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Ready For The Next Step

JAY CONNER/staff

The location of RedBrick Pizza on the ground floor at The Towers of Channelside, 1103 Cumberland Ave.

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By JANIS D. FROELICH, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2007

Updated: 11/29/2007 03:44 pm

CHANNEL DISTRICT - Richard Sacchi hopes other condominium developers follow suit in filling their retail space the way he has.

"We all said we would build outstanding structures, and we've kept our word," he said recently, pointing out the view from a 15th-floor unit in his Towers of Channelside. "Now the neighborhood needs to go to the next step."

The next step for Sacchi is to finish filling his $150 million, twin towers project. The structures are connected by two squiggly shaped swimming pools that fill a space the size of a football field. In November, 65 of the 257 units were available. Condo prices are $300,000 to $3 million.

Sacchi also will welcome retailers, with four of his five retail spaces sold.

RedBrick Pizza will fill a 3,500-square-foot space and seat about 150. The location is across the street from Channelside, the retail and restaurant complex.

"We feel we've hit the trifecta with this location," said Dan Dumont, a partner in RBP of Florida, part of the California company's franchise operation.

"RedBrick Pizza will cater to residents, the public and tourists," he said.

Dumont said the restaurant at The Towers, planned to open in January, will be more upscale than the normal RedBrick Pizza eatery. The company's Web site describes its product as "fire-roasted gourmet pizza."

"We're very convinced this will be a great area with lots of foot traffic," said Dumont, who added that RedBrick has five Florida locations with seven more under construction, including The Towers restaurant.

About 5,000 square feet at The Towers of Channelside, 1103 Cumberland Ave., will be occupied by Aja Martini Bar, which will serve food. Aja also will serve drinks and light snacks at the outdoor pool bar. An opening date hasn't been set.

Upward of 1,700 people can congregate around the two 250,000-gallon heated pools, which are on the fifth level next to a clubhouse with big screen TVs and pool tables, plus a stage for bands.

Sacchi said he's fielding calls from groups and individuals wanting to use the waterfall-accented pools.

"But whether swim memberships or leasing for private parties happens is up to the residents," he said.

A members-only health club and spa will fill 28,000 square feet. The four-level gym also will have a refreshment bar serving light fare and smoothies.

Another space will probably house a sushi restaurant, said Sacchi, who's hopeful of foot traffic from the Channelside complex. Diners at The Towers will share parking with Channelside visitors, including a city-owned deck. Sacchi said health club users will have 100 parking spaces inside his project.

With activity at The Towers, the Channel District could be poised for retail growth, Sacchi said.

"The area has pockets of retail," said Paul Ayres, marketing director for the Tampa Downtown Partnership.

He cited the Give & Take clothing store and Luxe Urbain Lifestyle Boutique and Salon at Victory Lofts and District Designs in The Meridian building.

"The growth will only continue," Ayres said.

Genie White, past president of the Channel District Council, hopes Ayres is right.

"We could really use a grocery store," she said. "And just having Zelda's (Cafe & Deli) is a big help."

Ken Stoltenberg, developer of the Grand Central at Kennedy condominium project, said he's working to fill his retail space.

"I'd really like restaurants too," he said.

Stoltenberg said he's encouraged that Stageworks, a nonprofit theater company, is set to be housed in a 5,565-square-foot space in his complex.

Grand Central donated the space, and the paperwork should be signed soon, said Stoltenberg, who anticipates retailers wanting to be near theatergoers.

Reporter Janis D. Froelich can be reached at (813) 835-2104 or jfroelich@tampatrib.com.

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