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New Tampa Residents Chime In On Restaurants

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By LAURA KINSLER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 9, 2007

TAMPA PALMS - Ask New Tampa residents what kind of restaurants they want to see, and the answers range from high-priced steak to vegan, late-night jazz to Sunday brunch and New York deli to fondue.

Developer Mike Urette had hoped for some direction from the neighborhood for the type of dining establishments to recruit for a 30,000-square-foot shopping center he's planning in front of the Tampa Palms Professional Center. So starting in February, he posted a survey on the company's Web site inviting New Tampa residents to voice their preferences.

'The two things that jumped out immediately are that people are tired of mass-produced fast food, and people really want a bookstore in New Tampa,' Urette said.

The site, on Commerce Park Boulevard across from the New Tampa Community Park, is too small for a bookstore, and it would be unlikely to attract any large national chain restaurants because it has no visibility from Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. Most of the 172 people who responded to the multiple-choice survey are looking for something a little different.

'People really want the local proprietor-type restaurant,' Urette said.

When asked what type of restaurant they want, the top five choices were steakhouse (18 percent), Mexican (17 percent), Italian (16 percent), seafood (15 percent) and grill/sports bar (11 percent). The participants were asked to send e-mail with more specific requests and comments. Many named specific restaurants, such as Sweet Tomatoes and Friendly's. Several asked for a sit-down Mexican restaurant or dine-in pizza parlor.

Urette said he is working with another developer to build a lakefront center with ambience al fresco seating.

His company has completed about 30 percent of the surrounding office park, and construction should start in 2008 on a 160-room hotel.

Reporter Laura Kinsler can be reached at (813) 865-4844 or lkinsler@tampatrib.com.

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