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Pacifiers Are Creature Comforts

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By MICHAEL H. SAMUELS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 26, 2007

TAMPA - When Brucie Klay Boonstoppel had twins four years ago, she couldn't figure out a way to keep the pacifier in son Harrison's mouth.

She said she tried everything, including sewing a pacifier to one of Harrison's stuffed animals.

That helped. He was able to grasp the animal and keep the pacifier in his mouth.

It also got Boonstoppel thinking. She decided to create and market a product that combines pacifiers with stuffed animals.

She calls her creations Baby's Best Friends. The stuffed monkeys, which come in brown or pink, have a ring that holds up to five brands of pacifiers.

"I hope it's a success," said Boonstoppel, who owns a South Tampa dance school. "I think it's a good product. It answers the need for parents. It worked great for me. I lost so many pacifiers."

She said she worked with California companies to design and create the product, which is available online and in local stores such as Little Peeps, Smarty Pants, Babes n' Bellies, Precious Cargo and Laura's Hallmark.

The stuffed animals cost $24; pacifiers are sold separately.

For information, call (813) 837-8866 or log on to www.bbftoys.com.

Serendipity Owner Selling Business

Jeanne Lavettre is selling her Davis Islands business, Serendipity.

Lavettre opened the gift shop, 231 E. Davis Blvd., more than 14 years ago, taking over from Davis Islands Gifts. The storefront has been a gift shop of some sort for 50 years, she said.

"I would like to sell the store to someone else to keep it going," Lavettre said. "I'm selling the inventory and the name and everything."

She opened the store after working as a sales representative for a gift manufacturing company. She would go to small gift shops along Florida's west coast selling items and decided she wanted to sell the gifts in a store instead.

"I was complaining about my job to my sister who lives on Davis Islands," she said. "I said I wished the shop on Davis Islands was for sale. She said it was and I bought it."

Lavettre said she will miss being a part of the community that has served her so well for so long. She plans to open a business in Seminole Heights but does not have details or a timeline.

"Whenever it happens, that's when it's meant to happen," she said.

Serendipity is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

For information, call (813) 254-1535.

City Street Shop Sweetens Hyde Park

For 20 years, Steven Ashworth wanted to own a candy shop.

This month, he got his chance, opening City Street Sweets at 1601 W. Snow Circle in Hyde Park Village.

"This was the perfect opportunity," said Ashworth, who has worked in candy stores in Atlanta, Orlando and Tampa for 20 years. "I know the village is coming back to life. It's always been my dream. The great thing is that everyone has fun when they come into a candy store."

The store mainly features chocolate and fudge, but also has candies for any taste. There's licorice, lollipops, gummy bears and more, he said. Each is located on its own table with names such as Lollipop Lane or Jelly Bean Boulevard.

Customers can watch chocolate and fudge being made. There are 10 flavors of fudge as well as chocolate bark and caramel turtles made with nuts.

"We have lots of opportunity to fix your sweet tooth," Ashworth said, adding that each customer gets at least three free samples.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

For information, call (813) 251-6764.

Opening a new business? Expanding or relocating? Contact reporter Michael H. Samuels at msamuels@tampatrib.com or (813) 835-2109.

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