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Suncoast Pinellas News

Shopping center combo seen as key to south downtown future

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: June 6, 2009

TARPON SPRINGS - Many people with a stake in the future of South Pinellas Avenue say Sweetbay Supermarket, scheduled to open in November, and subsequent construction of Meres Crossing Town Center will provide the spark needed to ignite revitalization of southern portions of downtown.

The mixed-use development project at the corner of Meres Boulevard and Alt. 19, as Pinellas Avenue is also known, will include Sweet Bay, retail shops, a Regions Bank office, a restaurant, senior living center and medical office complex that will be constructed in two phases.

Construction on the Sweetbay is well under way. That will be followed by the retail shops, offices, the bank and restaurant.

"We are very excited that the Meres Town Center project is under way," Renea Vincent, city planner, said. "Certainly there are opportunities in the area for redevelopment to occur, but only time will tell if this project will be a catalyst for future development in the area."

Meres Crossing will boost the local economy and provide hundreds of well-paying jobs, Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce President Sue Thomas said. "It's just going to be simply wonderful."

As part of the Meres Crossing project, Meres Boulevard will be extended to the east, to U.S. 19. Backers of the project say this should provide an added boost to the South Pinellas Avenue business area.

Local businesses and the Chamber of Commerce say the project is an important component to attracting more people to the area.

Lou Messinger, owner of Jewelry and Watches Galore, believes the project will bring a positive change, because it will bring exposure and more people to the area." Messinger's shop is in a small shopping center north of Meres Crossing.

They will see all the little shops available in the area and stop in, he said.

"It will also bring more competition to the grocery chains," with Sweetbay joining a long-established Winn-Dixie that is across the street, he said.

Cindy Chapman, manager of the Shepherd Center Family Thrift Shop, said Sweetbay and Meres Crossing will undoubtedly have a good effect." The thrift shop is in Manatee Village Shopping Plaza, across from Meres Crossing.

"Each grocery has its own loyal shoppers and Sweetbay will bring in a whole other group of people into the area," Chapman said. "Sweetbay will open local business up to their customers and give us all exposure to a different group of shopper."

Thomas said the opening of the Sweetbay and Meres Crossing will give a boost to economic development.

The willingness of Sweetbay to build in the city and the recent opening of Crabby Bill's Restaurant, on North Pinellas Avenue near the Sponge Docks, is a sign that larger commercial chains are eyeing and recognizing the importance of the Tarpon Springs market, Thomas noted. They provide a good early barometer of the success of the city's revitalization effort, she believes.

Meres Crossing, Thomas said, will create a third major commercial district in the city, an addition to the downtown core and Sponge Docks.

Just as important, Thomas said, construction of the medical arts complex, planned for next year, will bring a huge boost to the vitality of the adjacent Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital, attracting more medical specialties to it.

Meres Crossing will spark the local economy and provide hundreds of well-paying jobs, Thomas said. "It's just going to be simply wonderful."

Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.

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