Jobs on the go
CareerSource Pasco Hernando has reintroduced its Mobile One Stop, a 38-foot bus retrofitted with 13 computer stations. It’s complete with satellite Internet, telecommunications, printing, copying and scanning — everything anyone would need to find a job. It provides service to more than 100 people every month with stops that include the New River Branch Library in Zephyrhills among others. For details on where Mobile One Stop will be, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com.
Brandon investor buys Lutz 7-Eleven
Drivers on State Road 54 going by 7-Eleven on Livingston Road may have noticed the 7-Eleven signs are gone.
The corporate parent of the convenience store chain, 7-Eleven Inc. — through its Southland Corp. affiliate — sold the 27-year-old store late last month to Sailfish Real Estate LLC of Brandon. The owner of that company, William McKnight, owns several convenience stores around the region, primarily using Circle K branding.
McKnight owns the much larger Automated Petroleum and Energy Co., which purchases and leases convenience store locations all over the state.
It’s not clear how McKnight will handle the new location, except that it will no longer be a 7-Eleven. McKnight did not return a request for comment last week.
The sale by 7-Eleven was part of a national effort to cut ties with 75 of the stores.
“There are many nice sites in this package that simply do not fit 7-Eleven’s current business model,” company vice president Robbie Radant said in a release last May. “All of those stores have solid merchandise sales, and should provide good opportunities for the right buyers.”
The store and land sold for $750,000, compared to the $225,000 Southland paid for the vacant land back in 1986. Back then, State Road 54 was just two lanes, and far less competition was nearby. Now, however, a RaceTrac is located on just the other side of Livingston.
Famous Tate plans Lutz location
The Tampa-based appliance and mattress store Famous Tate is looking to build its 10th location in central Pasco County, within arm’s reach of Walmart along U.S. 41.
Executives of the small retail chain were scheduled to meet with county officials behind closed doors earlier this month to discuss opening a 14,000-square-foot store on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, in an outparcel just south of Walmart, not far from where Dale Mabry Highway begins.
Hagman Properties Inc., of Tarpon Springs owns the 1.6-acre parcel, and was the land’s only deed-holder, according to county property records.
This would be Pasco’s third Famous Tate store. The closest current one is at 5419 Village Market in Wesley Chapel, with a second one in Port Richey.
The company was founded in 1954, and employs more than 200 people in six counties, according to the company’s website. Aspire Engineering Inc., of Tampa will take the lead on the project.
Gulfside Hospice has new CFO
Tony Trovato is the new chief financial officer for Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care.
In his new position, Trovato will be in charge of directing the financial and business functions of the organization, as well as provide oversight of departments like finance, business technology, physical plant, and the organization’s thrift stores.
Trovato has more than 25 years experience in the health care and hospice industry, previously spending 24 years with Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where he would eventually become its president and chief executive.
Originally from Chicago, Trovato graduated from Illinois Benedictine College in Lisle, Illinois.
Gulfside Hospice was originally licensed in 1989, and serves more than 350 patients daily, employing more than 250 people, with assistance from 550 volunteers.
Townhomes planned for Lake Patience
Ariel Homes has waited long enough to start development a small stitch of land off Lake Patience Road, where the developer hopes to build 51 townhomes.
The Odessa-based builder was scheduled to meet with Pasco County officials Dec. 15 to build the units on nearly 7 acres of land not far from where Lake Patience and Drexel roads intersect, north of Glendale Villas, not far from Vienna Lake.
Ariel Homes, as A-Investments Development Corp., bought the land in 2004 for $250,000. It already is zoned for multifamily.
Ariel only owns a handful of property in Pasco through A-Investments, primarily single lots in Wilderness Lake Preserve. The townhomes planned for this larger piece of land would be single-story, created by Tampa Civil Design, according to documents filed with the county.
Ariel Homes is primarily a smaller-scale developer, founded by Ariel Quintela in 1990, according to the company’s website. Quintela has lived in Tampa since 1972, and concentrates most of his work in Hillsborough County. However, the lots his company owns in Wilderness Lake Preserve are listed as high as $500,000.
Kumquat tours
Pasco-Hernando State College’s Encore Academy will offer tours of a kumquat grove and processing plant ahead of Dade City’s annual Kumquat Festival Dec. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon at Kumquat Growers of Saint Joseph, 31647 Gude Road, in St. Joseph.
The Encore Academy is a service of the school that provides lifelong learning opportunities to adults of all ages, with membership benefits and discounts available to those 50 and older.
The two-hour workshop is $12, and is open to the public.
For information, visit PHSC.edu/encore.
New Mercedes dealership wants more space
It’s not even finished yet, but a new Mercedes-Benz dealership in Wesley Chapel is looking to add a little more space.
Thomas Engineering Group had scheduled a meeting with Pasco County officials Dec. 15 to increase the already 45,000-square-foot facility by another 2,000 square feet. That would bring the total space to above 47,000 square feet.
AutoNation is building the dealership on State Road 56 near Interstate 75 for $17 million. It was originally expected to open in December, but likely will not start selling its first cars until spring at the earliest.
