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Plant City Western Wear Store Is Back In The Saddle

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 3, 2008

PLANT CITY - A Western wear retail landmark that survived a fire only to become vacant and languish on the market is back in business.

Don and Susann Mitchell opened Cowboys Western World earlier this year in a two-story building that once housed Mustang Ranch Western World.

The 9,000-square-foot store at 120 State Road 60 E. had been vacant for about two years, Don Mitchell said.

The store is stocked with Western merchandise, including fashions to outfit a cowboy or cowgirl. The store sells boots, hats, jeans, shirts, blouses, belts, saddles, ropes and more.

The log structure opened in 1998 as the initial phase of the Mustang Ranch Western World complex. Subsequent phases added a restaurant-saloon and 2,400-square-foot pavilion for parties, wedding receptions and other events.

In June 2005, a fire sparked by a faulty ceiling fan caused about $400,000 damage to the store and destroyed about $1 million in merchandise. Then-owners Mel and Dianne Harlan worked to reopen their business in time for holiday shopping. Ultimately, health problems forced them to put the property on the market.

George Wilkens

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