New Look Graces Downtown
Times Square Building Gets A Facelift

The historic Times Square Building has stood at 346 Central Avenue West was built in 1911. Originally a two–story bank, a third floor was added in 1920. After the bank left the premises the building housed for many years a medical center, then later was given over to office space with residential al apartments on the third floor. The building has recently been purchased by Park Partners, LLC, a partnership between Joe Bogdahn, Webb and Deanna Tanner, and Michael Walker, who have undertaken a major renovation and restoration project.

“Improvements to the building are over all,” explains partner Deanna Tanner. The third–floor apartments have been removed and remodeled into office space. Windows have been repaired and replaced as necessary, and the origin al high ceilings restored. Carpeting has also been replaced with hard wood floors sanded and refinished, and a central air conditioning system installed. “The building is fully rented with tenants waiting to get in,” Deanna says. The first floor currently houses the popular Café Panino and the soon–to–be–opened Weiner Haven hot dog restaurant.

But it’s the newly planned facade that will be catching people’s eyes. To better define the main entrance to the building, a new stucco capital al has been designed, along with a new custom canopy that will be constructed of wrought iron and plexi glass. The architectural al firm of Wallis Murphey Boyington has been retained to design the new facade, which is specific ally designed to maintain—and in many cases restore—the origin al historic look of the building. Wallis Murphey Boyington has also designed a color scheme for the building’s ornate exterior.

Wallis Murphey Boyington architect Michael Murphy looks forward to seeing the completed project. “The trend in the 1950s and 60s was to make changes to try and hide how old a building was,” he explains, noting that undoing these changes often constitute the toughest part of a restoration job. Mike is now looking forward to seeing the completed project. “I think it’s going to come out really great,” he says.

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Tropical Smoothie
A Fast Food Alternative

“I like the restaurant business better than other small businesses,” says Teresa Waters, who, along with her husband Steve, co–owns the Tropic al Smoothie on Central Avenue in downtown Winter Haven. “There is no calling on people, trying to sell them something they’re not sure they want. In the food business, if you offer a great product and do some advertising, the people come to you.”

Steve and Teresa had been looking for their own small business for a long time when they visited a Tropic al Smoothie restaurant in Lakeland. “We liked both the smoothies and the food,” says Teresa, pointing out the menu offers a healthy alternative to typical fast food fare. “The smoothies are made with re al fruit—bananas, strawberries, pineapples, peaches, blueberries, and more.” The sandwich breads are baked daily in the store. Steve claims to this day that Tropic al Smoothies’ King Caesar Wrap is why they are in the smoothie business today.

Steve and Teresa opened their first Tropic al Smoothie in Bartow after considering, but fin ally rejecting, a location in the Publix shopping center in Winter Haven. “The lunchtime demographics in the Bartow location were very good,” Teresa says. Six months later, in June 2003, Steve and Teresa were approached by Bud Strang of the 6/10 Corporation, who suggested the couple open a Tropic al Smoothie in downtown Winter Haven. At first skeptic al about the prospects of a downtown location, Steve and Teresa were finally convinced to take the risk.

“We opened the store in January of 2004, and we’re pleasantly surprised with the response,” says Teresa. She attributes much of the success of the new store to the improvements in downtown Winter Haven—the new streetscape, restored architecture, and refurbished parks. She also enjoys the “family” atmosphere among the loc al business owners. “The Mainstreet Merchants Association does a tremendous job with promotion al events like TGIF and the Beach Party,” she says.

Tropical Smoothie Café is located at 301 Central Avenue and open 9am - 9pm Monday through Friday and 11-8 on Saturday. For more information, call (863) 295-7988