Shops of Seminole Heights
Looks like Merino has a bigger plan in line for his new deli:
"It's my hope and dream to buy the property and turn it into the 'Shops of Seminole Heights,'" Merino said. He would turn the auto shop's four bays into retail ...
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Story has a great insight into the vision of a pro-S.H. business owner -- but of course speaks of the always present trials and tribulations of being one. Baby steps ...
http://centraltampa.tbo.com/centraltampa/MGBQDFP8AUE.html
6 comments:
No bank will touch the property while the old gas tanks are still in the ground - way too much liabilty that he could walk away from and leave the bank holding the bag. I guess he could go for some predatory lending with rates about triple the going market rate.
Good luck, I hope it happens, I'll need a space for the pet store I want to open.
I really hope this guy succeeds.
Mike, we live nearby and will give you a lot of business if the food is good.
Anon,
Things like that can always be said about almost all of the commercial properties in the neighborhood. I learned this while scouting sites for my own business that I wanted to open in the area.
Unfortunately, my funding pockets weren't deep enough to overcome these types of incidental occurances. As we know, one who opens a small business with their own money has a fool for a partner.
It's going to take some serious strategic commitment along the lines of guaranteed loans for anyone to convert the existing commercial spaces into viable retail/restaurant/whatever. But then the owner is stuck with a hefty loan if the business fails. The classic catch 22.
A drive for some sort of commercial revitalization project could help ease the personal risk involved and spark some movement in the right direction. How to make that happen? Don't have a clue, but it's food for thought.
--Pretty sure that this idea has already been through the mill and discarded, I'm sure I'm not the first to think of it.
The city will offer grants and assitance for any kind of contamination clean up.
been there done that - no $$$ available - it is not in the "East Tampa" zone so again SH falls through the cracks.
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