Used cars coming to Wesley Chapel
Wesley Chapel Honda and Wesley Chapel Toyota are going to get quite a bit bigger.
The owner of the dealerships along State Road 54, Williams Automotive Group, announced this week it will add a pre-owned sales center to its existing facility.
It will use a little more than 1 acre of land it purchased last May for $1.35 million, according to county property records. It will be located on the corner of State Road 54 and Old Pasco Road.
The latest expansion is part of an overall effort being made by the company this year, which also purchased the former Tampa Honda Land at 11000 N. Florida Ave., in Tampa, last March, shortening the name to simply Tampa Honda.
Williams Automotive was founded as Southeast Automotive Group in 2000, and once owned several dealerships in Georgia, selling Toyota, Kia, Mitsubishi and Hyundai, according to the company’s website.
Wesley Chapel Toyota is located at 5300 Eagleston Blvd., and Wesley Chapel Honda is at 27750 Wesley Chapel Blvd.
Avex promotes one, hires another
It’s a promotion and a new hire at Avex Homes’ Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel.
Laura Gahan was promoted to senior sales associate, and Yvette Fuertes was hired as a sales coordinator in the community. Gahan has 12 years experience in new home sales, and joined Avalon Park West in 18 months ago as a sales associate.
Fuertes has a degree in commercial arts, and more than 10 years experience in sales and customer service.
Avex Homes is building 342 single-family houses at Cypress Village at Avalon Park West, located on State Road 54, more than three miles east of Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel.
Bank offers student sweepstakes
Fifth Third Bank has launched its annual Student Banking Sweepstakes.
Through Sept. 30, students who open a checking account will be automatically entered into a sweepstakes offering $10,000 toward college tuition.
Last year’s winner was Tre’ Watson, a rising football star at Tampa Catholic High School.
For more information, visit 53.com/students.
Veterans get more licensing fee waivers
Beginning this month, military personnel, veterans and military spouses seeking a professional license in Florida will have several fees eliminated, making it easier for them to do business in the state, according to elected officials.
The Florida G.I. Bill, which was signed by Gov. Rick Scott in March, expands current military and veteran fee waivers to include spouses of military personnel. At the same time, the deadline to apply for the fee waivers has been extended from within 24 months of honorable discharge, to 60 months.
Also, active Florida National Guard members will now be reimbursed for continuing education and examination fees.
H.B. 7105 extends the current exemption, which was effective starting in 2012, from initial licensing fees for honorably discharged military veterans, and include spouses that were married to the soldiers at the time the soldier was discharged from service.
More information about the fee waives as well as other services offered to active military, military spouses and veterans, can be found at MyFloridaLicense.com/mil.
Construction begins on Claridge Townhomes
Lennar Homes has broken ground on its newest community, Claridge Townhomes at Meadow Pointe. Construction is located off Meadow Point Boulevard, just north of New Tampa in southern Pasco County. The company has planned 88 townhomes ranging from 1,200 to 1,600 square feet, and will begin at $120,000. Meadow Pointe is an 1,800-acre project with a nature preserve, and an assortment of amenities.
Coach set to close 70 stores
Coach Inc., the maker of high-end accessories, handbags, shoes and clothing, says it will close 70 retail stores, possibly by early next year.
Coach didn’t tell investors which locations they plan to close, but the company has a store locally at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Suite 160.
The closure is part of what the New York-based company has called a multi-year transformation plan that will be focused on a new global branding strategy centered on the concept of “defining modern luxury,” according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Sales over the last nine months leading into spring were down nearly 5 percent for the company, according to public filings, dropping to $3.7 billion.
Coach operates 351 stores in North America, according to its filings with investors. The closures would account for nearly 20 percent of its total retail outlets.
Another Avon award for Rosie Heim
Rosie Heim, a 17-year veteran selling Avon in the Land O’ Lakes area, has received the company’s Spirit of Avon Award.
This recognition is for those who show incredible spirit and stands out above the rest, according to a release. They also build their own business professionally, and always are courteously serving their customers.
This is the third Spirit of Avon award Heim has won.
