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Valrico January Business Column

Jennifer Silverstein — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:24:36 +0000

Storage facility opening soon
Budget Self Storage on S.R. 60 and Miller Rd. is nearing completion. According to its Website, the storage facility will be open in February. Budget Self Storage is located at 2504 S.R. 60 E. in Valrico, for more information call 657-7744, e-mail valrico@budgetselfstorage.bz or visit www.budgetselfstorage.bz.

CPA Opens New Office
Certified Public Accountant John C. Bailey recently expanded his team and moved to a new office at 12307 Boyette Rd., in the Clarkson Allstate building.
The new team member, Sue McCain, will assist Bailey with his growing business offering her wide variety of administrative and tax preparation experience.
“Documents and files of a confidential nature can be left with Sue with confidence as she will make sure they are properly delivered to me and stored in an appropriate manner,” says Bailey.
In addition to providing individual and business income tax preparation and planning services, Bailey provides tax preparation and consulting services for payroll, sales and use, and all state taxes.
For more information, contact Bailey at 672-9449 or cbailey@johncbaileycpa.com.

Marco’s Pizza now Open In Plaza, Offering Delivery
Marco’s Pizza, a franchise started in Ohio, recently opened in Valrico, located at 801 E. Brandon Blvd. The chain has been open for approximately three months, since October, said Manager Andy Dixon, a Lithia resident. What makes Marco’s Pizza different from other pizza places, Dixon said is that it uses better ingredients, everything is made fresh and nothing is frozen. “We make our dough daily,” he said.
Marco’s most popular pizza is its White Cheezy pizza, with four types of cheese including feta, bacon, onions, tomatoes and garlic butter sauce. Dixon said this pizza is “award-winning.”
Marco’s is offering limited delivery, within four miles of its storefront, and also offers take-out. You can also place you order online at www.marcos.com. Marco’s Pizza is open Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. For more information or to place an order, call 643-9988.

East Meets West When Indian Cuisine Comes To Valrico
Tandoor Indian Cuisine, in the same plaza as Marco’s Pizza, at 805 E. Brandon Blvd. in Brandon, has been open for approximately two months, opening in November. The restaurant offers take out and catering, boasting “Catering is our specialty” in its menu. It will cater for weddings, conferences, birthdays, parties and special events. No occasion is too big or small, it says.
Kaustlubh Shiodkai, manager of Tandoor, said that it offers from dishes that other Indian restaurants don’t such as beef and pork, but it also has vegetarian dishes available. He also said their prices are about $1-$2 less than others.
Shiodkai said Tandoor’s most popular dishes are its appetizers, Gobni Manchurian and Lollipop chicken. The restaurant can hold about 40 people.
Tandoor has a lunch buffet from 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., and is open for dinner Tuesday – Thursday, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m. For more information or to make a takeout order, call 654-7300 or visit it’s Website at www.tandoorbrandon.com

Marriott To Open Fairfield Inn & Suites Hotel in Plant City
New hotel is the first Fairfield inn in plant city
Marriott opened an 87-room Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott in Plant City in early January. Located at 4307 Sterling Commerce Dr., the Fairfield Inn & Suites Lakeland/Plant City will operate as a Marriott franchise.
Whether you are traveling for business or for pleasure, the three-story hotel offers guests convenient access the Florida State Fairgrounds, the Sun ‘n Fun Air Museum, the Florida Strawberry Festival and Dinosaur World. Rates begin at $129 per night.
The hotel features a variety of enhancements to guest rooms and public areas, as well as the addition of distinctively designed suites. The signature king suite offers separate living and sleeping areas. In the living area, there’s a pantry with coffee maker, mini-refrigerator and microwave. A dividing wall separates the pantry and it features a 32-inch television and a stereo system. Additional in-room amenities include a desk chair, hair dryer and two phones with free local calls.
A complimentary continental breakfast is available each morning in the lobby area. Other hotel amenities include an outdoor heated swimming pool with whirlpool spa, exercise room, valet laundry service and free high-speed Internet and business center.
For more information or reservations, call the Fairfield Inn & Suites Lakeland/Plant City hotel directly at 757-6202, call the Fairfield Inn toll-free number at 800-228-2800, contact a travel agent or visit the Website at www.fairfieldinn.com.

New Businesses opening in Kingsway Plaza
A restaurant and credit union will soon be available to local residents at Kingsway Plaza, located at the corner of Kingsway and Windhorst roads.
Louie’s restaurant, a Latin/American café most popular sandwich is its Cuban and its most popular meal is its Picadillo, which is seasoned ground beef with diced potatoes and green olives. All of Louie’s meals are served with rice, beans and veggies. Owners and Brandon residents, Luis and Trini Simon, are both of Latin descent, Luis being Cuban and Trini being Puerto Rican. The 1,200 sq. ft. restaurant can hold up to 30 people and the Simon’s are planning on putting tables and chairs outside for patio seating.
Louie’s Latin/American Café is located at 1217 Kingsway Rd. in Brandon. Its hours are Tuesday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The café will be closed on Mondays. For more information or to place a take out order, call 315-9845.
The Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union Account Executive Humberto Bravo said that the credit union is aiming at a July opening date, but the Seffner and Brandon Chambers are hosting a ribbon cutting and ground breaking ceremony for Wednesday, January 14, at 1:30 and 2 p.m., respectively. The 2,500 sq. ft. credit union will feature safe deposit boxes and a drive thru, Bravo said. Its hours will be from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday- Thursday and 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Friday. Once the facility opens, Bravo said it will evaluate whether to open on Saturdays. For more information on the Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union, visit its Website at www.rifcu.org or call 621-6661.

First Big Box Opening In February

Jennifer Silverstein — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:43:26 +0000

The SouthShore area will soon be home to its first department store, Bealls.
According to its Website, the corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates over 560 retail store sites in states across the Sun Belt, from Florida to California, with annual sales over one billion dollars. Since its modest beginnings in 1915, Bealls has grown to be a major employer in the state of Florida as well as a valued asset to all the communities it serves throughout the country.
Director of Public and Government Affairs for Bealls, Bill Webster, said the grand opening for the Riverview Bealls is scheduled for Friday, February 6. “And we are on schedule,” he said.
The first department store in the SouthShore area, the Bealls store will be 80,000 sq. ft. which, Webster said, is one of the larger new prototypes. The store will be equipped with larger aisles and larger shopping carts, as well.
Webster said that the store will have “more depth of product” and will carry a “broader assortment of items pretty much across the board.”
He said that Bealls chose this area because it is a rapidly growing area and that the Apollo Beach and SouthShore areas are under-equipped in retail. “People in this area have to travel through several miles of traffic to get to other locations,” he said. Webster also said he believes this is a good geographical location for the store.
The new store does not yet have an address assigned to it from the post office, however, it is located on the corner of U.S. Hwy. 301 and Big Bend Rd., next to the existing Publix, about one mile from I-75.
For more information, call 1-800-569-9038, Monday-Saturday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. or visit www.beallsflorida.com.

Governor Huckabee To Speak At Bell Shoals

Carisa Biesecker — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:20:14 +0000

Heading a new campaign, presidential candidate and former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee will be making his way to Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon to speak, endorsing his fifth book, From Hope to Higher Ground: 12 STOPS to Restoring America’s Greatness. Located at 2102 Bell Shoals Rd. in Brandon, Bell Shoals is readying itself for Huckabee’s arrival, scheduled for Sunday, December 7, at both the 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. worship services. Having made plans of Huckabee’s visiting before the passing of both Pastor Forrest Pollock and Pastor of Music and Worship Simeon Nix, his visit was rescheduled in order to bring “a message of hope and encouragement to our church,” states Minister of Outreach Ministries and Women Debbie Weisemann. “In our world today, with the economy and everything else that is going on, I think everyone needs a word of hope.” An avid speaker, Huckabee mentioned his continued desire to visit Bell Shoals, revamping his entire itinerary to make it work, which gave members of the congregation great encouragement that he would want to visit their church in small-town Brandon. Here, the 44th governor of Arkansas will cover the topics of his writings. According to his Website, Huckabee’s latest book “points out that progress for our Country cannot happen with the continued bipartisan rift dividing it. He taps into the fundamental core of every American, confronting matters closest at hand with the call for a critical change in perspective and a clear plan of action that shows what we can become as a truly indivisible nation. The governor presents 12 key things we need to STOP doing in order to make America stronger, speaking out on immigration, the job market, health care, education and taxes, and provides practical solutions that could bring our nation to higher ground.” Serving as Arkansas’ governor from 1996-2007, Huckabee would leave office in January of 2007 to promote his fifth book, later campaigning for the presidential ticket in 2008. What you may not know about this well-rounded political figure is that he lost 110 lbs. due to being diagnosed with Type II diabetes, he completed four marathons, he stood behind the pulpit for years as a pastor, he was the youngest president to ever be selected for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, he has written his sixth book Do the Right Thing, recently released in November, and he plays bass guitar in his band Capitol Offense. The 52-year-old, who lives with his wife, Janet, in North Little Rock, together having had three children – John Mark, David and Sarah – now grown, doesn’t plan to retire anytime soon, being felt led to do more to help those like his past congregations whose “experiences gave him a deep sense of the problems faced by individuals and families,” according to his Website. ”The Bell Shoals Baptist Church family is honored to have former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee as their pulpit guest on December 7,” says Senior Associate Pastor George Thomasson. “Tickets are not necessary, and the public is graciously invited to attend.” For more information, call 689-4229 or visit www.bellshoals.com. To learn more about Huckabee, visit www.mikehuckabee.com.

Library Celebrates Anniversary with Big Event

Jennifer Silverstein — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:52:32 +0000

SouthShore Regional Library is celebrating its second anniversary on Saturday, November 15, with a variety of programs available for all ages throughout the day. The Friends of the Library are organizing this event. According to the SouthShore Friends of the Library Website, the Friends organization does for the library what the PTA does for schools and the booster clubs do for sports programs. “Basically, library employees cannot raise or handle money, so lucky libraries like this have a ‘Friends of the Library’ group that does fundraisers and raises money for programs beyond the basic ones offered at every library,” said Friends Board Member in charge of programs, Diane Waronka. “It really is another example of Sun City Center retirees that find a cause they like and really offer wonderful time and resources.” Jim Duffy was the founder and original president of the SouthShore Friends group. He held meetings a year or more before the library opened and got corporate and individual sponsorships. Duffy asked Waronka to represent Apollo Beach since it’s a regional library. The board of Friends now meets quarterly. Last year, Waronka ran a Harry Potter trivia contest on the first anniversary and “for the opening ceremony, I organized a ‘Why I like to Read’ essay contest with local schools and had a big awards ceremony,” she said. This year, the festivities will begin at the library at 10:15 a.m. with the Fritzy Brothers One Man Circus. “This really funny program truly appeals to kids of all ages,” Waronka said. “The entire family will laugh at juggling, unicycling, clowning and comedy.” At 11:30 a.m., children will learn the art of cartooning as a form of personal expression. All readers and doll collectors ages 7-14 will do games or crafts based on Samantha, Kitt and other girls from the new series of American Girl at 2 p.m. Youngsters are invited to bring one doll of their own, if they wish. At 3:30 p.m., in the Game Zone, local teens will teach seniors how to play Wii bowling and tennis and then assist in games and tournaments. Also in the Game Zone, Rock Band and Guitar Hero will be available to play. For more information on the SouthShore Library’s second anniversary or the SouthShore Friends of the Library, visit www.southshorefriends.com.

FREE Disney Admission On Your Birthday in 2009

Jennifer Silverstein — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:15:41 +0000

“Spend your happiest day of the year at the happiest place on Earth,” says Disney World’s Website, referring to its Free Admission on Your Birthday promotion. Beginning in 2009, you can spend your birthday at Disney for free. Disney is also offering specials for first time visitors, reunions, honeymoons, anniversaries and more.
Dave Herbst, print managing editor for Disney Destinations/Walt Disney World Resort said, “We realized that many guests come to Walt Disney World Resort to celebrate several years ago when we introduced Magical Gatherings and, more specifically, Grand Gatherings (www.disneyworld.com/grandgatherings).”
“That initiative was launched because we became aware that a significant amount of our visitation was made up of groups beyond the single household – whether it was extended family, neighbors, classmates … any circumstances that forge lifelong associations and friendships,” he said. “In the process of making vacation arrangements for these larger groups, our vacation planners frequently learned that personal milestones and celebration occasions were the impetus for the vacation – anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and such.”
Online registration has already begun for the free admission and will continue through December 31, 2009.
You must be 18 years old or older to register your birthday. If you’re under age 18, you need to have an adult in your household register your birthday for you. And you don’t have to register online as long as you have valid identification, including date of birth, allowing you to take advantage of this birthday offer at the Walt Disney World will-call windows. The reason for registering your birthday online is to save you time. You won’t have to wait while you fill out the forms at the will-call windows.
If you’re age 18 or older, proper ID would be a driver’s license, state-issued or government-issued photo ID or a government-issued passport. If you are under age 18 and don’t have any of the above mentioned ID, an original or certified copy of a birth certificate is required.
For Florida residents, Herbst said, “Considering their relative proximity to Walt Disney World Resort, many Floridians may make a ‘Disney day’ of their birthday in 2009.”
Herbst said, “As guests plan their days or full-scale vacations at Walt Disney World Resort, there are many ways that they can tailor the experience to make it something very individual.”
Some of the ways to do this include a pre-ordered Disney birthday cake that can arrive at your table, decorated and personalized just for you.
Unfortunately, the free admission cannot be used the weekend before or after your birthday. It’s only good for free admission on the ticket holder’s birthday.
This offer is good for anyone over age 3. Children under 3 are not required to have an admission ticket to enter the theme parks.
And this offer is valid for all guests, regardless of their place of residency.
The free birthday ticket may be upgraded to another ticket type on your birthday. However the celebrant is responsible for the incremental cost, and the new ticket may only be used by the celebrant. In addition, the one day/one park ticket is good for 12 months (an option for select guests) and may not be upgraded.
For more information or to register your birthday, visit www.disneyparks.com.

Zach Treks To Atlanta To Raise Funds

Renee Hobbs — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:47:42 +0000

To commemorate November being National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, Valrico resident Zach Bonner is hitting the pavement and walking 280 miles from Tallahassee to Atlanta Georgia. Last year, the 10-year-old took a 250 mile jaunt from Tampa to Tallahassee to raise awareness of the estimated 1.6 million kids that are homeless in our Country and he collected about $25,000 in supplies and money for the organization he founded “The Little Red Wagon Foundation Inc.” Bonner says he has the hike down to a routine of walking about 5 or 6 miles each day, stopping to eat and rest, then walking another 5 or so miles until he and his mother collapse in their Recreational Vehicle each evening.
“The money I raise on the Florida section will stay in the state for the projects my foundation funds for the homeless and street kids” according to Bonner, who adds, “While on the Macon trek that money will go toward building a house with Habitat for Humanity”, and in Atlanta those funds will go into a new project to help underprivileged kids explore their artistic side.
Bonner will be on the road 30 days with the conclusion of the walk on his birthday November 17 and you can follow the progress of the soon to be 11-year-old by going to his Website and clicking on “Zach Tracker.” If you want to contribute any money you can do that too, says Bonner, adding “And you can decide where it goes.” Some of Bonners honors include meeting President George W. Bush, receiving numerous awards for his dedication and hard work through his foundation, and so what could this little man have planned next? Bonner says he is already thinking ahead and “Next year I might do another walk from Tampa to Tallahassee, depending on how this one goes,” and he says he is also trying to figure out how he can walk from Tampa to Key West. For more information about Bonner’s charity you can go to his Website at www.littleredwagonfoundation.com where you can also click on” Zach Tracker” to pinpoint his exact location.

Local Moms Roll For A Cure

Carisa Biesecker — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:36:56 +0000

“An estimated 138,530 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2008,” reads the Website of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, inspiring the MOMS Club of Lithia to continue the fight, hosting the Fourth Annual Roll for a Cure.
Taking place on Thursday, November 20, at the Palmetto Club, located at 17004 Dorman Rd. in FishHawk Ranch, Roll for a Cure will be “a night of fun, food, prizes and bunko,” according to Terri Fischer, president of the MOMS Club of Lithia-Bevis, which is working in conjunction with the MOMS Club of Lithia-FishHawk Creek to host the event. The two groups were once one, having dispersed into two due to growth, and both felt the effects of lymphoma first-hand as they watched one of their own pass away from the disease, forging the conception of Roll for a Cure.
Residents will wine and dine on appetizers, desserts and a cash bar with a DJ on-hand to dole out the tunes and $2 and $5 raffle tickets will be available for purchase to win prizes. With last year’s event welcoming 130 residents and raising $8,500, the group is hoping for a turnout of 100 this year. “Our goal is to beat our amount raised last year, but we will be excited about any amount raised since all the proceeds from the evening go directly to benefit the amazing charity,” says Committee Chair Danielle Triplett of the MOMS Club of Lithia-FishHawk Creek.
Doors will open at 7 p.m. for Roll for a Cure, with games beginning at 7:30 p.m. Those interested in donating to a good cause can play bunko for $20. Sponsors of the event include: www.mountaincabinbythelake.com, Family Medical Care of Riverview, Superior Autobody in St. Petersburg, It’s Personal-Seriously Adorable Personalized Artwork, the Bank of Tampa as well as donations from sponsors such as Alycia Alverez Photography, RobZFitness, Studio 1 to1, Lowery Park Zoo, Stonewood Grill and Tavern and many more.
If you are a business owner and would like to make a donation to be incorporated within the prize baskets, need more information or would like to find out more about the MOMS Club of Lithia-FishHawk Creek, please contact Triplett at 294-0405 or visit www.rollforacure.info. To learn more MOMS Club of Lithia-Bevis, call Fischer at 654-9988. To inquire about The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, visit www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.

Publix Transitions to South of S.R. 60

Carisa Biesecker — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 20:33:07 +0000

Publix of Valrico is moving, but no worries as the new facility will be just a hop, skip and a jump away across S.R. 60 on the south side, residing within Valrico Square, the former Winn Dixie-anchored plaza.
Sharing quarters with Applebee’s and Estrella Tropical, Publix will now reside within the plaza, absorbing a total of 54,000 sq. ft. in the process. The current space in which the Publix is housed, 1930 S.R. 60 E. in Valrico, also measures 54,000 sq. ft., but, according to Media and Community Relations spokesperson Shannon Patten, “This is the latest and greatest. It really gives us the option to expand our services.”
Here, the company will feature a spacious, open-air feel to its new floor plan with a fresh look and a vibrant color palate. New technologies will be incorporated alongside eco-friendly, energy saving components which encompass the entire store as well as an expansion of services already offered by the grocer. “It will have all the bells and whistles our customers would expect,” adds Patten. Although the facility will be made new, patrons will still see the same faces as the current staff will make the conversion as well.
This “new prototype” store has begun construction and is planned to be completed within the next nine months, making the store available to clientele in the spring of 2009. Patten comments, “You won’t have to go a day without your Publix,” as the current location will close at its regular operation hours and reopen the new Publix the following day.
“We are really looking forward to serving our customers in the Valrico area everything they ever wanted in a Publix,” concludes Patten.
Publix, whose mission “is to be the premier quality food retailer in the world,” according to its Website, was founded by the late Winter Haven resident George W. Jenkins in 1930. From its inception, it has grown greatly, totaling 948 supermarkets across the states of Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee and Florida which alone harbors the greatest number of stores at 678. Employing over 140,000, this locally known retailer acquired $23 billion in 2007, proving its popularity amongst residents.
For more information, visit www.publix.com.