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Residents Eager For New Center

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By LIZ BLEAU, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 10, 2007

SOUTHSHORE - Before the first shovel of dirt has been turned to make room for the new Southshore Commons outdoor shopping center along Big Bend Road, area residents have ideas for what they would like it to offer.

It's being developed by Equity, an Ohio-based developer that plans to start construction late next summer. It plans to build 1.5 million square feet of retail, entertainment, offices and hotels on the 133-acre site west of Interstate 75 and across from East Bay High School and Eisenhower Middle School.

It could take months before Equity finalizes leases and names any of its tenants, but Southshore Commons will include a 'big box' discount retailer, national department stores, small specialty shops, restaurants and a movie theater.

Maria Cabrera of Wimauma said she hopes the center will have a shoe store, such as Payless, her favorite.

'There's none close by,' she said. She's also hoping it will have a Smoothie King. 'I love the peanut butter smoothie.'

Cabrera won't have to wait for Southshore Commons' expected 2009 opening to get her favorite drink. A Smoothie King is among the businesses coming to the Sweetbay plaza along Big Bend Road at U.S. 301.

Once Southshore Commons opens, Cabrera expects she will shop there at least once a week.

Kristie Bond of Riverview is looking forward to everything the center will bring - department stores, clothing stores and children's stores.

'I hope there's a Lane Bryant,' she said. 'I shop there a lot.'

Solomon Houston of Riverview hopes the shopping center will have his favorite menswear store, K and G.

'Right now, I have to go all the way to Tampa to shop at one,' he said. 'I used to go there often when I lived in Tampa, but not so much now I am in Riverview.'

He would also like to see a Sports Authority there.

Huge customer demand for retail stores in southeast Hillsborough County is why developers plan to build the entire shopping center at once, and not in phases. Shoppers, however, will have to be patient. Several government permit change requests will have to be addressed before land can be cleared for construction.

In recent weeks, Equity officials have been meeting with community and business leaders to provide updates and get feedback on the development.

Jackie Spires of Riverview was one of several people who said they hoped Southshore Commons would have an Old Navy store. 'I see the ads on TV but have no idea where there is one around here. I think it's only in Tampa.'

Spires said she visits the Brandon mall at least once a week and expects she would go at least twice a week to the new shopping center.

Kim Nicholson of Riverview also would like to see an Old Navy store. She travels to the one at WestShore Plaza now. She would also like to see a Chick-fil-A at the center. She visits the one on Lumsden Road in Brandon once every two weeks but would likely be a more frequent customer if one were closer to her home.

Joan Casbarian of Riverview said she's looking forward to everything the shopping center will bring.

'We need things here,' she said. 'I'd like to see clothing and shoe stores. The idea of the new mall is very exiting. I am so happy things are finally coming to Riverview, so we don't have to go elsewhere for everything.'

Reporter Mary Shedden contributed to this story. Reporter Liz Bleau can be reached at (813) 865-1557 or lbleau@tampatrib .com.

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