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Retail strip to perk up with Starbucks
By SUSAN THURSTON
© St. Petersburg Times, NEW TAMPA -- Japan has 300. Switzerland has six. One opens today in Westchase. And, soon, New Tampa will have one, too. Starbucks. After years of anticipation, the coffee king is coming to New Tampa in the new shopping center at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard across from Dona Michelle Drive. Java lovers, get your mugs ready because, if all goes as planned, the store should open by the end of year, possibly Christmas. Starbucks is one of several stores and restaurants planned for new shopping centers under construction near Interstate 75. The centers mark the latest wave of retail development, which has mushroomed in New Tampa during the past six months. The Starbucks is going up on a 1.5-acre site just south of Ruby Tuesday at Bruce B. Downs and Highwoods Preserve Parkway. Developer Brad Douglas of HuntDouglas said the cafe will share the plaza with Alltel and a few other businesses that have not been confirmed. Wachovia plans to build a bank branch. The center will be a continuation of the Walk, a new, large shopping center to the north with Circuit City, Linen 'n Things, Bennigan's, Panera Bread and Dunkin Donuts. Developer Chris Hack said about 85 percent of the Walk has been leased. Soon-to-open businesses include Planet Smoothie, State Farm Insurance, Cookie Cutters Hair Salon, Awesome Blossoms florist, Bed Pros, a dentist, an optical store, a nail salon and a pool shop. Michael's is scheduled to open in February next to Linen 'n Things. Borders books initially planned to moved into the space, but decided against it because of weak sales nationwide. Since then, Kinko's also has pulled out. "They claim the area is still too green for them," Hack said. "I think they will kick themselves down the road." On the south side of the interstate, construction crews have started work on the Pointe at Bruce B. Downs and Tampa Palms boulevards across from Lowe's. The center will include Olive Garden, Red Lobster, McDonald's, 7-Eleven and a strip center with clothing boutiques, a gourmet pastry store and a gift store. Stonewood Tavern & Grill also is building on the 15-acre site. The opening of Stonewood will be the first for Tampa. The restaurant has several locations in North Carolina and Florida, including Orlando, Fort Myers and Jacksonville. The menu features rack of lamb, pork tenderloin and salmon. "It's something a little different that will fit nicely in Tampa Palms," said Gary Lewis, vice president of the Hogan Group, which is developing the Pointe. "The area is looking for better restaurants. People . . . don't want to have to get in their cars and drive." The restaurants are expected to open sometime this spring, with the strip center to follow. Lewis, who lives in Tampa Palms, said he hopes to attract some specialty stores that cater to an upscale clientele. - Susan Thurston can be reached at 226-3463 or thurston@sptimes.com.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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From the Times |
