This time we'll call the order the March on there.

This time we'll call the order the March 2 2026 meeting of the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency.

This time we'll move to item 2.1 agenda.

I've heard the minutes of the February 17, 2026 CRA meeting.

So moved.

Second.

All those in favor?

Opposed, unanimous.

Moved item three on the agenda.

Are there any citizens here today who desire to be heard on any items that are uh interest of the CRA that are not on today's agenda?

Seeing none moved item 4.1.

March Business Spotlight, one stop shop.

Good afternoon.

Hey, Susanino, CRA executive director for the record.

I'm going to introduce Miss Tasha Hadley to come and present uh business spotlight.

Good afternoon.

My name is Tasha Hatley, CRA specialist, and I'm honored to present One Stop Shop located at 311 Cleveland Street as our March 2026 Business Spotlight winner.

They serve downtown Clearwater for more than 35 years.

Since this opening in 1989, founders Paris and Linda have built a family-run retail store focused on meeting the everyday needs of their clients and their customers.

The store carries a wide range of products from office supplies, coffee, vitamins, the specialty items, all selected based on customer feedback.

They have built a loyal following with orders coming from around the world.

Beyond retail, the business has supported the community through service and volunteer efforts, including leadership on a downtown development board and participation in local charity initiatives.

Shows long-term investment in the district.

One stop shop supports the city's CRA goals of strengthening local businesses and reinforcing downtown Clearwater as a vibrant destination.

The CRA and public communications have created a video highlighting their story.

This video is available on our social media platforms along with a full article available on myClearwater CRA.com.

At this time, we invite you to view the video feature.

Thank you.

I'm Lynn McPhothless.

I'm the other owner of the one-stop shop.

What makes one-stop shop unique is that we listen to what our customers want, and that's how we decide what we stock and carry in the store.

We carry anything from office supplies to snacks to coffee to nutritional supplements.

Whatever you want, we've got it.

We like to support local artists, and we get asked quite often if we can carry their products because they would like to see if anybody wants them, and then of course we want to give the shock.

So we have two racks over there, beautiful, beautiful greeting cards.

We support the local community by functioning as a store that provides the products and services that are needed and wanted.

Volunteering for the uh city's downtown development board.

I served on the board for 14 years, most of that time as its chairman, and uh did what I could to help revitalize the downtown.

In addition to that, we also support a variety of charitable functions.

We do things like disaster relief when there's hurricanes.

We could we're a donations point to collect donations for hurricane relief.

Uh Linda also has been a volunteer in the St.

Love Drugs program.

And I volunteer weekly at the Week Happiness Association of Tampa Bay.

We chose to locate our store in downtown Clearwater.

We noticed that downtown was a bit of a retail desert.

But unless you got in your car and drove to a mall, you couldn't get the things you wanted.

We have pretty extensive hours for our customers.

We're open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.

till 9 30 p.m.

And then on Saturday from 8 a.m.

till 6 p.m.

We're closed on Christmas Day and Thanksgiving.

But the rest of the time we're here.

Hello, everyone.

Well, uh, some of you are very familiar faces.

My mentor on the DVB quite long ago.

That's the first time I've seen the video, so I'm quite impressed, and I'd like to thank the CRA for producing that.

Linda and I are very proud of what we've done at the store over the years.

It was a bit of a retail desert and a struggle to maintain a viable business, but we've managed to keep retail alive in downtown clear water since 1989.

I'm very proud of that.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Congratulations now.

Congratulations.

Thank you for your longevity.

Good to see you.

It's many years, yeah.

Thank you for having a long-standing business here.

I'm sorry.

Whoops.

I'm photographed.

We don't pull my lights now.

Yes, I didn't.

Come on.

I don't think that you very much.

I got it.

Yes.

Thank you for coming down here.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Approve a downtown commercial granted to Leachy Food Inc.

for the District Bistro, locate at 412 Cleveland Street in an amount not to exceed 69,773 and two cents.

Good afternoon.

Anne Lopez, CRA Assistant Director.

The owners of the District Bistro, which is located at 412 Cleveland Street, applied for a downtown commercial grant for retroactive reimbursement of completed improvements.

At this funding level, the grant requires a 35% applicant match.

The total project cost was 127,168 and 11 cents.

And of that, 107,343.11 are eligible under program guidelines.

The renovations included mechanical and electrical upgrades, interior improvements, security system updates, essential essential restaurant equipment, and general property enhancements.

As part of the required 12-month look back, staff confirmed that Tikleji Food Inc.

previously received a downtown commercial grant reimbursement of $38,196.80 for Olive and Time, which was located at 5 30 Cleveland Street.

The prior grant issued to the applicant are not transferable to the new tenant, and they carry no responsibility or obligation.

And staff is recommending approval of a grant award not to exceed 69,773 and two cents.

And I have the owners, uh Summer and Kevin, who are here to answer any questions.

Hi again, everyone.

So this grant's going to be for the district bistro.

How we structured our corporation, put both of our restaurants under under one.

So we have proceeded to sell that.

New owners were able to reopen that restaurant about two and a half weeks after we did close.

So they are utilizing all the improvements that we were able to put in through the grant money that was utilized last year.

So thank you all for continuing to support our businesses throughout the years.

So we had restaurant repairs that was capped at 5,000 for the district bistro.

Going through the project, um that wasn't quite enough.

So during our renovations, we exceeded the initial budget for the equipment upgrades because the restaurant had been vacant for many years.

We thought it was prudent to replace and upgrade various components to ensure the health and safety for our guests.

Specifically, we renovated the beer cooler room to replace all beer lines and to repair the glycol deck.

All these things were not covered in the original grant scope, and we'd like to request that they be included for consideration.

These items are non-removal, cooler, um, and items within it, so they will remain in the restaurant.

Um so we'd like to consider that the total grant would go up to 129,16811.

And the portion of that is the 65% portion.

What would be a portion of that?

Um, so if the total pro your number is different.

Um, so if the total project uh was approved, um it would be in 65% grant would be 82,659 and 27 cents.

Okay.

Does I already speak to this agenda?

I'm seeing none.

Is there any trustees discussion?

Customer Manino.

Nice to see you.

Um it was awesome to be downtown this weekend to see how busy you guys were.

Um what surprised me was you gave out green blankets to keep people warm.

We were trying to figure out where they come from, if everyone came from the same hotel or not, but uh it was the bistro, so uh appreciate that.

We might be able to be comfortable when you're with us.

You guys have done a heck of a job renovating that from what it was before to what it is.

It is absolutely beautiful from the moment you touch the front door until the time you walk through and go use the bathroom or something.

Um we've heard nothing but high accolades from every guest that go in there.

Um we're so happy that you're able to make that move down into the 400 block, and it's such a good fit uh for downtown for that district.

Um so I wish you and Kevin continued success uh and welcome you to that block, but thank you for putting your time effort on your belief in downtown as you guys have for years.

Thank you.

Anyone else?

Yeah, that's when we're all ready.

Okay, so the additional amount was that does it bring it up to 129?

I think I was in Aries, the 127, 168, 11.

Yeah, so their total project of reimbursement or receipts that were submitted to staff totaled 127,168 and 11 cents.

The program has a max of $5,000 for restaurant, essential restaurant equipment uh repairs or replacement.

And so the difference between the total project cost and what is allowable comes from uh the restaurant equipment repairs.

Okay, but they have to put a 35% or 35% match.

Correct.

So what would that bring that to 80 uh 43?

Yes, so there if we went with the total project cost of the 1271 sixty-eight, then the grant would be the 65% grant would be 82,659 27.

Or if we go with staff's recommendation, which is for what is allowed under the program, then the grant would be 69,73 and two cents.

Okay.

Okay, any further discussion.

I just want to give you um kudos to you.

I know that that spot was empty for so long, and so I can imagine how things were deteriorating inside, especially all those equipment that you had to replace.

Um, so I'm cognizant of that.

Is that empty for a while?

Heat muddy in Florida.

It worked like it, it does.

You've been open since when um September.

So exceeded expectations or that maybe you're busy every time I'm down there, but I know it's uh it's always different, you know, when you're there when everybody else is there, and just so we're happy, it's doing really well.

Um it we're we're starting to see, you know, when we came three years ago, started our first restaurant.

We could walk the streets on a Friday night, and there was nothing.

Everybody was down there downtown.

I saw most of you guys downtown this weekend.

It was lively, it was energy, was happy and again.

Um, you know, the restaurants and the teams are working together to bring this music and paying for this in support of the DDB as well.

Um we're bringing our own musicians, so it's been really great to see that turnaround and people coming like, oh, I'm back at Clearwater again.

You know, it's not for just oh I can't come here anymore.

We're starting to see people repeat, want to come back.

You know, it it's nice to see, it's nice to finally feel that breaking that there's nothing to do in downtown.

Now there's something to do.

There's places to go, places to eat, places to listen to music.

So it's nice to see that.

I did tell somebody the other day.

I mean, that you you have to be in the right spot in the right seat outdoors, but you can sit outside your restaurant facing west and see the Gulf of America from your table.

You can again, it's not all the seats, but you can't see that far out into the sunset right over the Gulf of America.

So you have a you have a very beautiful outdoor area as well.

We're gonna continue to improve that.

We have some plans to continue as a season, finally the weather is cooperating.

Is there any further um councilman Albert?

No, I just wanted to make a motion.

Okay.

I'll make a motion to uh approve the grant not to exceed 8265927.

Second.

Okay, any further discussion?

826597.

Okay, if not all those in favor?

Aye.

Opposed?

Okay.

Okay, with that we'll move to item 5.1.

Director's report for March 2026.

Good afternoon.

Hey, Susan, you know, CRI executive director again for the record.

Uh the director's report has been submitted.

What's the item before you?

So if you have any questions, I'm here to answer them.

Any questions for you, Director?

I think we're good.

Thank you.

That will adjourn with March 2nd, 2026.

Maybe the City of Clearwater Community Redevelopment Agency.