Car Slams Into Dillard's at Countryside Mall

The vehicle crashed through the wall at Dillard's, sparking a blaze on the building's east side. Dillard's will partially open Thursday.

A driver intentionally crashed his Honda Accord into Dillard's Department Store at Westfield Countryside Mall, sparking a fire on the east side of the building Wednesday, according to police. The Dillard's department store at Countryside Mall will partially reopen Thursday morning, while crews continue to cleanup and repair damage caused by a car that crashed into the store. The store's second floor will reopen at 10 a.m. Thursday, however the lower level will remain closed, according to a Dillard's staff member. Yellow caution tape was placed around the closed store's lower level entrances Wednesday morning, while crews assessed damage from the fire and crash. A steady stream of onlookers drove through the mall's parking lot in an effort …

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5 'Cheap Eats' Favorites in Countryside Area

Here are the cheap eats favorites listed by Urban Spoon readers for the Countryside area. Do you agree?

Readers of Urbanspoon have rated their favorite affordable restaurants in the Countryside area. Do you agree with their ratings? Let us know in the comments below. Get the Clearwater Patch newsletter delivered to your email.

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Countryside Mall Ownership Changes Coming

Westfield Group, the mall's owner, formed a joint venture with a New York investment company, which is good news for the Clearwater mall and shoppers, analysts say.

The owner of Countryside Mall and five other Florida malls has taken on a partner, a signal that its portfolio of shopping centers may be redeveloped, analysts say. The Sarasota Herald Tribune reports that the Westfield Group, which owns Countryside, has formed a joint venture with a New York investment company called O'Connor Capital Partners. The joint venture suggests that the mall owner may be lining up investors for redeveloping and improving its Florida properties. The partnership shows confidence in the Florida malls and economy, analysts say. “This is good news," analyst Jeff Green told the Herald Tribune, which reported that: The announcement of the sale means that a plan or proposal has been put in place for the future of these …

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Now Open: P.F. Chang's in Clearwater

The grand opening for P.F. Chang's at Westfield Countryside Mall is Monday, April 8.

After a slight delay, Pinellas County's first P.F. Chang's restaurant opens Monday, April 8. Officials with the restaurant initially expected to open the location at Westfield Countryside Mall in Clearwater the first week in March. The restaurant is a test store, so there are some different menu items in addition to the regular fare. Employees wear different uniforms than other stores as well.  It has a wall of nano glass doors that can be opened to give an outdoor ambiance. There is detailed woodwork inside and out. It is the final destination dining option to fill out the mall's restaurant row. Already there are a BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse, Grimaldi's, Red Robin and Bar Louie. Related coverage: Sign up for the free Clearwater Patch …

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Whole Foods Location: Spy Photo Shows Store's Split at Countryside Mall

A photo shared recently on Serendipity Cafe's Facebook page shows how the possible splitting of the Sears to wedge in the natural food grocery store at Westfield Countryside Mall would work.

Kim Mohr just went to Sears to pick up a freezer for her restaurant. Little did she know she would stumble across plans that seem to confirm a Whole Foods grocery store is coming to the Sears at Westfield Countryside Mall. She recently shared the photo, which shows how the possible splitting of the Sears to wedge in the grocery store would work, on Serendipity Cafe's Facebook page. "It's not a rumor anymore, it's official! Deep in the bowels of Sears, I came across the blueprints," she said in a post on her Dunedin restaurant's Facebook page. "Whole Foods is taking over the first floor of Sears at Countryside Mall, opening 2014." While the photo of the plans seems to confirm a Whole Foods is coming to the mall, city officials said Thursday…

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Now Hiring: P.F. Chang's at Countryside Mall

The Clearwater location is looking to fill full- and part-time positions before the restaurant's tentative opening March 4.

Sheri Zippo has opened many P.F. Chang's restaurants across the country. The operating partner of the Westfield Countryside Mall location has worked at the Tampa restaurant for more than four years. But she really feels a buzz about the latest restaurant, tentatively planned to open March 4. "It's coming along so nicely" Zippo said. "It really has a cool feel." In preparation for the opening, P.F. Chang's is hiring full- and part-time employees, including servers, cooks and bartenders, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday at the Clarion Inn, 20967 U.S. 19 N.  Positions include servers, bartenders, back waiters, take out servers, host and hostesses, and back of the house, culinary side, wok cooks, prep cooks, dish washers and pantry cooks…

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Top Headlines: P.F. Chang's, Mike Tyson, Fluoride Vote and Scientology Fights Drug Abuse

OK, so you had a busy week. We understand. Let us catch you up on all the highlights!

1. Mike Tyson is coming to Clearwater. Iron Mike will perform his one-man show April 17 at Ruth Eckerd Hall.  2. A new P.F. Chang's is coming soon to Westfield Countryside Mall. Also set to open elsewhere around town: A 7-Eleven and an Advance Auto Parts store, on the corner of Highland Avenue and Sunset Point Road. 3. The Church of Scientology is distributing new booklets as part of a 25-year-long campaign to combat drug abuse. Check out Pat Harney's Local Voices blog post on Patch for more details. Have information or an opinion of your own to share? Start your own blog on Patch and join the conversation. 4. A Clearwater man accused of running a red light and killing another driver last month in Dunedin has been charged with DUI …

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Fire Prevention and Safety Expo is Saturday at Westfield Countryside Mall

This weekend, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue will be participating in a Fire Prevention and Safety Expo at Westfield Countryside Mall that features interactive robots and Sparky the Fire Dog.

You and your kids can have fun and learn about how to stay safe at Saturday's 10th Annual Fire Prevention and Safety Expo at the Westfield Countryside Mall.  Palm Harbor Fire Rescue will be participating in the event which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in two locations at the Westfield Countryside Mall: on the lower level of the mall by Sears, and outside of the mall in the parking lot. Here are some of the attractions that will be featured at the Safety Expo- For more information, call Palm Harbor Fire Rescue at (727) 784-0454 

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Scene in Clearwater

Photo Feature: Happy Birthday Cinderella!

Our Patch camera happened to catch an adorable little Cinderella at Westfield Countryside Mall on Tuesday morning!

How cute is this? Kate, who lives in Clearwater, was wearing her brand new Cinderella dress in celebration of her 4th birthday Tuesday. Kate and her mother and little sister went to Westfield Countryside Mall to buy a DVD rerelease of the 1950 Disney classic, which is one of Kate's favorite movies and just happened to be rereleased on her birthday, too. Sounds like the perfect day! Happy Birthday, Kate!

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Now Open: Bar Louie at Countryside Mall

The bar, which features American-style food and an extensive drink menu, is the latest addition to Westfield Countryside Mall.

Bar Louie is now open at Westfield Countryside Mall. The bar, which features American style food and an extensive drink menu,opened Monday.  It is the latest addition to the mall, which is in the midst of a $12 million renovation that includes adding a movie theater and destination reatuarants such as BJs Restaurant and Brewery, Grimaldi's and Red Robin. The work aslo included adding a children's play area, renovating the food court and adding carpet and furniture in spaces throughout the retail mecca. Related coverage: What Else Should Come to Countryside Mall? BJs Restaurant and Brewery Coming to Countryside Mall Movie Theater Open at Westfield Countryside Mall Destination Clearwater: Beat the Heat

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