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Eatery Nibbles At Heights Plan

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By KATHY STEELE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 10, 2007

SEMINOLE HEIGHTS - The owners of Sangria's Spanish Tapas Bar and Restaurant are exploring a new restaurant in the neighborhood.

The restaurant could replace LeRoy's 4X4 Automotive Service Center, 512 E. Hillsborough Ave., if the city council approves a license for beer, wine and liquor sales. The property is next to Starbucks at Hillsborough and Central Avenue.

The council will vote on the license Dec. 20, records show.

Approval will require waivers because the property is within 1,000 feet of four residences and a gas station that sells beer and wine. City records also show Seminole Heights Baptist Church, on the east side of Interstate 275, is about 920 feet from the site, which is on the west side of I-275. That also would require a waiver.

"By and large, people are very excited," said Susan Long, president of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association. She and the group's past president, Randy Baron, recently met with the owners of Sangria's, 315 S. Howard Ave.

"It's in the very early stages," Long said. "They don't have plans drawn up."
Initial discussions included a Sangria's on half of the property and leased space on the other half, she said.

The association's executive board is expected to discuss the project Nov. 19.

Sangria's co-owner John Obediente declined to discuss the project, but the alcohol license application states the property would be used for a restaurant, with 100 seats indoors and 20 outdoors, and multipurpose retail offices.

Reporter Kathy Steele can be reached at (813) 835-2103 or ksteele@tampatrib.com.

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