Exactly one month ago we opened our doors, after three weeks of hectic set-up. Included in the process were things like finding fixtures, seeking out inventory, putting everything into place; you know- the kind of stuff that people usually plan and prepare for over months, or even years. We got it all done in less than a month. Here's what we started with. The building is a restored 1920's cigar-maker's bungalow, owned by the Ybor City Museum. Before we acquired it, the space had been home to several office-type businesses that really didn't add anything to the neighborhood in terms of personality or culture. Ybor City has been through several reincarnations over the past couple of decades- we wanted to be part of making it a place that people wanted to visit in the daytime; there's already a huge, vibrant bar scene at night, but it's not the kind of atmosphere that lends itself to the rejeuvenation of a neighborhood, and that's what we'd like to help foster by opening this store.
Pete was reading what I just wrote, and mis-read "vibrant bar scene" as "violent bar scene"- it's not far from the truth. At night Ybor can be kind of a scary place, but in the light of day it's a pretty, picturesque locale, filled with historical significance and beautiful, albeit crumbling architecture. There are glimpses of the familar from Seattle- several establishments that could qualify as "fine dining" back home, and loads of quirky little boutiques that could easily find a comfortable berth in Fremont or Ballard. Still, it's not quite the same. Familiar and yet....the unrelenting heat and humidity can often make the prospect of taking a leisurely stroll down the block a daunting prospect. Sometimes I find myself longing for the dark and the dismal- and clothing that doesn't stick to my car seat when I try to get out!
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