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Meredith Kleker

Central Pasco Chamber celebrates four decades of service

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The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its 40th anniversary on June 26 with its awards and installation banquet at The Event Factory, 7565 W. Hillsborough Ave.

But it originally got its start as the Land O’ Lakes Chamber of Commerce. It was a different name at a different time in the area’s growth.

Remember the FlapJack Festival? It was just one of many area events the chamber has supported in its 40-year history. (Photos courtesy of Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce)
Remember the FlapJack Festival? It was just one of many area events the chamber has supported in its 40-year history.
(Photos courtesy of Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce)

“When this chamber first started, (US Highway) 41 was a one-lane roadway each way, and the intersection of 41 and (State Road) 54 was a stop sign,” said executive director Meredith Kleker.

The roads have grown quite a bit since that time, and so has the chamber. Now boasting more than 400 members, the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has continued to serve the needs and be a voice for Central Pasco and Northern Hillsborough residents and businesses.

That influence can be seen in the advocacy and support for what are now considered staples in the area. From the Suncoast Parkway to the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home, chamber businesses and individuals have been a part of improving the community for decades.

While the numbers have grown and the names have changed, the secret ingredient in the chamber’s success has stayed the same, according to member Terri Dusek.

It’s about the people.

“They care about their community, and they care about each other,” she said. “I think it’s wonderful. I absolutely love our chamber.”

Dusek also loves her title as honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes. She earned it by winning a race to raise the most money, which goes to the chamber and helps fund local causes and groups. She also directed a portion to the charity of her choice, ShelterBox, which provides emergency relief and aid to disaster victims.

The folks from Great Clips, at 19231 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, provided free haircuts from their booth at the Central Pasco Chamber’s business expo. The event also drew bankers, commercial leasing agents, trophy makers, movers and a variety of other businesses to the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on March 6 and March 7.
The folks from Great Clips, at 19231 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, provided free haircuts from their booth at the Central Pasco Chamber’s business expo. The event also drew bankers, commercial leasing agents, trophy makers, movers and a variety of other businesses to the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex on March 6 and March 7.

Last year’s race wasn’t much of a contest, Dusek said. In the end, she was the only candidate. While that might have given her license to relax and take it easy on the fundraising, she did no such thing. Instead she collected more than $4,000 to earn the title. Now, after a year’s worth of ribbon-cutting and other ceremonial duties, she’ll turn it over to this year’s winner at the end of the month.

While she won’t be mayor anymore, she’ll remain an active member of the chamber, which will benefit both her realty business and her personal growth.

“It has helped me in my own business, and it has helped me in a lot of different areas of my life,” Dusek said. “I’m happy, I love going to our events, I love being around the people that are there. I love meeting new people when they come in. It’s helped me grow in all areas, not just business.”

But business continues to be a big focus for the chamber, and as the area has grown, their work has grown with it. That means plenty of work ahead for incoming officers, including president-elect Mary Lynn Gorsline, the team of directors and the chamber’s ambassadors.

One consistent focus for the chamber is the effort to shop locally and strengthen the local economy. For instance, the chamber has a member discount program called Shop Local First, where businesses offer special discounts and encourage working with local residents and their companies.

At the same time, chamber members have networking groups, the business expo and special events such as their golf tournament, clay shooting event and Dancing With Our Stars, which spotlights local talent.

As they look toward the future, they’ll continue to support local endeavors and foster growth within the community. Just as they’ve done for the past 40 years.

“We’ve stayed true to our roots, and we always try to find ways to encourage the community to shop local and support our businesses, because our businesses support our community,” Kleker said.

For information about the chamber, call (813) 909-2722, or visit CentralPascoChamber.com.

Published June 24, 2015

 

Lowe’s celebrates Land O’ Lakes opening

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Lowe’s, of Land O’ Lakes, is ready to throw open the doors to its new home improvement store on State Road 54. Work crews busied themselves last week with last-minute details to spruce up the landscaping and sweep clean what has been an active construction site.

The Lowe’s home improvement store at 21500 State Road 54 has scheduled a host of activities to celebrate its opening, beginning with a Pro Services Day set for April 16, which will also serve as the store’s ‘soft opening.’ (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
The Lowe’s home improvement store at 21500 State Road 54 has scheduled a host of activities to celebrate its opening, beginning with a Pro Services Day set for April 16, which will also serve as the store’s ‘soft opening.’
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

A week of celebrations will kick off with a Pro Services Day on April 16, to highlight the services and products that Lowe’s can provide business owners and their field representatives.

The community also is welcome to this “soft opening,” with store hours from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Food, demonstrations and a mystery gift card giveaway will be featured during the day.

“It’s a great opportunity for business owners to learn about the options Lowe’s has,” said Meredith Kleker, president of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a gracious way to extend the opportunities to help the business community feel part of the growth of this area.”

The 152,000-square-foot store is located at 21500 State Road 54, across from the Village Lakes Shopping Center. It is Pasco County’s third Lowe’s location.

Motorists will find new traffic signals at the entrance to Lowe’s that are meant to ease traffic in and out of the home improvement store, and the shopping center, as well.

Ongoing festivities will include a preview night on April 22, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., with giveaways, a scavenger hunt, guided tours and refreshments from Benedetto’s.

A grand opening on April 23 will feature dignitaries from county government, the honorary mayor of Land O’ Lakes and representatives of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

The more traditional ribbon cutting will be given over to a “board cutting.”

“We’re really, really excited about the partnership (with Lowe’s),” said Kleker. “They’ve made a concerted effort to partner with businesses in our community.”

A Lowe’s Fest on April 25 will be an “all-out celebration,” according to a Lowe’s press release announcing the special opening events.

Marco’s Pizza, Pepe’s Cuban Café, Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que, and a dessert truck will provide food. Activities include interactive demonstrations, giveaways, a photo booth, a magician, a children’s craft station, a community hand print banner and a petting zoo.

There also will be a special safety demonstration.

Store hours will be 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., with festivities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The regular store hours for this Lowe’s location will be Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Lowe’s opening events

Pro Services Day
Where: Lowe’s, 21500 State Road 54
When: April 16, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
What: Pro Services Day is dedicated to business owners and their field representatives, but anyone is welcome.

Breakfast will be provided by Panera Bread at 7 a.m. Lunch will be from Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Manufacturing representatives will do product demonstrations, there will be giveaways and Lowe’s in-house specialists can help set up business accounts. Giveaways include mystery gift cards ranging from $5 to $500.

From here on, the store will be “soft opened.”

Regular store hours for this Lowe’s location will be Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Preview Night
When: April 22, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
What: A scavenger hunt, project starter giveaways, guided tours and refreshments by Benedetto’s.

Formal grand opening ceremony
When: April 23, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Who: Dignitaries from Pasco County, the honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes and members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the store’s opening.

Lowe’s Fest
When: April 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
What: An all-out celebration featuring food from Marco’s pizza, Pepe’s Cuban Cafe, Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que and a dessert truck. Activities will include interactive manufacturing demonstrations, giveaways, a photo booth, a magician, balloon art, face painting, a Build & Grow workshop, mystery gift card giveaways, a kids’ craft station, community hand print banner, a petting zoo and a demonstration by a fire safety inspector.

Published April 15, 2015

Hooters coming to Land O’ Lakes? Not so fast

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Could it be a little wishful thinking?

Drivers heading north on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard saw a surprise announcement on the sign that once shared dinner specials at the old Mosquito Grill & Bar: the long-rumored Hooters chain was coming to that location next year.

A sign in front for the former Mosquito Grill & Bar on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard touts a new Hooters restaurant taking over the lakeside property. However, it’s not clear who put the sign up, because those with an interest in buying the property deny there’s a Hooters coming in. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
A sign in front for the former Mosquito Grill & Bar on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard touts a new Hooters restaurant taking over the lakeside property. However, it’s not clear who put the sign up, because those with an interest in buying the property deny there’s a Hooters coming in. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

The problem, however, is it’s not true. At least for now.

“I’ve called it one of Land O’ Lakes’ biggest urban legends,” said Meredith Kleker, executive director of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. “All I’ve ever heard about that is rumors, and we’ve been hearing them for years.”

In fact, Hooters was rumored to be coming to Land O’ Lakes in 2012 when Rapscallions was still open at 4422 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The owner of the restaurant, however, told an online publication at the time that it wasn’t true, nor were reports that Rapscallions was closing.

Rapscallions did indeed close a short time later, but Hooters didn’t swoop in to take over the lakeside property. Mosquito Grill & Bar opened there instead.

That restaurant shut down last spring, once again opening the rumor floodgates that included the Clearwater-based chain. And since Centennial Bank claimed ownership of the 2 acres of land that covers the two lakeside lots along U.S. 41, the sign announcing the new Hooters was even more believable.

There are plans for the land, and there is even a potential buyer working to get it under contract, but it’s not for Hooters, said Bill Nye, a commercial real estate broker in Wesley Chapel.

“There is definitely not a Hooters going in there,” Nye said, although he said it was far too early to give details on what might go there instead.

Nye’s name came into the mix after he called Pasco County officials three weeks ago asking about the property, according to Ruthann Dattoli of the county’s planning and development department. His questions centered around county requirements that might come into place if a developer decided to raze the 42-year-old building, or simply remodel it.

Nye also mentioned that the neighboring residential lot to the north could be turned into a parking lot, Dattoli said.

It would be difficult for a restaurant chain to build something new on the land, Nye said, because its lakeside location has far different environmental requirements than what existed in the 1970s.

“It’s going to be almost impossible to tear that building down and put another one there,” said Nye, the owner of Nye Commercial Advisors. “There are some stringent setbacks to adhere to, and the county is not going to bend very much on them.”

Centennial foreclosed on a $900,000 mortgage on the property owed by C of Pasco Inc., last month, which purchased the property in 2010. At the time, it was the home of Rapscallions, which was featured in a 2011 episode of the former Travel Channel program “Man v. Food,” hosted by Adam Richman.

An ownership group associated with Rapscallions purchased the property in 2005 for just under $1 million, and continued to operate the restaurant there even after selling to C of Pasco in 2010.

Mosquito struggled to follow Rapscallions despite plans to completely remodel the location. Yet, no matter who takes over that land, it’s a prime piece of real estate, said the chamber’s Kleker said.

“If you look at that location, it’s a good location,” she said. “And it’s not too close to other stores.”

It’s also not far from Ukulele Brand’s, which has a lakeside restaurant on the other side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. Yet, even if a new restaurant goes into the Mosquito spot, Kleker feels there’s still plenty of business to go around.

“I don’t think it would hurt Uke’s at all,” she said. “It’s good to have a thriving business in our community. And while we love our small businesses, we still love all businesses that can thrive here.”

A spokeswoman for Hooters of America Inc., and the related original company Hooters Inc. — which both own Hooters restaurants throughout the country — told The Laker/Lutz News Monday there were no plans to open a Hooters in Land O’ Lakes.

That would leave the closest Hooters restaurant in Port Richey, which is owned by Hooters Inc., the original Hooters company that owns a handful of locations in the Tampa Bay area, as well as Chicago and New York City.

Correction to print edition story: Hooters of America and Hooters Inc. both continue to operate and open Hooters restaurants throughout the United States. Although Hooters of America, based in Atlanta, is responsible for the national brand, Hooters Inc. in Clearwater — owned by the chain founders — still control the Tampa Bay territory, as well as additional restaurants in Chicago and New York. Hooters Inc. controls all the Hooters restaurants in the Tampa Bay region, including the one at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. A story in the Nov. 19 edition of The Laker/Lutz News stated otherwise.

Published November 19, 2014

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