• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About Us
  • Videos
    • Featured Video
    • Foodie Friday
    • Monthly ReCap
  • Online E-Editions
    • This Week’s E-Editions
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
  • Social Media
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
  • Advertising
  • Local Jobs
  • Puzzles & Games
  • Circulation Request

The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

       

Click to join our weekly e-newsletter

  • Home
  • News
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills/East Pasco
    • Business Digest
    • Senior Parks
    • Nature Notes
    • Featured Stories
    • Photos of the Week
    • Reasons To Smile
  • Sports
    • Land O’ Lakes
    • Lutz
    • Wesley Chapel/New Tampa
    • Zephyrhills and East Pasco
    • Check This Out
  • Education
  • Pets/Wildlife
  • Health
    • Health Events
    • Health News
  • What’s Happening
  • Sponsored Content
    • Closer Look
  • Homes
  • Obits
  • Public Notices
    • Browse Notices
    • Place Notices

Merchants to mingle with patrons at Business Expo

March 2, 2011 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

About 100 businesses are expected at the Central Pasco Chamber event

By B.C. Manion

When times are tough, small businesses need to band together, said Mary Lynn Gorsline, the leasing agent for Copperstone Executive Suites and Office Space.

Oliver Simons and Mary Lynn Gorsline pose in a cardboard cutout that will be at Gorsline’s expo booth. She’s the leasing agent for Copperstone Executive Suites and Office Space.

That’s why she thinks it is important for business owners to meet and mingle with each other and with patrons — and that the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 Business Expo on March 4-5 provides an excellent venue to make that happen.

The event, now in its 21st year, also features Taste of Town on March 5, giving patrons a chance to sample foods from about a dozen local restaurants, said Kathy Dunkley, executive director of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

This year’s expo has a Rock around the Clock theme, and exhibitors are encouraged to deck out their booths to help attract people to drop by and see what they have to offer, Dunkley said.

Dunkley expects about 100 businesses to have booths, representing everything from banks and real estate firms to fine jewelers and water conditioning companies.

Many of the exhibitors will be handing out freebies and door prizes, Dunkley said.

There’s also a contest, which gives participants a chance to win a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond by touring the booths and finding the image of a clock in select booths and having the exhibitor sign a form. Completed forms will be eligible for the drawing to win the prize.

Exhibitors can also win prizes for being creative with their booths.

The idea is to give patrons a place to find out about a vast array of companies offering products and services in Central Pasco, and to give those businesses a chance to showcase themselves, Dunkley said.

It’s also a great place to sample the fare of area restaurants for a steal, she added. Tickets are a $1 each or six for $5, and each sample costs one ticket, Dunkley said.

Many restaurants serve up generous portions, Dunkley said.

“You can eat like a king,” Dunkley said, adding the Taste of Town benefits a scholarship fund.

One event highlight will be a cooking demonstration by Ben Pumo, executive chef and owner of Benedetto’s Ristorante Italiano. He’ll display his culinary skills in an 11 a.m. demonstration on March 5 at the expo hall.

Pumo will be preparing “Chicken Benedetto,” the first recipe he created as a new chef.

Gorsline said she’s happy to take part in the expo.

She thinks the event offers businesses a wonderful opportunity to get to know more about each other and to introduce themselves to consumers.

In this economy, it’s especially important for small merchants to band together, Gorsline said. “People are hurting,” she said. “The more we can help, the better. We’re all in this together.”

She hopes people will pop by her booth to have their photos taken in the ‘50s-style cutout.

Gorsline plans to get into the spirit of the expo’s theme by wearing a pink poodle skirt and a white blouse and putting her hair in a ponytail.

“It’ll be fun,” Gorsline said.

If You Go

What: Business Expo and Taste of the Town

When: 4-7 p.m. March 4 and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 5 for Business Expo

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 5 for Taste of the Town

Where: Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway

Who: Businesses that offer products and services and people who are interested in finding out about what’s available, or who want to sample foods from area restaurants.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email
  • Print

Like this:

Like Loading...

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search

Sponsored Content

New Community Garden Arrives at Del Webb Bexley 

March 28, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

Exciting things are happening at Del Webb Bexley, the 55+ active adult residential community just off Sunlake Boulevard, … [Read More...] about New Community Garden Arrives at Del Webb Bexley 

TPA-Parkview-Myrtle

Imagine More at Mattamy Homes’ Area Communities

March 28, 2023 By Kelli Carmack

With every new home community, Mattamy Homes demonstrates their dedication to thoughtful details and meaningful value … [Read More...] about Imagine More at Mattamy Homes’ Area Communities

More Posts from this Category

What’s Happening

04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

Kessler’s Cacti and Things will host its annual Spring Plant Sale on April 1 and April 2 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at Bearss Grove, 14316 Lake Magdalene Blvd., in Tampa. The event features thousands of plant varieties, and an assortment of specimen and collector’s plants. For information, email . For questions and directions, call 813-264-5614. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Cacti and Things

04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

An International Food Truck Festival will take place on April 1 and April 2 at the Tampa Premium Outlets, 2300 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz, with more than 70 food trucks, tents and trailers, to benefit local charities. Admission is $5. For more information, call 727-674-1464. … [Read More...] about 04/01/2023 – Food Truck Festival

04/04/2023 – Friends of the Library

Friends of the (Land O’ Lakes) Library will meet on April 4 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., following its weekly Patio Book Sale from 10 a.m. to noon, at 2818 Collier Parkway. The nonprofit group supports library programs for all ages. Call 813-929-1214 for information. … [Read More...] about 04/04/2023 – Friends of the Library

04/04/2023 – Library Open House

Pasco County Libraries will host a Master Plan Public Open House on April 4 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Land O'Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, to gather public opinion. To learn more about the Library Master Plan, visit MyPas.co/PCLSMasterPlan. … [Read More...] about 04/04/2023 – Library Open House

04/05/2023 – Container Gardens

The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will host a master gardener class on April 5 at 6 p.m. A guest speaker will discuss the ins and outs of container gardening. Participants can learn to grow flowers and herbs in convenient containers. Practical ideas and resources will be provided. Registration is online at PascoLibraries.org. … [Read More...] about 04/05/2023 – Container Gardens

04/05/2023 – Learn to French Braid

The Zephyrhills Public Library, 5347 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills, will host a “Learn How to French Braid” class on April 5 at 2:30 p.m. Amber Bruss, of The Salon on 5th, will demonstrate the techniques to style hair in a French braid. For information, call 813-780-0064. … [Read More...] about 04/05/2023 – Learn to French Braid

More of What's Happening

Archives

 

 

Where to pick up The Laker and Lutz News

Copyright © 2023 Community News Publications Inc.

   
%d bloggers like this: