Longtime New Tampa resident Joe Grace and his artist wife Robin aren’t getting out of the furniture business, Joe’s just trying to consolidate his efforts at one location, instead of his current two locations.
Unfortunately for those of us who love the look and smell of real hardwood furniture, the location of Barewood Furniture that the Graces are closing is the one that is not only closer to where they live, it also was our area’s first independent furniture store. It has been a popular fixture on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in the Pebble Creek area of New Tampa for about 13 years.
But, that means that right now, there are some really great deals available off Barewood’s already fair prices, as the store is hosting a “Moving Liquidation Sale” from now through sometime later this month. How long the deals — which currently are at 20-50-percent-off everything in the store —last depends upon how fast the store’s inventory moves.
“But, we’ll definitely be out of the building by the end of May,” Joe says, as the New Tampa Barewood location is being leased out to Napa Auto Parts.
“They will be a tenant for life,” Joe says. “They don’t have 3,800 locations nationwide for nothing.”
Joe adds that he has now spent nearly 30 years in the furniture business — he and Robin opened their first store (a Bed & Brass mattress store) in Tampa in 1987. The first Barewood opened in 1992 or ‘93 in South Tampa and the Graces’ Barewood empire reached six stores at its peak. Once the New Tampa store closes, the only remaining Barewood location will be at 27360 U.S. Hwy. 19 N. in the Countryside area of Clearwater.
In the meantime, go and check out all of the cool all-wood beds, cabinets, shelving units, tables, chairs, kids’ furniture, accessories, some of Robin’s art and more, all 20-50-percent-off, while the supply lasts.
The New Tampa Barewood Furniture is located at 8904 Regents Park Dr., just off BBD. The store is open daily, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., until 5 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. and noon-5 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call 907-2031, or
visit BarewoodOutlet.com. — GN
ALTHOUGH MANY more people these days enjoy sushi than they did when I first started loving it in New York City in the 1980s, the biggest complaint I hear about most sushi places is that they’re just too expensive to enjoy too often.
Although I also enjoy the clear and hot & spicy soups, my favorite appetizers on the all-you-can-eat menu include the truly delicious pan-fried dumplings, the Japanese-style green salad with ginger dressing, the super-crispy pork egg rolls and vegetable spring rolls and my surprise favorite, the chicken and vegetable tempura. The tempura green beans are better than any fried green bean appetizer you’ll find at the average chain sports bar.
hat brings both heat and a little crunch to your mouth, and are served with a pretty good fried rice. Yum.
Congratulations go out to U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. and plastic surgeon Raj Ambay, M.D., and his wife, dermatologist Aparna Ambay, M.D. (2nd & 4th from the left in the photo , right), the owners of both Ambay Plastic Surgery and 360 Dermatology in the Summergate Professional Park (behind Sam’s Club on S.R. 56).
“We are truly grateful to be joining the community of Tampa Palms and New Tampa,” said pharmacy director Shahida Choudry. “Our staff looks forward to serving the community and residents for years to come with this new location.”
Owners Beatriz and Rob Hiller and their amazing staff received an outpouring of love from about 200 people, including many elected officials and Chamber and Rotary friends from New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Central Pasco, Zephyrhills, Dade City and Carrollwood (to name a few).