New Businesses 'Coming Soon' to Seminole Heights: Salem's, Bar and More

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Two words seem to be appearing all over Seminole Heights lately: coming soon.

, , , and are all taking shape in the neighborhood and boast signage with those two words, or words to that effect.

Two of these businesses, Red Star and Nursery Experience, are located in burgeoning neighborhood business hot spots. Salem's and Domani seek to stake out new ground on Seminole Heights' commercial frontier.

Here's a handy roster to help you keep score at home.

Business: Domani Bistro and Lounge, 6419 N. Florida Ave.

Tentatively opening: Late July, according to owner Bernardo Agostino.

Details: Agostino currently owns SOHO Tavern in South Tampa, and was the owner of Bernardo's Focaccia Mia, the now-defunct South Tampa sandwich purveyor. "I'm going to bring back the focaccia sandwich, which we were very famous for at Bernardo's Focaccia Mia," Agostino said. "We're not going to be a sandwich place though, and we're not going to be too traditional. We'll have pasta, steak, fish and things like that to be a more modern Italian American restaurant."

Hurtles: Getting approval to sell beer, wine, and/or liquor often meets with at least some resistance from neighbors, if not city council. But no application had been submitted for Domani as of last week, according to Joel Sousa of the city's zoning department.

Business: The Nursery Experience, 6202 N. Central Ave.

Tentatively opening: By the end of July, according to co-owner Amy Jensen.

Details: Baby boutique with children's themed art, decor, baby blankets, baby cosmetics, plus an outdoor garden to host events like baby showers. Jensen, who is developing the business along with her fiance Juan Camacho, is an artist who specializes in children's art and painting children's rooms in private homes.

Hurtles: Renovating the former 1941 private residence has provided a host challenges, the latest of which is creating parking spaces in the back of the property, and replacing the lot's old fence. “It's one of the final eyesores of the property,” Jensen said. “But I'm still very happy with the progress we've made in the time that we've made it.”

Business: Red Star Rock Bar, 5210 N. Florida Ave.

Tentatively opening: Nov. 1, according to owner Paul Medrano.

Details: Art and classic rock-themed lounge with 20-by-40 patio out back. “It will have more of a hip lounge feel to it,” Medrano said, “as opposed to a typical sports bar or wing house. We're not looking for the dollar beer crowd. We want what I see as more of a bohemian crowd. Seating for approximately 48 inside and another 48 outside. Décor will be dominated by the works of local artists, with monthly art shows and wine tastings planned. The ceiling will be painted black, the concrete floor gun metal gray with a giant red star. The pool table with have leopard print felt, and there will be lots of red velvet and red stars all over.

Hurtles: Medrano will seek permission from city council to sell beer, wine and liquor. “I'd love to be able to pour a good martini,” Medrano said. “That would definitely add to the ambience of what we're trying to do.” A Sept. 20 city council hearing is scheduled.

Business: Salem's Gyros and Subs, 6401 N. Nebraska Ave.

Tentatively opening: Salem's co-owner Samir Layeb said the restaurant could open by the end of 2013, or the middle of 2014. “We're busy with other construction first,” he said, referring to new Salem's restaurants currently under development in Winter Haven and Auburndale.

Details: Layeb said that the 2,424-square-foot building is proposed to have seating for 25 to 35. The Tampa-based fast food chain currently has eight locations in the bay area and Lakeland.

Hurtles: Project engineer J.D. Alsabbagh said a public hearing before Tampa City Council is scheduled for Oct. 11, wherein Salem's request for a drive-thru for the restaurant will be addressed. A retention pond and 35 to 38 parking spaces are also planned, according to Alsabbagh.

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