By Suzanne Schmidt
Staff Writer
ZEPHYRHILLS — After almost a year, the Zephyr Commons shopping center is finally coming together.
“We still have three or four spots left,” said Carol Smiddy, leasing and sales associate for Primerica Group One. “We are about 85 percent leased right now. We are very excited about how beautiful the center is and the community seems to be excited about it as well.”
The shopping center, 7838 Gall Blvd., includes tenants Publix, H&R Block and China Star with the UPS Store, Great Clips, Pet Supermarket and Tijuana Flats, which is opening soon. Staples will have a soft opening Feb. 20 with a grand opening in March.
When looking at the center, one might think it looks European, which is exactly the point.
“The landlord, Richard Trzcinski, went to Europe,” Smiddy said. “The towers, the window boxes and the colors are all inspired by his trip to Europe.”
Lyn Rice, area operating district manager for Staples, said out of the 14 stores in the Tampa Bay area that he is responsible for the store at Zephyr Commons is the prettiest.
“I love the architecture and the design of the plaza,” Rice said. “I think it adds a lot for the aesthetics of the community. It is by far one of the nicest looking plazas I have seen in a long time.”
Rice said he is excited to be opening in the Zephyrhills community.
“I think Zephyrhills and the surrounding areas such as Dade City and Brooksville will benefit from having a Staples store,” Rice said. “It is good because it will help the community grow and we are also adding 30 more jobs to the market.”
Staples provides a full-service EZ tech department that fixes computers, a full-service copy and print center and consumer electronics like computers, digital cameras, printers and GPS.
Even though the property was bought three years ago, building on the shopping center began about a year ago. Publix was the first business to open in the plaza last April.
“There was a Publix up the road, but they needed a bigger store,” Smiddy said. “This is a big draw for the community. There were needs there and we wanted to fill them.”
Phase I is complete and once the group has filled the center, they will start on Phase II. Through Phase II the developer will add about 100,000-square-feet of space for a big box retailer and will add another 100,000-square-feet of space for professional offices.
“We are working right now to find the right tenant,” Smiddy said.
The Primerica Group One also developed the Collier Commons Center in Land O’ Lakes.
For more information call Carol Smiddy at (813) 933-0629 Ext. 206 or visit www.primericagroupone.com.
