Vacant Storefront Question Draws Wish List From Residents

Patch readers answered our question, offering suggestions as to what should fill the space vacated by the Fire & Ice Pawn Shop in Valrico. They also chimed in with responses as to what should fill other vacant storefronts in the area.

At 3307 Lithia Pinecrest Road, the former home of Fire & Ice, Anne Drewry, an artist living in the area, said she would like to see an art gallery.

"Of course I would have to agree with an art gallery," responded Scott King, also an area artist, in his Facebook response. "But this town has yet to have a decent action figures and collectible store. I see Sound Exchange Tampa Bay, the Brandon store, is carrying a lot of kick-@$$ toy figures at a fair price, but I think we could use a specialty shop."

John K. Tudek Sr. said he would like to a see a hobby shop, or a camera shop, while Heidi A. Capozza offered that a bookstore/cafe would be nice to fill the void left by the now years-long closing of Borders Books and Music near the Westfield Brandon shopping mall.

Thomas Baker said he, too, would like to see something similar, "an upscale bookstore/cafe like 'The Oxford Exchange.' "

"I personally need a Checkers in this area," said Kathie Babb-Neuhard. "I wanted one to go in the spot where the Verizon store went in." That spot, across the street from Fire & Ice, closer to the Lithia Pinecrest Road and Bloomingdale Avenue corner, is where a WaWa is set to begin construction shortly, with Verizon at the tip of the corner.

Other suggestions, from Thomas Baker, call for "a wine bar, a martini bar, Trader Joe's, improv/Side Splitters comedy club, Greenwise Publix" and "more sushi restaurants."

The question, remember, was not only for the vacant Fire & Ice but also for "other vacant spots in town," which could have brought to readers' minds much-larger spots such as the closed Albertsons, behind Fire & Ice, and the closed Kash 'n Karry supermarket, at Bloomingale Avenue and Bell Shoals Road.

"I wish they put an Old Navy where Albertsons is," said Karleen Brennan Turchin.

A "TJ Maxx," to complement the one in Brandon, near the mall, would be nice, said Jessica Kramer.

"How about an Old Navy in the old Borders Books location, a Ghatti Town at the old Albertsons on Lithia" and  "a Krystals hamburgers ANYWHERE in Brandon," said Jennifer Cummings Buswell. 

Other suggestions for Fire & Ice included Dan Segale's wish for another Starbucks and Kelly Howe Gay's request for an Uncle Fats pub.

Added Deborah Clingensmith Gibson: "We don't 'need' anything, but it would be great to have a Trader Joe's."

Didn't get a chance to respond? We ask the question again:

• The Fire & Ice Pawn Shop in Valrico has closed, which begs the question, what would you like to see fill this vacant spot? Other vacant spots in town? Note them in the comment box below and tell us what you would like to see open to cater to your town's needs.