Details, details

Here's the scoop on the theaters, ticket purchasing and price, child care, and the stores and restaurants.

By SHARON L. BOND and JON WILSON

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 12, 2000

Muvico Theater's BayWalk 20 is the centerpiece of downtown's new entertainment/retail complex.

[Times photos: Name Here] The Muvico 20 box office on the BayWalk courtyard, with the tower over the entrance. "Without a theater, there wouldn't be a BayWalk, said Craig Sher, president of the Sembler Company, developer of the complex.

"Without a theater, there wouldn't be a BayWalk," said Craig Sher, president of the Sembler Company, the complex's developer.

Fort Lauderdale-based Muvico, which stands for Multiple Visions Co., built the 20-screen theater, complete with grand foyer, party rooms, child care center, stadium seating and walls of mosaic tile in the restrooms. It brings movies back to St. Petersburg's immediate downtown after an absence of more than 20 years, when the State Theater closed for movies in 1977. It was one of a number of theaters downtown. Movie-going started early in the last century when the La Plaza Theater opened.

BayWalk 20 movies start Friday with three holiday features: The Grinch with Jim Carrey, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie and the Sixth Day, the new Arnold Schwarzenegger movie.

"All 20 (screens) will have something," said Edward Taylor, managing director for the BayWalk theaters.

Ticket prices range from a low of $4.50 for the twilight screenings, Mondays through Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. Matinee adult price is $5.50. Evening prices are $7 for adults, $4.50 for children, $5 for seniors and $5.50 for students and military members.

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at the box office or from four machines in front of the theater. Taylor said moviegoers will be able to retrieve tickets purchased over the telephone or through www.muvico.com. Or they can walk up with a credit and buy tickets on the spot. Taylor said the ticket machines operate like automated teller machines.

Theater sizes include 80, 160, 200-plus and 426 seats. Screen sizes are proportionate to the theater size. All the theaters have stadium seating, plush chairs that are built up to give even the smallest person a clear view, Taylor promises.

Children 3 to 8 can stay in the theater's activities room while parents go to a movie. The cost is one adult-price ticket for the first child and $4 per child for each additional child, Taylor said. Parents, of course, must purchase their own movie tickets also. The maximum stay in the activities center is three hours. Children will have access to computers, games and activities. Taylor said parents will be issued beepers so they can be easily summoned.

Stores

ANN TAYLOR: BayWalk is getting Ann Taylor Stores' full-line shop, which carries more expensive and more formal women's clothes than Ann Taylor Loft at Tyrone Square Mall in St. Petersburg. The upscale clothier, considered the retail anchor of BayWalk, is for women who want designs in traditional, feminine clothing, according to a company spokeswoman. A twin sweater set of merino wool is one of Ann Taylor's most popular items. The shell sells for $58 and the cardigan for $78. A knee-length leather jacket sells for $398. Black leather boots are $198. Ann Taylor opens Friday.

AFTERTHOUGHTS: An accessory store for older teens, Afterthoughts is part of Claire's Stores Inc., which is found in many shopping malls. More sterling silver and 14-karat gold are sold at Afterthoughts than Claire's because older teens are thought to have more disposable income. Items include gold earrings from $3.99 to $24.99; hair barrettes with stones, two for $6; and a jar of body glitter, $5.50. Afterthoughts opens Friday.

MEPHISTO by HAPPY FEET PLUS: The store that sells Birkenstocks and other European comfort shoes throughout Tampa Bay is stocking only the more expensive Mephisto brand at BayWalk. Mephisto is a bit more stylish and fashionable than Birkenstocks, a Happy Feet spokeswoman said. Prices average $98 a pair for women's shoes and $110 to $115 for men's, with some styles ranging as high as $200. Mephisto opens Friday.

WHITE HOUSE/BLACK MARKET: This retailer is two stores in one, featuring women's clothing in shades of white and black, with white on one side of the store and black on the other. Items will include dresses for parties, weddings and proms, sportswear, sweaters, accessories, lingerie and gift items. The BayWalk store will not open until after Jan. 1, according to the owners. Dresses will range from $78 to $148, pants from $68 to $88, and most jewelry under $20. White House/Black Market is scheduled to open at the end of January.

ACORN: Women's ready-to-wear clothing will feature items such as Michael Simon novelty sweaters and David Brooks sportswear. Acorn caters to soccer moms through grandmas, said a spokesman, adding that the emphasis will be more on sportswear than dressy clothes. Simon sweaters range from $58 to $178, a Brighton leather handbag averages $200, and Brooks sports slacks are in the $70 range. Acorn is scheduled to open at the end of February.

CHICO'S: The Fort Myers-based chain features clothes and accessories for women who, by Chico's description, live a casual lifestyle. The clothes are exclusive to Chico's, which has 219 stores in 38 states. A sampling of the merchandise shows a cotton pullover sweater for $72, a pair of beaded earrings for $12, and elastic waist traveler's slacks for $56. Chico's is scheduled to open at the end of February.

CRICKET SHOP: This shop will carry as many as 2,500 to 3,000 women's swimsuits in a variety of labels and prices, plus resort wear. The BayWalk store is the ninth for the Naples-based chain. A Gottex one-piece swimsuit averages $135, according to the owner, while a La Blanca two-piece is about $74. The Cricket Shop opens Friday.

SACINO'S FORMAL WEAR -- The longtime St. Petersburg-based tuxedo boutique will offer a dry cleaning service -- a rare addition downtown -- besides its staple of formal wear rentals and sales. Hours aren't set in stone, but the store expects to open earlier in the day than most of its neighbors to catch the dry cleaning clientele. Closing time will be 8 p.m. And the store will be open Sundays. Sacino's opens either Friday or a day or two later, Sher said.

HURRICANE PASS OUTFITTERS -- Tropical lifestyle reflected in upscale sportswear. That's the theme of Hurricane Pass, where you can buy such items as silk trousers for about $115. The shop is an offshoot of William Short Clothiers, which has a downtown St. Petersburg store in the Bank of America Tower. Hours during the week will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.) Hurricane Pass opens Friday.

GBX SHOES -- Based in Fort Lauderdale, GBX Shoes has eight stores nationwide. The men's and women's styles tend to be on fashion's cutting edge, but word is this store may be more conservative than the one in Centro Ybor. GBX is scheduled to open at the end of February.

SUNGLASS HUT/WATCH STATION INTERNATIONAL -- This familiar business has stores in Tyrone, Bay Area, Clearwater and Countryside malls. You can get Charlie's Angels tinted sunglasses -- among other styles -- and a range of fashion-oriented or utilitarian watches. This Coral Gables-based company has about 2,000 stores nationwide. Sunglasses start at about $30 and go up to $275; watches range from $40 to $200. Sunglass Hut is scheduled to open at the end of February.

PEOPLE'S POTTERY -- A haven for quality, handcrafted American art, this store will offer work by more than 300 artists and craftspeople. Jewelry, hand-hammered pewter, desks, dishware, fiber arts and scarves are samples of the merchandise. A bridal gift registry is a feature. The Rochester, N.Y.-based company has either opened or soon will open six new stores in Florida, including one in Tampa's WestShore Plaza. People's Pottery opens Friday.

BAYWALK BOOKSMITH -- This mainstream, multimedia store will include the popular cafe theme, so customers can sip and nibble while they read. There's also one scheduled to open in Centro Ybor. BayWalk Booksmith is scheduled to open at the end of December.

AUSTRALIAN CREATIONS -- This store will be the first one in the United States. The only other is in Canberra, Australia's capital. Exotic jewelry will be the 1,000-square-foot store's feature, including pearls from Western Australia, black Tahitian pearls and Australian opals. Also offered will be colored diamonds from the Argyle mine in Western Australia, including the rare pink diamond. Stones will be available in settings, or loose so customers can choose their own designs. Price ranges vary widely so the store can offer something for all budgets. Some pieces are as little as $30, yet a strand of South Sea pearls might reach $500,000. Australian Creations opens Friday.

Restaurants

ADOBO GRILL: This restaurant will be a combination of fast-food format and unusual Mexican flavors, according to the proprietor, who also owns Red Mesa on Fourth Street N in St. Petersburg. Ten seats will be available inside the takeout with 50 outside. Adobo will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Tacos will sell two per order for $3.95; a burrito, $4.95 to $5.95; and special wraps, $6.95. Adobo opens Friday.

KEY WEST CONFECTIONS & CONES: Shoppers in need of a Parrothead sundae or candy in bulk will stop here. Working Cow ice cream is the name brand that will be sold for 49 cents an ounce in the Key West-theme shop. That puts the cost of an average cone at $2 to $2.50, according to the owners. The Parrothead sundae, an orgy of chocolate, sells for $5.25. A coffee drink called carmel-mocha blast (small) costs $2.95. Key West Confections opens Friday.

GRATZZI: This white-tablecloth restaurant featuring Northern Italian cuisine will not open until the first or second week in December, according to the chef, who also is one of the owners. It will be upscale casual and accommodate about 200 diners. The menu will include entrees such as grilled shrimp and pesto for $17, and peasant chicken and gnocchi, $14. Appetizers range from sauteed mussels for $6 to blue crab and eggplant napoleon for $9. Gratzzi opens at the end of December.

WET WILLIE'S: The frozen-drink specialty bar is on the second floor at BayWalk at the top of the grand staircase from the courtyard. It is an open-air space with dance floor, party room, balconies and air conditioning. The Savannah-based company will offer a variety of frozen drinks, including some non-alcoholic, plus beer, soft drinks, coffee and tea. No food will be served since Wet Willie's is surrounded by restaurants, according to one of the owners. Beers will be $3. Frozen alcoholic drinks are $5, $6 and $7, depending on size. The large is 22 ounces. Wet Willie's opens Friday.

TOOJAY'S GOURMET DELI -- Pastrami, corned beef, tongue, brisket, stuffed cabbage and blintzes are on the menu, which also includes specialty salads, pastries and other desserts, burgers, soups and dinner entrees. An average check for one is about $9. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served. Hours are Sunday through Thursday from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., and until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The Fort Lauderdale-based deli also caters. Toojay's opens either Friday or a day or two later.

DAN MARINO'S TOWN TAVERN -- For the football-challenged, Dan Marino is the famous former Miami Dolphins quarterback. But the Town Tavern is not a sports bar, its managers say. Entrees include sea bass, nut-crusted mahi-mahi and comfort food such as meat loaf. Burgers are made from sirloin and chicken breasts are cooked to order over an oak-burning grill. Many entrees are $10 to $15; the best steaks or a specialty fish reach $17 or $18. The restaurant will be open for lunch and dinner. Oh, and don't forget the martini bar. Specialties include the chocolate martini, another with blue cheese in the olive, and the Marino margarita, which mixes tequila with the liqueurs Grand Marnier and Cointreau. Dan Marino's opens at the end of January.

JOHNNY ROCKETS -- A restaurant with a 1950s theme offers old-fashioned burgers and shakes. There are vinyl booths and a jukebox on every table. It costs a nickel to play -- and the restaurant supplies the nickels. Look for waiters in soda jerk uniforms, complete with the proper hat. This California chain has about 140 locations in 25 states and nine countries. Johnny Rockets opens Friday or a day or two later.

DISH -- And now, for something completely different ... this restaurant features a wall that is its own work of art and a centerpiece grill that is 9 feet in diameter. But that's not the half of it. Here you get to be your own cook and waiter. You choose from meat, fish, fowl and pasta, for example, then pick up whatever vegetables and sauces and assorted exotic comestibles you like. Hang out at the grill and chat while the cook works on your creation, then it's on to your table, where you eat what you have wrought. You have 1,472,000 possible combos to concoct. This is the second Dish; the other is in Ybor City. The BayWalk locale will seat 200 in the main restaurant, 50 at the bar, 50 in the bar balcony and 60 in the restaurant balcony. Hours will be 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. Lunch is $7.50 for one swing through the food bar, $8.50 with salad, and $11.50 for unlimited food; dinner has one price, $14.75, and it's for unlimited eating. Dish is scheduled to open at the end of December.

- Researcher Mary Mellstrom contributed to this report.

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