Lithia Crossing Plaza Welcomes Trio Of New Businesses

Lithia Crossing Plaza Welcomes Trio Of New Businesses
By Jennifer Silverstein
Joining the ranks of Stein Mart, Cork & Olive and Bleu Salon & Spa, three new businesses are coming to the Lithia Crossing plaza in the near future. Hut No. 8The first of these is a store selling new and gently worn brand name clothes, shoes and accessories for teens and young adults called Hut No. 8. Staff have already begun buying clothes, shoes and accessories on location at 3448 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. on Mondays and Fridays, from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.The store, offering name-brand, juniors, new and resale clothing for teens and young adults (guys and girls), should be open by mid-March. “We pay cash to our customers for their gently-worn items,” said owner Christopher Woods. “We offer clothes, shoes, hats, belts, purses and accessories.”Name brand T-shirts will range in price from $3 – $8 and name brand jeans from $9 – $25. “In most cases, our customers enjoy a savings of 70 percent off of mall retail prices!” Woods said.Hut No. 8 will be open seven days a week, Monday- Friday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Saturday, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday, 12 Noon – 6 p.m.For more information, please visit www.hut8valrico.com, call 689-0111 or follow Hut No. 8 on MySpace and Facebook.Amani Medspa and Wellness CenterAlso coming to the Lithia Crossing plaza is a chance for relaxation with Amani Medspa and Wellness Center. Amani Medspa and Wellness Center is going to offer weight loss, hair removal, IPL photofacials, treatment for acne, skin tightening, VelaShape for body contouring and cellulite treatment, in addition to Botox and dermal fillers, a skin care line and anti-aging with hormone replacement. It will also provide facials and hydrafacials when it opens in April. Dr. Gina Brar, who owns Amani Medspa along with her husband Aman, said, “What sets us apart is getting the latest medical aesthetic treatments in a spa atmosphere for both men and women where all consultations are done by a doctor.” Amani Medspa and Wellness Center, located at 3440 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico, next to RobZFitness, will be open Tuesday – Friday from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sunday by appointment only. A dental office will also be coming soon to the Lithia Crossing plaza and is slated to open this summer. More information on that business will be available in next month’s Osprey Observer.Leasing InformationSituated on 11.2 acres of land, Lithia Crossing offers 98,961 sq. feet of building space and a generous 503 parking spaces. There are currently four spaces still available for lease ranging from 900 sq. feet to 3,480 sq. feet contiguous.For leasing information, please contact United American Realty at 977-5201, ext. 207, or visit www.unitedamericanrealty.com.

Nature’s Remedies Found At Local Market

Nature’s Remedies Found At Local Market
By Jennifer Silverstein
According to Genesis 1:11-12, “And God said, let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: And it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”“We began a co-op with four ladies in 1986 because I wanted to get my health food at cost,” said Ann Souther, who owns Souther’s Natural Foods with her husband, Jack. “Pretty soon we had a whole garage full of ladies. I never meant to start a business.” People have come from Lakeland, Zephyrhills, Temple Terrace and even Pinellas County to Souther’s.The 1,800-sq.-ft. eco-friendly business offers vitamins, supplements and herbs, organic produce and meats. “We have four local organic farmers that we’re buying from,” Jack said.The Souther’s third child- born in 1976- had ear infections and respiratory problems for the first two years of his life. She went to go see a homeopathic doctor in Brandon who told the couple to feed their toddler mostly fruits and vegetables, to purchase three different types of tea and use cotton balls to put in his ears and not to give him milk as it causes mucus in the body. His fever and congestion was gone in one day.“It started out of need for our family,” said Ann. Their son, John, is now 33 years old and is a practicing chiropractor in Plant City. Ann says he has only been on antibiotics once in 30 years. Ann also gives personal consultations which are available by calling in advance to make an appointment with her. There is also what is called “The Compass” in the store which customers can place their hand on the cradle and get a reading on what nutritional products your body needs.Ann also teaches classes on a monthly basis, saying, “I love to educate people because if you teach them, they’ll make wise decisions.”As a part of Souther’s hometown feel, the couple grows their own produce and they have free literature available on natural and herbal remedies for ailments. The most common ailments people come into Souther’s for include blood pressure, blood sugar, arthritis, fungus and memory. Jack said he would like people to know, “We’re here to help them.” Souther’s is located at 14750 Martin Luther King Blvd. in Dover. For more information, please call 659-0349 or stop by the store, which is open Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 – 6 p.m.

Lifelong Friends Open Recipe Box Diner

Lifelong Friends Open Recipe Box Diner
By Jake Holmberg

Mama always has the best breakfast, she knows just how you like your eggs, and she always remembers to add that special ingredient into every bite. But if you want a special breakfast the way Mama makes it, you don’t have to make the trip all the way back home. The Recipe Box Family Diner is right here in Brandon, and Manny and Todd are cooking up breakfast meals “Just like Mama used to make.”Manny Nikias and Todd Siegal are long time friends that first met in elementary school in New York. After working together in a few other restaurants and cooking at home with their own families, the two friends began collecting all the best recipes they had stowed away in their kitchen drawers. From Belgian Waffles to their own Recipe Box Burgers, they put all their best recipes together to form the menu, and on December 14 2009, these two lifelong friends opened Recipe Box Family Diner in the WinnDixie shopping center on John Moore Rd. and Bloomingdale Ave.A meal that is fit for anyone that walks through the diner door is Mama’s Breakfast, with eggs cooked any way you like, bacon or sausage served sizzling hot and big thick pancakes delivered to your table just as hot as the bacon. You’ll definitely get your moneys worth when you order this tasty meal and you’ll leave the Recipe Box with a belly full to the brim.   And the service is just as wonderful as the meals. Manny says, “We’ll have better service than a typical breakfast diner. We want to deal directly with customers right as they’re walking through the door.” That was the exact type of service this reporter received from the staff. A lifetime of recipes, a lifetime of memories; Recipe Box Family Diner is a great way to start your day, or to meet an old friend or breakfast or lunch. For a tasty meal or for more information, you can stop by the diner at 147 E. Bloomingdale Ave. in Brandon, or check them out and order online at www.recipeboxdiner.com.
Caption: Todd Siegal (left) and Manny Nikias (right) friends since Elementary school open up Recipe Box Family Diner in the Winn Dixie Plaza off Bloomingdale Ave. and John Moore Rd.

Boyette Road Compounding Shop Prepares Unique Prescriptions

Boyette Road Compounding Shop Prepares Unique Prescriptions
By Tamas Mondovics
Now in its second year of operation, Riverview’s single compounding only pharmacy, The Compounding Shop, located at 13224 Boyette Rd. on the corner of Bell Shoals and Boyette roads in Riverview, is receiving support from its growing number of new as well as regular customers who are receiving high-quality medication along with great small town customer service.“Business has been picking up as more and more residents use our services and more and more doctors know about the shop,” said pharmacist and shop owner Leott Wydetic, as she explained that unlike many pharmacies where the main purpose is just to supply residents with a regular prescription, a compounding only pharmacy provides a special service to those in need.  Some of these services include the preparation of unique dosage forms containing the best dose of medication for each individual; medications in dosage forms that are not commercially available.“The most often utilized form of compounding is when a medication needs to be applied in a different form,” Wydetic said, adding, “This is where hours and hours of understanding drug chemistry comes in to play.”’A number of additional services are now offered on a regular basis at the shop such as in-store seminars on subjects like menopause and hormone replacement therapy, medication therapy reviews and therapeutic lifestyle issues, which are now attended by dozens of residents twice a month. As it gets firmly established in the community, the shop, according to Wydetic, is able to give back by being involved with charitable events such as a recently held 5K Fun Run, which raised more than $1,200 on behalf of The Kids Place of Tampa Bay.Of course, the real beauty of having such a facility as The Compounding Shop available lies in the fact that the demand for professional compounding continues to increase.Healthcare professionals and patients realize more and more that the limited number of strengths and dosage forms that are commercially available do not always meet the needs of many patients, and that they often have a better response to a customized dosage form. “It is a continuous learning process,” said Wydetic, a Brandon High School graduate, who holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree and graduated from Atlanta’s Mercer University with honors in 1986. Teaching a compounding class at the University of Florida, she added, “We never stop studying.”The Compounding Shop of Riverview is actually one of the 3,000 members of the Professional Compounding Center of America (PCCA). For more information, please call the shop at 341-1050 or visit www.gotocompoundingshop.com.

Fields: Trusted Framing For Community For 20 Years

Fields: Trusted Framing For Community For 20 Years
By Kathy L. Collins
When it comes to preserving and protecting your most cherished memories, you want to entrust them to the best. Fields Framing has been framing and protecting memories for 20 years. Owner, Eddie Matos, bought the business in January 2009 from Jerry Fields and has continued a proud tradition of serving the Greater Brandon community. Matos has 13 years of experience in picture framing and photo restoration. He got to know the customers by working with Jerry Fields for over a year before taking over the business. Matos has continued with the same level of care and integrity that the customers of Fields have known for 20 years.Fields Framing specializes in framing a simple photo to very detailed shadowboxes as well as full conservation framing techniques. “All of the work is done in house by the owner. Nothing is ever sent to an outside vendor. We use the utmost care with every item,” explained Matos. He recalls one job which involved a couple who brought in an old powder horn which was used to load rifles during the Spanish-American War. The powder horn was in a pouch and there was a photo of the customer’s relative wearing the pouch and holding the powder horn. The powder horn still had gunpowder in it. All of the items were incorporated into a shadowbox for display.“We have the largest selection of frames in the area ranging from the simplest design all the way up to oversized pieces with many layers,” Matos said. Additionally, Fields Framing utilizes conservation glass products which protect art and photos against fading and destructive forces within the environment.In addition to framing, Fields Framing offers photo restoration. Matos advises that all photos should be kept in an acid free storage environment, and you should always keep photos off of glass. Photo restoration starts at $65.00 and goes up depending on the level of damage and desired final outcome.Fields Framing is conveniently located at 3407 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Valrico. The phone number is 654-8616 and the email address is fieldsframing@me.com.

To The Rescue: Air Conditioning Experts

By Jennifer Silverstein
Air Rescue is a full-service air conditioning and heating company owned by Jim Myers, who is also the president of the company and developed the “green” safety duct system that Air Rescue uses. Air Rescue services only residences, not new-build construction or commercial properties. It offers repair of units as well as replacement, if needed. It can service all brands of air conditioning units. The company was purchased and opened as Air Rescue in 2001; the original company, Sheppard’s, had been in business since 1946, when it was purchased.According to Director of Sales and Marketing Mike Wick, some problems, which can appear as allergies, a runny nose, sneezing and more, can be caused by poor filtration. Technicians for Air Rescue are always on-call, and the call center is available 24 hours per day, seven days a week. “We try to be there within the hour,” Wick said.Air Rescue currently has 112 employees, of which 80 are technicians. Every employee at Air Rescue is drug-free and has had a background check in all 50 states. “Every person you see here can be trusted in your home,” he assured. Technicians also receive more than 200 hours of training per year. When a technician arrives at your home, Wick said they will not park in the driveway, they will park in the street. When they enter your home, they will wear what are known as floor savers or covers over their shoes. “When we are in your home, we want you to be comfortable,” he said.The 18,000-sq.-ft. home office, which includes a training simulator, call office and more, services five counties, including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk, Manatee and Hernando. “In that market, there are more than 350,000 homes that have units that are more than seven years old,” Wick said.There are several guarantees and warranties which Air Rescue offers, including a “100 percent money-back” guarantee and a “lowest price” guarantee. For more information or to schedule a service for your air conditioning unit, please call 1-888-NEVER-WAIT or 964-7658. More information about Air Rescue and the services it offers is also available online at www.1888neverwait.com.

Flint Creek Outfitters Opens In Time For Holidays

By Sharon Still
If camping, fishing, hiking and hunting are part of your family’s outdoor adventures, Flint Creek Outfitters in River Springs Plaza can help make sure you are prepared, with merchandise including clothing for men, women and children, fly-fishing gear, camping equipment, pet merchandise and more. This one-stop shop is fully equipped to outfit you and your family with top of the line merchandise that will make your experience safer and more enjoyable. Flint Creek Outfitters is a family business started by Gordon Comer, schooled by his father Cecil, who established a trailer, camper and snowmobile business in 1965 in Michigan. After much success, the Comer families sold the business, Apache Trailer Sales, and moved to Gibsonton in 1980. The new FishHawk store, Flint Creek Outfitters is run by Trent Comer.The original Flint Creek Outfitters is in Orlando, and Trent says that opening in the FishHawk area offers many opportunities. “This is one of the best markets in Florida,” he comments. “We have already received tremendous community support, and our plans include giving back to the community, keeping it local.”Flint Creek Outfitters offers something for everyone in the family, and Trent says he is especially excited for the opportunities to educate the children in the area. Saturdays will be demo days, and he says to expect all-day clinics on various topics in the summer. The large selection includes top brand names such as Patagonia, The North Face, Sperry Top Sider, Guy Harvey, Tilly, Orvis and others. Stop by before the end of the year and check out the great sales on name brand apparel. Additionally, the current promotion offers 10 percent off socks and shoes when you bring in your old ones. Whether you are ready to hit the trail, discover the Florida fishing flats or just get out and explore the outdoors, Flint Creek Outfitters can help make your dream a reality by gearing you up with all the necessary equipment and  also equipping you with all of the knowledge and skills needed to enjoy your adventure. From one-on-one instruction to educational seminars to guided trips, Flint Creek Outfitters has it all. Flint Creek Outfitters is located at 13425 FishHawk Blvd. near Buffalo Wild Wings.Hours are Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Sunday 12 Noon-6 p.m. For more information, please visit www.flintcreekoutfitter.com or call 681-1888.

Dentists Use Laser Technology To Treat Patients Painlessly

By Jennifer Silverstein

A local dentist office has been in the area for 25 years and, after adding a laser to its practice 10 years ago, it became known as Dental Laser Center. Dental Laser Center is owned-and-operated by Dr. Andrea Gordillo and Dr. Bruce Waterman, both of whom graduated from the University of Florida’s College of Dentistry and from the University of South Florida. Waterman also attended Brandon High School. Their staff of 10 includes four hygienists. Dental Laser Center was the first office in all of Hillsborough County to institute the laser, known as the Waterlase, which interacts with water and energizes the water. “Using that laser, we can use it for fillings and gum treatments without using anesthetics or numbing patients, in most cases,” Gordillo said.Other services provided at Dental Laser Center include family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, including crowns and caps, veneers, bridges, dental implants, tooth-colored fillings, Opalescence teeth whitening and take-home teeth whitening. Waterman has lived in the Brandon area for 45 years, and Gordillo has been a lifelong Tampa resident. What makes their practice different from others is their four points of identity, Waterman said, which are: distinctive care (laser), personalized care, customized care and compassionate outreach. Dental Laser won the Brandon Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award in 2000 for 6-10 Employees and has been a member of the Brandon Chamber for 25 years. It is also a member of all the honorary, national, state and local dental associations. Other charities Dental Laser Center has given back to include the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Lifecare of Brandon and Lighthouse Ministries. Waterman also worked on the mobile dental van “Mission Smile,” which provided care to the under-served, helped establish “Smile Fridays” at Hillsborough Community College and helped establish dental screening programs for the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile van. Dental Laser is open five days a week, Monday-Thursday, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., closing early on Fridays at 2 p.m. For more information or to set up an appointment at Dental Laser Center, located at 127 Kingsway Rd., Ste. A, in Brandon, please call 689-8462 or visit www.dentallasercenter.net.

Longtime Brandon Hairstylist Now Cutting Hair at Riverview Salon

By Jennifer Silverstein

David Andrews Salon and Spa, located at 911 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. in Brandon, recently closed its doors after 25 years in business. He and three of his staff have moved over to Stacia Michaels, The Salon, located within the River Springs plaza at 13411 FishHawk Blvd. Stacia Michaels is now offering many other esthetic services now, in addition to body waxing, make-up application and instruction and facials, including acne treatment, rosacea treatment, back facials and microdermabrasion. Stacia Michaels’ hair services include shampoo and blow drying, hair cutting and styling, highlighting, color correcting, permanent and semi-permanent tinting, deep conditioning treatment for both the hair and scalp and special occasion styling for weddings, black tie events and proms. It also offers the Keratin complex smoothing therapy by COPPOLA. Andrews said he decided to go to Stacia Michaels, The Salon, because, “She’s up-to-date with styles and, knowing her knowledge in the business, I thought I would fit in good with her.” All color bottles, tubes and boxes used at the salon are recycled as are foils, shampoo and styling product containers. The salon has partnered with Matter of Trust, a non-profit which turns hair clippings into oil spill hair mats to be used to absorb oil from oil spills. The hair is collected after each cut then shipped to Matter of Trust where they distribute the hair mats around the world when needed. Stacia Michaels also utilizes the Lifetime Total Beauty Makeover tool on its Website, www.mylifetime.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/total-beauty-makeover. By uploading a picture of yourself, you can try on new hair styles and cuts, and when you are finished, you can bring it in to Stacia Michaels and the staff there will try to recreate the look. It also gives free haircuts to people willing to donate their hair to the Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths campaign. Stacia Michaels, The Salon, is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 684-6300 or visit www.staciamichaels.com, where appointments can be made online.

Awards Announce Five Local Businesses As Tops In Industry

By Sharon Still

Guests packed the Crowne Plaza Tampa-East for the recent 2009 Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year Awards, an annual recognition gala that celebrates the accomplishments and community commitment of small businesses in the Brandon area.  After a record number of nominations, fifteen area businesses were recognized as finalists at the Chamber’s annual event, sponsored by Bank of Tampa.  Supporting sponsors included Hanna, Lemar & Morris, P.A., The Crowne Plaza Tampa-East and media sponsor Osprey Observer community newspapers. The evening, led by celebrity emcee Jamie Jacobs, included the announcement of one winner from each of the five categories and a video presentation highlighting each finalist as well as past  recipients of this prestigious Chamber award.     The 1,800-plus members of the Chamber nominate the businesses which are then divided into categories based on the number of employees or type of business.  Judges, volunteers from SCORE, Counselors to America’s Small Business review the applications and interview the candidates to determine the finalists. The judges make personal visits to the finalists’ places of business, to conclude the judging process and determine the five winners.  Award categories include home based businesses, minority and women owned businesses, businesses with 1-5 employees, 6-15 employees and 16 or more employees.  This year’s winners include: Cruises For U / Cruise Planners, Home Based Business; Law Offices Of Emma Hemness, P.A., Minority & Women Owned Business; Electric Today, Inc., 1 to 5 Employees; Love’s Tire & Service Center, Inc., 6 to 15 Employees; Brandon Sports & Aquatic Center, 16 Plus Employees. Winners received a gift pack from local small businesses and recognition from the Chamber and community.  A Small Business of the Year Special Section is available at the Osprey Observer offices at 900 Lithia Pinecrest Rd. Brandon, and offers profiles, tips and tricks from all 15 finalists of this year’s award as well as a profile of Brandon’s first winner, Dick Stowers in 1982. For more information on this event, visit the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s web site at www.brandonchamber.com or call Jamie Reid at  689-1221, ext. 8843.