Tuesday, January 29, 2013
CigarsDirect.com is based in Westchase and recently brokered a deal for the 1,600-pound stogie.
Juan Panesso runs CigarsDirect.com out of Westchase and deals in high-end cigars on a regular basis. But he says a cigar in Clearwater is about to lead to the biggest deal of his career. It’s big in more ways than one. This deal is for a cigar nearly 19 feet long that is selling for $185,000 to a private collector. The cigar is currently in a Clearwater warehouse, waiting to be shipped. Panesso won’t say who bought the cigar or where it’s headed, only that the stogie is headed outside of the U.S. and to a collector who most people would recognize by name. The deal started when a broker called looking for dozens of Gurkha His Majesty's Reserve cigars, which come with a price tag of $750 each. After a few more high-end deals, the same broker…
Sunday, January 20, 2013
An area company will manufacture a specialty line of surge protectors.
A locally-based company recently celebrated the signing of an agreement to produce a new line of specialized surge protective devices that will be used at mission critical facilities, according to a media release. Surge protectors protect electronics from spikes or surges in power. The Sunshine State is known as the lightning capital of the country, with thunderstorms occuring about 100 days during the year. The Tampa Bay area is "right in the middle of the danger zone" for storms, according to the University of Florida Extension website. Since 1985, Largo-based Advanced Protection Technologies (APT) has designed industrial, commercial, oil/gas and residential surge protective devices in the heart of lightning country. The privately held …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
"We will be next door to the running path that goes over US 19. So we will have hill practice during our monthly runs," Dunedin's only specialty running shop disclosed in a Nov. 1 email newsletter.
A specialty running store in Dunedin is moving to Clearwater in January. American Running Company, which hosts dozens of area 5K races, announced it would be moving from its Sweetbay shopping center location for a spot next to incoming Sea Dog Brewery near Westfield Countryside Mall on U.S. Highway 19 early next year. The move to 26024 US Highway 19 N., Clearwater, is exactly 2.11 miles from its Dunedin location, an email newsletter states. Owners expect to open at the new location on Jan. 7, and they are planning a grand opening celebration. "We will be next door to the running path that goes over US 19. So we will have hill practice during our monthly runs," the company disclosed in a Nov. 1 email newsletter. American Running Company Inc…
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Capitol Beer House, which features 32 taps and more in bottles, recently opened on Cleveland Street in downtown Clearwater.
It seems Tony Starova is trying to reignite downtown Clearwater one empty storefront at a time. No sooner had the Green Organix restaurant closed on Cleveland Street that Starova was looking to expand his business ventures. He has operated Tony's Pizzeria downtown for years and now, Capitol Beer House, a craft and specialty beer bar, is open next to it on the 400 block of Cleveland Street. The beer bar features 32 taps and more in bottles. A grand opening celebration this week featured music from the Black Honkeys and a few hundred fans. "(Downtown's) coming up," Starova said. "You just have to believe."
27.965634
-82.800919
422 Cleveland St, Clearwater, FL
/articles/now-open-capitol-beer-house
/locations/8156982
Monday, November 5, 2012
The brew pub is looking to fill 120 full and part time positions Tuesday, Nov. 6 at the restaurant 26200 US Highway 19 N.
Like craft beer and looking for a job? Sea Dog Brew Pub starts hiring to fill 120 full and part time positions Tuesday Nov. 6 at the restaurant, 26200 US Highway 19 N, according to a post on the brewery's Facebook page. Florida's first Sea Dog Brewing Co. pub is coming to the former Pssghetti's building along U.S. 19 near Countryside Mall in November. The Sunshine State is one of the Maine-based beer maker's strongest markets, which led it to open the Sea Dog Brew Pub here. Being a brew pub means most of the beer is made onsite. Some beer still will come from Maine. The Sea Dog Brew Pub’s menu features local seafood and produce as well as traditional Northeastern favorites like Maine lobster and New England clam chowder. Call (727) 466-…
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Sea Dog Brewing Co. of Maine plans to open its first Florida brew pub in Clearwater.
Clearwater craft beer fans rejoice. Florida's first Sea Dog Brewing Co. pub is coming to the former Pssghetti's building along U.S. 19 near Countryside Mall in November. The Sunshine State is one of the Maine-based beer maker's strongest markets, which led it to open the Sea Dog Brew Pub here. An Orlando location will open soon after. “People know the Sea Dog brand in New England and they seek it out in Florida,” Paul Carbone, Florida sales and marketing manager of Sea Dog Brewing Co., said in a news release. “There is a craving for quality craft beer in this region and it’s an area where we feel we can grow.” Sea Dog’s beer, especially the Blueberry Wheat Ale, has grown in popularity in Florida over the last 10 years, according to the …
28.027483
-82.738259
Pssghetti's Italian Market and Restaurant
28050 Us Highway 19 N, Clearwater, FL
/articles/craft-brewery-coming-to-clearwater
935109
/locations/8058982
Friday, October 19, 2012
The pro wrestling superstar and longtime Clearwater resident will be meeting with fans at the grand opening celebration for his Mandalay Avenue shop.
Hogan's Beach Shop, a new retail outlet owned by pro wrestling superstar and Clearwater resident Hulk Hogan, is set to host a grand opening Oct. 27. The Clearwater Beach shop, located at 483 Mandalay Ave., on the upper level of the Pelican Walk Plaza, will sell new Hulk items as well as some of his personal memorabilia. A post on Hogan's website and Facebook page invites fans to call the shop at 727-461-0099 to reserve a spot to meet him at the opening. Hogan, whose real name is Terry Bollea, has lived in the Clearwater area for more than 20 years. He purchased a $3.3 million home on Clearwater Beach last spring after selling his lavish Belleair mansion, which served as the backdrop for his family's reality show, "Hogan Knows Best." He …
Saturday, October 13, 2012
The "fast-casual" Greek restaurant, which has locations in Wesley Chapel and Tampa, is now serving on Gulf to Bay Boulevard, a few doors down from Five Guys Burgers and Fries.
A new Greek restaurant has come to Clearwater. The Hungry Greek, which already has locations in Wesley Chapel and Tampa, is now open at 2689 Gulf to Bay Blvd., in the site of the former Mama Fu's Asian House. The restaurant is a few doors down from Five Guys Burgers and Fries and across from Smokey Bones. “This is a great location for The Hungry Greek, and we’re anxious to make this move into Clearwater," owner and founder Dino Constantinou said in a press release posted online. "It’s an exciting area to open a restaurant, and we look forward to bringing a healthy and delicious alternative to the people of Clearwater." According to the release, The Hungry Greek is a "fast-casual restaurant" where customers can watch their food prepared …
27.96048
-82.72754
2689 Gulf to Bay Blvd, Clearwater, FL
/articles/new-hungry-greek-restaurant-now-open-in-clearwater
/locations/8000760
Kelly Cox creates custom crocheted items in a variety of colors, styles and themes.
Kelly Cox has been crocheting for more than 20 years. but it was only recently that she decided to turn her hobby into a business. Spurred by the popularity of a hat she made for a student last year, the teacher's assistant at Paul B. Stephens School in Clearwater decided to start selling her creations through her new company, Kelly's Threads. "A student of mine was obsessed with Perry the Platypus from (the cartoon) 'Phineas and Ferb,' " she explained while manning her booth at Safety Harbor's Harbor Sounds last weekend. "So I made her a hat and everybody wanted one. I started getting a lot of special orders, so I decided to set up a little shop in the school." The success of the platypus hat and other items led to a slew of colorful …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The response to a sign put up by Travis Wilkinson, owner of Berry Beautiful Salon, incited him to form a business coalition providing similar signs to members.
Travis Wilkinson's first sign is just a warm up. Wilkinson, a Southern Baptist, said it's "hurtful" that people think he's a Scientologist and that customers often think his business is associated with the church simply because it's located downtown. He is the owner of Berry Beautiful Salon and Spa, and he placed a sign in front of his business stating “Notice: this is one of the only spas in downtown Clearwater not owned by a Scientologist" in September. Because of the support he has seen from the community since putting the sign up he is creating the Clearwater Small Business Coalition, which will offer members similar signs to place in front of their businesses. He doesn’t see anything wrong with the signs that read: “Notice: This …
Robin Rothwell
2:45 pm on Saturday, March 2, 2013
Put a damned telephone number in this story!!! more ›