Fish Tales takes Leverock's spot on waterfront

By PIPER JONES CASTILLO

© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 29, 2001

Johnny Leverock's Maximo Moorings, 4801 37th St. S in St. Petersburg, has closed. In its place, Dan and Peggy Wesner have opened Fish Tales Restaurant.

The two other Leverock's locations in Pinellas County -- the original in Pinellas Park and the St. Pete Beach restaurant -- continue to operate as usual. There are 11 Leverock's in Florida.

"The Maximo location was a franchise, and the franchisee requested to be allowed out of the contract," said Bill Long, vice president and chief financial officer of Gold Coast Restaurants Inc., the parent company of Johnny Leverock's Seafood House, based in Tampa. "Things are good, and it's absolutely business as usual at our other locations."

This is the Wesners' second restaurant. The first Fish Tales, at the Harborage Marina on Second Street S in St. Petersburg, just celebrated its first birthday. Dan Wesner says he selected the 5,000-square-foot Maximo site because of its waterfront location and size. "We were ready to expand, and this is a good place to do it in," he said.

Monem Buhidma has been named restaurant manager for Fish Tales. Buhidma, originally from northern Africa, earned his experience with stints at Mise En Place and Petey Brown's at Hyatt Westshore, both in Tampa, and Pepin Restaurant in St. Petersburg. Fish Tales is open seven days a week. For information, call 864-3883.

Maximo Boat Club changes hands

In other news at Maximo Marina, the Maximo Boat Club has new owners. Julie and Michael Maguire have purchased the business, for an undisclosed amount, from Greg Keilman. Members of Maximo Boat Club can rent powerboats ranging from 19-foot Century center consoles to 23-foot Cobia deck boats. Membership costs include a $630 initiation fee along with monthly dues ranging from $99 to $149.

Before buying the Maximo Boat Club, Michael Maguire was a marine coordinator for the motion picture industry. "It's been fun, but I have two little sons at home and I wanted to stop traveling so much. Now I can stay in the marine industry and not have to travel," he said.

Along with handling marketing for the boat club, Julie Maguire is a media buyer for Doner Advertising's Tampa office.

Personal fitness business opens

Steve Jonas and his wife, Kristine Reighard, operate Thinn Ice Personal Fitness Training as a home-based business, so when they moved from Seminole to St. Petersburg, so did the studio. Thinn Ice is now at 3552 38th Ave. N in St. Petersburg. The business offers personal training, nutritional counseling and martial arts classes. Clients have use of Thinn Ice's cardiovascular equipment, free weights, cable machines, benches, treadmills and Stairmasters. Training sessions cost $40 an hour. Appointments are required. Call 528-2100.

Chiropractic clinic makes an adjustment

Madeira Beach Center for Natural Medicine has moved to a larger facility next door. The chiropractic clinic is now at Suite B and C, 410 150th Ave., Madeira Beach. The expansion has enabled the center to add nutritional counseling, massage and colon therapy to its services. These practitioners have joined the center: Joline Weeks and Donna Griffiths, massage therapists; Bonnie McClelland and Gwen Adlerbert, colon therapists; and Carolyn Padden, nutritional counselor.

Business development center plans open house

The St. Petersburg Business Development Center, 1045 16th St. S, will have an open house from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 8. The event is planned to introduce current and prospective business owners to the center. Reservations are required. Call 893-7146.

- Please send your business news items to Piper Jones Castillo, Neighborhood Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. E-mail: piper@sptimes.com. Phone number: 893-8827.

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