TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pasco News

Entrepreneurs try to buck economic downturn

ADVERTISEMENT

BY CARL ORTH

SUNCOAST NEWS ASSISTANT EDITOR

Published: December 13, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Slump? What slump?

Two entrepreneurs are defying the economic downturn with construction projects at downtown New Port Richey businesses.

Joe Nordon, the owner of Boulevard Beef and Ale, is expanding the restaurant with a patio. Outdoor seating might be ready in time for the annual Christmas street parade on Saturday, Dec. 13, Nordon says.

Tim Fussell, a retired firefighter, bought a vacant building to convert it into a cigar lounge. There's an outside chance the new business could open by New Year's Eve, he said.

"It's a gamble," Nordon said about the addition to his restaurant at 6236 Grand Blvd.

But then he also took a chance opening the eatery in 1997, he recalled.

About a year and a half after the opening, Nordon rolled the dice again by converting a storage area into the existing dining room.

Nordon was motivated to expand outdoors to boost seating up to 150, he said. An awning will cover about two-thirds of the patio. Last Thursday, Nordon helped unload a truckload of the patio chairs and tables.

Once he meets the minimum seating for 150, Nordon will be eligible for an alcohol license which might boost business, he figures. He hopes to apply by January. Some outdoor areas could be designated for smokers.

The city's Railroad Square beautification project also will provide his business with greater exposure, Nordon said.

The time seemed ripe to Fussell, too, for his venture, Little Coronas Cigar Lounge. After some 30 years with the Pasco County fire department, Fussell retired recently.

"I was looking into something I could get into," Fussell said. "I always enjoyed cigars."

Commercial prices had plummeted much the same as home values in the area, Fussell observed. So the price was right on the former Beach Bums swimwear shop, at 6324 Grand Blvd., which had been vacant for some time.

The price was tempting enough Fussell decided to go ahead and buy the building instead of leasing.

While some cigar establishments have popped up in the Trinity area, Fussell believes he has the market pretty much to himself in and around the city. The only other cigar stores are in Hudson and Elfers.
Fussell envisions a small patio in back of the Little Coronas building and perhaps some cafe-style seating out front eventually.

For the centerpiece of the lounge, Fussell imported Spanish cedar wood for the humidor, Spanish cedar holds the humidity better to keep cigars fresh, he believes. The aroma of the special wood is better for the cigar flavor as well.

Both construction projects are being handled by Gregg Hendershot Building Contractor, which has its offices on Louisiana Avenue in New Port Richey.

Hendershot welcomed the business.

"It is, of course, a little slow" in the construction trades, Hendershot said. In fact, this is the slowest period for construction he has seen since he first got a contractor license in 1982.

Hendershot's trademarks can be seen in many downtown establishments, including work for the Karl Reef, Fitzgerald's and the Trading Faces day spa.

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT