Viral Facebook Post Puts Marcotte’s On the Map

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…

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West Bay Drive Sidewalk Sale Continues Today

The first day of the new monthly event was considered a success by all accounts.

People were lined up on West Bay Drive at around eight o’clock on Saturday morning in anticipation of the sidewalk sale, according to event organizer Tanya Pistillo. That was the first sign that the inaugural sale could be a success. Other signs came as people continued to frequent the area throughout the day, leading vendors and local business owners to declare the Downtown Largo Merchants Association collaboration a hit.  “It’s been great, the traffic has been terrific all day,” Jamie Robinson, a Largo City Commissioner and manager of Largo Feed & Garden Supply, said later in the afternoon.  “It’s exciting to see this kind of activity going on here.” The sale brought out both veteran vendors and first timers, including artists, jewelry …

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Blue Gator

7:24 am on Monday, May 13, 2013

Was Great Fun and a Good Crowd Came Through, I Will Be Back Next Month, Thanks Tanya and Largo Patch for Promoting This Event   more ›

West Florida Dance Center Continues To Grow

The studio recently relocated to West Bay Drive and is undergoing renovations to help accommodate its expanding client base.

Moving is never easy, as many of us know.  But oftentimes moving can be for the best, especially in the case of a business looking for more exposure.  That’s been the case with Tara DiSalvo’s West Florida Dance Center since she relocated her facility from the Belleair Community Center to the West Bay Village complex on West Bay Drive in September.  “The transition has been great,” DiSalvo said during a break between classes this week. “We’re still close to Belleair, but being in Largo has been great.”  “We only lost one person in the move, and we get so much more traffic here.” DiSalvo has been in the business for nearly 20 years. After owning a studio in California for 13 years, she moved to Dunedin in 2008 and opened a studio there …

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Proino Breakfast Club Now Open On West Bay Drive

The eatery located in the former Crispers building serves fresh, healthy foods in generous portions.

Proino Breakfast Club, a Canadian based franchise that specializes in fruit-filled, hearty plates, recently opened in the West Bay Village complex on West Bay Drive.  The spacious restaurant inhabits the space formerly occupied by Crispers, and officials are hoping to fill the dining room on a regular basis.  One look at the extensive menu, which is chock full with more than 100 breakfast and light lunch offerings, and it’s easy to see that Proino has something for everyone. “We have omelettes, French toast, eggs, smoothies, bagels, and all of our meals come with fruit,” manager Irene Tamvakos said. “It’s not specifically a Canadian breakfast – breakfast is breakfast.” Tamvakos said what sets Proino apart from other establishments is the …

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Realtor: Several Sites Around Largo Are Better Suited For Chase Bank

Realtor and Patch blogger Becky Paone isn't a fan of the West Bay Drive location of a recently approved Chase Bank. What do you think?

Chase Bank Plans Approved for West Bay Corner

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 …

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Bank Building Planned At West Bay Drive Intersection

Plans are to build a Chase Bank in the Pinellas Shopping Center parking lot near the corner of the intersection of West Bay Drive and Clearwater-Largo Road.

A new bank building could be built out of a West Bay Drive parking lot in downtown Largo. Plans are to build a 4,352-square-foot Chase Bank building in the parking lot area of the Publix at the Pinellas Shopping Center near the corner of the intersection of West Bay Drive and Clearwater-Largo Road. First, city leaders have to sign off on an exemption to a two-story building height requirement that is part of the West Bay Drive Community Redevelopment District Plan at their meeting Tuesday. If approved by city commissioners, the main structure will appear as two stories through the use of a facade transition line. The building will feature architectural designs to give the appearance of a two-story building, a pedestrian connection with …

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New Breakfast Club Opening Soon in Largo

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," …

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Former Stay-At-Home Mom Takes a New Path With Small Business

After 17 years, a local mom "re-invents" herself and opens her own consignment shop on West Bay Drive in Largo.

For 17 years, Ann Castellanos had the privilege of being a stay-at-home mom, she said. Then her son graduated high school, and Castellanos needed a "new career." In May 2010, Castellanos and her husband Jack opened Foundry Fine Interior Consignment Shop on West Bay Drive. "This is me re-inventing myself," Castellanos said. Consignment shops are the "thing to do. You can get anything and everything. More and more people come to the shop because of the economy," Castellanos said. The business is doing so well that about two weeks ago the shop expanded into an adjacent vacant storefront. The combined showroom space is now about 7,000 square feet, Castellanos said. "We needed more room. We get such a large volume of inventory," Castellanos …

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New Breakfast Club Is Now Hiring

A planned, new dining establishment is now hiring, according to a banner on its patio.

Largo is getting a new dining establishment at the location of the former Crisper's, according to a sign on the building. The Proino Breakfast Club is going into the space at 201 West Bay Drive, according to the sign. The new business is apparently hiring. The banner says applicants can inquiry at  proinobreakfastclub@gmail.com The one-story space is about 5,605 square-foot, according to the Pinellas County Property Appraiser's website. The building is located in the West Bay Drive community redevelopment area. The city works to continue to improve its traditional downtown area. The city's plan is outlined on its website. Stay with Patch for updates on this new business. Want the news delivered to your email box every morning? Subscribe to…

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