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Growth Continues In South Shore

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By LOIS KINDLE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 13, 2008

RUSKIN - Lots has happened in the business community since the last Best of South Shore was published in February 2007. Scores of companies opened, a few closed and many business people were in the news.

Highlights during the spring of last year included the debut of Winestyles, Florida Taekwondo & Hapkido Academy and Sinful Delights Cakes in Riverview, Bay Alarm Protective Services in Ruskin, and Arianna's Rugs & Decor and Cruzin' K9 Cuts in Apollo Beach.

After 21 years in at the intersection of Riverview Drive and U.S. 41, Gaskill Insurance went out of business, succumbing to increased competition from the Internet. And Giant's Fish Camp, a Gibsonton landmark for more than 50 years, was put on the market.

Tony Zipperer of Zipperer's Funeral Home was named president of the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce, and Sheila Burdick of M&I Bank took the chamber's Business Person of the Year Award. Attorney Dan Hartzog won the Ruskin honorary mayor's race; Denise Reiter of Freedom Plaza, Volunteer of the Year; and Sandy Council of the Ruskin Redneck Trading Co., Ambassador of the Year. Shirley Hulsey was named manager of a new AmSouth Bank, which was later bought by Regions.

The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority built two bus shelters at the Park 'n' Ride in the Thriftway Shopping Center in Ruskin.

At Home Auto Care relocated farther south on U.S. 41 in Ruskin, and after 16 years at the Sun Point Shopping Center, Dove Carpet moved to a new standalone building on State Road 674. But probably the most-anticipated event in the Sun City Center area was the opening of a Wal-Mart Superstore in Wimauma.

Summer 2007

Stacey Hirn of Avenya Mortgage and Isabel Darcy of Apollo Beach Physical Therapy shared the Apollo Beach Chamber of Commerce's Volunteer of the Year award, and Bonnie Denney of Colonial Bank was named the chamber's Business Person of the Year. Johanna Pol of Apollo Beach won the title of honorary mayor.

With a change in ownership, Portales Market in Gibsonton got a new look, Arreola Brothers opened its second location on U.S. 301 and Grandma's restaurant reopened in Wimauma.

Kids R Kids announced plans to open a learning center in the South Shore Commons Mall in Gibsonton, and the Thunderbird Lanes closed in Ruskin.

New businesses included Apollo Beach's Give A Dog A Bone and the China Star restaurant, plus Champion Self Storage and Master Collision Repair in Ruskin.

The Apollo Beach chamber took top honors during the Florida Festivals and Events Association's annual convention and trade show for a television spot the chamber produced for its 2007 Manatee Arts Festival Culinary Arts Competition. And the Florida Wildlife Association gave Mosaic Fertilizer an award for its Coastal Education Center.

Fall 2007

Development plans for three new hotel sites on Gibsonton Drive near Interstate 75 - two in Gibsonton and one in Riverview - and for a 100-room Hampton Inn in Ruskin were announced. After 23 years on U.S. 41 in Ruskin, Badcock Home Furnishings & More publicized its decision to build a new store on State Road 674.

East Bay Insurance celebrated 35 years in business, and the South Shore Gallery expanded its size by moving from Ruskin to Apollo Beach. Zamboni's Speed and Custom Center in Riverview added a chassis dyno room to its showroom, and Sumatra Coffee in Riverview went green to support environmental change.

Long anticipated, a 51,000-square-foot Sweetbay Supermarket opened along Big Bend Road, while a sign appeared on U.S. 41 announcing another. Bealls moved from Sun Point Shopping Center to a 68,000-square-foot store at the Cypress Creek Shopping Center in Ruskin.

As for new businesses, Cherry's Bar & Grill and the Island Bar & Grille opened in Apollo Beach, as did Lotus Med Spa in Riverview.

Finally, competition and the slowing economy forced Otto's Hardware out of business after 26 years on U.S. 301 in Riverview.

Winter 2007-08

Ringing in the New Year, Sierra Animal Hospital, Anytime Fitness and Huntington Learning Center opened in Apollo Beach. Joining them were Labelle's Home Store Plus, Hoo Doo Music and Snap Fitness in Riverview; and Color Me Kids and Antigua Cove Marina at Little Harbor in Ruskin. South Shore Community Bank opened its second South Shore location in Sun City Center, with Charlotte Clark as branch manager.

Kenneth Kuchar-Haas of the Acupuncture & Wellness Clinic in Ruskin won a five-person race for honorary mayor of Ruskin. The Ruskin Chamber of Commerce named Susan Hubbard of SouthShore Community Bank as its Business Person of the Year and Pat Warbritton of Century 21 Beggins Enterprises as its new president.

Across South Shore, Huth & Booth - The Portrait Gallery was named Business of the Year by the Riverview Chamber of Commerce. Billie Gordon of SunTrust Bank replaced Jim Johnson of Mosaic as chamber president.

In other news, physician Casey Jimenez joined Health Point Medical Center in Ruskin, and Spencer Faircloth, 78, retired after a long career at SunTrust Bank.

Spring 2008

Apollo Beach Flowers celebrated its 15th anniversary at the South Hillsborough Plaza, and the Tampa Electric Co. christened the SouthShore Community Events Center in Apollo Beach. Julie Cockerham bought the Fish House in Ruskin, and Shelia Burdick was named branch manager of SouthShore Community Bank in Apollo Beach.

Opening for business were New Identities Hair Studios and Zulex Kids Boutique in Riverview; Click Photography and Golf and Sea Realty in Apollo Beach; Dig It Kennels in Balm; Aussie Pet Mobile in Ruskin; Sara's Mexican Restaurant in Wimauma; and Vocelli Pizza and The Alley, a 42,000-square-foot family entertainment center, in Riverview. Community Bank of Manatee opened its first South Shore location in Riverview. Patricia Connell was named branch manager.

Dooley Groves announced plans to change its focus from citrus to sod, and A Peaceful Harbor and Day Spa completed its expansion and renovation. Southern Comfort Bed & Breakfast celebrated its fifth anniversary in Ruskin, and Apollo Beach Racquet and Fitness got a facelift.

And after more than 10 years in the Ruskin area, Jan's Clothing closed due to rising costs and the economy.

Summer 2008

Through mid-July, a number of things happened in South Shore's business community.

Apollo Beach Flowers moved east to south Riverview to become Riverview Florist. New businesses include Apollo Beach Flooring; Canine Cabana in Riverview; and All Trades Construction and Roofing in Ruskin.

Meg LaLonde of Chef by the Bay replaced Don Pearson of Pearson Capital as president of the Apollo Beach chamber. Christie Granowicz of Circles was awarded Business Person of the Year; Grace Whitmyer of Apollo Beach received the Bill Gramigna Community Volunteer of the Year award; and Richard Crannell of Century 21 Beggins Enterprises began his term as honorary mayor of Apollo Beach.

Mosaic purchased the Giant's Fish Camp site and announced plans to build a memorial to Al Tomaini, known by old-time Gibsonton residents as "The Giant." Tomaini and his wife, Jeanie, owned the property for more than 70 years.

Benzel Contracting began construction of a 6,000-square-foot Sherwin-Williams store at the corner of Seventh Avenue and U.S. 41 South in Ruskin. It should be completed by fall. And Big Lots confirmed it will open a new outlet in the Sun Point Shopping Center by October if the build-out is completed in time. If not, the store will open in January.

Ruskin's Cafe by the Bay and Gator Z ice cream parlor closed.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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