.

Construction is expected to begin on the new store as soon as Smitty's former owner, Bobby Smith, sells his kitchen equipment at auction Feb. 26. The popular restaurant served its last meal Feb. 5.

"They want me out as soon as possible," Smith said. "If I was gone they would probably start tearing it down now."

Just north of the NAPA property on the west side of U.S. 41, Hillsborough County developers are building a combination Chevron gas station and convenience store.

Developer Mike Linder of Marquesen Properties Inc. said the station will open in about five months, taking advantage of the recent widening of U.S. 41 from two to six lanes.

Another new gas station, this one attached to a Domino's Pizza, is under construction on the northeast corner of State Road 54 and Collier Parkway.

General contractor Dave Applegate said Marathon Oil Co. will open the pizza/gasoline operation within 45 days.

About a mile farther east on SR 54, World Gym is about six months shy of opening its new fitness center, in front of the Carpenter's Run neighborhood.

The 14,000-square-foot gym will be double the size of the current location in Willow Bend Towne Centre.

"We'll be buying a lot more equipment, offering a lot more aerobics and cardio-fitness programs," manager Leila Gottschalk said.

For those needing a different kind of rehabilitation, a new bail bonding business is expected to open at 10935 U.S. 41, across the highway from the Land O'Lakes jail.

Dorothy Parker and Louise Mooty, two sisters whose family farm once occupied the land east of U.S. 41, agreed to sell to the bail bondsman after an earlier deal with a convicted con man named Horace "Eddie" Pike fell through.

Pike, who contracted to buy about 10 commercial properties up and down Land O'Lakes, ditched the deal after his arrest before Christmas on an outstanding warrant for theft from Kentucky.

"He kept us tied up forever -- until they put him in jail," Mooty said.

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