Monday, May 13, 2013
The architectural salvage and furniture shop is making a mark downtown, thanks to a constant flow of traffic and a savvy social media campaign.
Opening a new business in a developing district can be a dicey affair, especially when said business consists of giant pieces of old furniture and colorful plastic letters. But Jenni Martin and Chris Turcotte, owners of Marcotte’s Architectural Salvage & Repurposed Furniture, have fared pretty well since opening their West Bay Drive shop about six weeks ago. The success can be attributed to an eclectic collection of original items and the ability to either refinish or help refinish old furniture. Oh, and a Facebook post that went viral didn’t hurt, either. “I was debating whether to paint an old dresser or not, so I put a simple post on our Facebook page asking whether I should or shouldn’t do it,” Martin said. “Next thing I know, people…
27.91673
-82.793116
/articles/viral-facebook-post-puts-marcotte-s-on-the-map
/locations/9379732
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
The event is designed to bridge the gap until the Fresh Market returns to Ulmer Park in the fall, according to organizer Tanya Pistillo.
With the state of the Largo Open Air Market in limbo following the closing of the Community Center event in March, Tanya Pistillo felt something had to be done. She had already been working to resurrect the market at Ulmer Park in the fall, but the owner of Wandering Star Gallery didn’t want the vendors to suffer through a summer of doubt and drought when it came to setting up shop in town. So she brainstormed and came up with an idea that could alleviate many problems at once; a sidewalk sale along West Bay Drive that will benefit vendors and visitors as well as local merchants. “I asked most of the vendors from the fresh market to come, and I think most of them will,” Pistillo said last week. “It’s Mother’s Day weekend, so hopefully …
Friday, March 29, 2013
Tanya Pistillo of Wandering Star Gallery is working with the city on possibly relocating the market to its original home next season.
Before Tanya Pistillo even decided to open her Wandering Star Gallery, she had plans to host community events at nearby Ulmer Park. Now that her gallery has officially launched, she is refocusing on the park plans, which include monthly themed family friendly events and, possibly, a return of the Largo Open Air Market. Pistillo recently sat down with city leaders to present her plans for the park, and during the discussions the subject of reviving the market at its original home came up. “I proposed to put on monthly community events at Ulmer Park before the gallery even came to be,” Pistillo said. “I wanted it to be family and local business-oriented, with a different theme every month.” “Later I met with (Recreation, Parks and Arts …
27.91657
-82.790944
/articles/open-air-market-could-return-to-ulmer-park
/locations/9124987
27.916702
-82.79036
/articles/open-air-market-could-return-to-ulmer-park
/locations/9124988
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The downtown community art gallery is the culmination of a lifelong dream for owner Tanya Pistillo.
When we first reported the news that a new community art gallery was opening on West Bay Drive, owner Tanya Pistillo was still in the planning phase of the project. Three weeks later the Wandering Star Gallery’s grand opening is set for this Saturday, and Pistillo is also busy working on plans to host community events at nearby Ulmer Park. To say it’s been a whirlwind few weeks for Pistillo would be an understatement. But the energetic artist is eager to begin her journey to enliven the community she grew up in. “It’s been crazy. I’ve been working around the clock like a madwoman for the past few weeks,” Pistillo said from the gallery, located at 220 West Bay Drive. “But the support I have received has been great. The flooring was …
27.916702
-82.79036
/articles/wandering-star-gallery-grand-opening-is-saturday
/locations/9043653
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Initial plans for a Chase Bank in the Pinellas Shopping Center parking lot near the corner of the intersection of West Bay Drive and Clearwater-Largo Road were approved 6-1 by city commissioners Tuesday.
Fast food chains often open in proximity to each other. Gas stations typically oppose one another on corners. For a while, pharmacies did, too. So it seems to be the case for banks as well. Largo city leaders on Tuesday cleared the way for a proposed Chase Bank to be built near the intersection of West Bay Drive and Clearwater-Largo Road, adjacent to an existing Wells Fargo bank and a parking lot. City commissioners approved an exemption to a two-story building height requirement that is part of the West Bay Drive Community Redevelopment District Plan, voting 6-1 with Commissioner Harriet Crozier in opposition at the city commission meeting Tuesday night. Crozier thought there could be better uses for the undeveloped parking lot. “I just …
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The Proino Breakfast Club plans to open sometime in February.
A new restaurant that specializes in breakfast and lunch has plans to open sometime in February in the former Crispers location in Largo. For the last eight years, George and Diane Soulellis have visited Clearwater on vacation. George Soulellis owns restaurants in Quebec and plans to open a new restaurant in Largo at 201 West Bay Dr. George's "dream was to open a restaurant in Florida and he is finally making his dream come true," wrote Diane Soulellis in an email. "The restaurant should be open and ready to serve sometime in February," she said. The Proino Breakfast Club plans to offer many different types of meals, including crepes, eggs Benedict, yogurt cups, waffles and healthy breakfast choices. "Proino means breakfast in Greek," …
27.91657
-82.79024
/articles/new-breakfast-club-opening-soon-in-largo
/locations/8661309
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
New owners Karl and Kurt Hesser aim to continue traditions set by Jennifer Lantry, including First Friday and serving plenty of craft beers.
Often when new owners take over a business, they immediately turn the place upside down, changing the décor, the menu and even the name, in order to make it their own. But Karl and Kurt Hesser, two brothers from Pennsylvania who have worked as executives for many years, are smart enough to realize you don’t mess with a good thing if you have one. So even though the Hessers took ownership of O’Shy’s Irish Tap House from founder Jennifer Lantry last week, the brothers don’t plan on altering the formula that made the business a success, and that includes keeping Lantry involved. “Jen’s not going anywhere. She’s not leaving,” Kurt Hesser said Friday afternoon as the trio sat inside O’Shy’s discussing the transition. “She is the heart and …
27.917239
-82.7965
O'Shy's Irish Tap House
80 Clearwater Largo Rd N, Largo, FL
/articles/o-shy-s-changes-owners-but-not-direction
2028479
/locations/7069852
Jim McCurtain
2:39 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Better have signs out front there is plenty of parking in the rear. Most people don't know that. more ›