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Excitement Builds At Expo

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By GEORGE H. NEWMAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

PLANT CITY - It was hard to find a parking place near the Trinkle center on the local Hillsborough Community College campus during the Greater Plant City Chamber of Commerce's sixth annual Community Expo.
Chamber officials were more than pleased that 84 vendors and almost 1,000 visitors took part in the event May 8. Many of the visitors enjoyed free samples offered by several food vendors, saw gifts and brochures offered throughout the hall and explored the exhibits placed by member businesses.

"This event is a perfect showcase for chamber businesses," chamber President Marion Smith said. "Each year we want to build on the year before. I'm very pleased."

Bruce Rodwell, a chamber of commerce board member, greeted visitors as they signed in for the four-hour expo. He also announced door prize and drawing winners throughout the event.

"What a great crowd," Rodwell said. "We have more vendors participating than ever. And the public is really involved."

Annual expos help promote chamber businesses and give visitors an opportunity to meet and visit business owners and representatives, Rodwell said.

John and Ann Boyd, residents of Plant City's Country Meadows retirement community who also spend part of the year in Costa Rica, said they enjoyed the expo.

"A lot of our friends and neighbors are here," Ann Boyd said. "It's like window shopping without all the walking. There are a lot of businesses represented here. It's an easy way to check out what is going on in the business world."

Michael Ambrosino, executive chef at Alexander's Cafe, the restaurant in South Florida Baptist Hospital, was busy serving sliced meats and vegetables to guests.

"We enjoy letting people know they can come to Alexander's and enjoy fine dining," Ambrosino said. "It is our pleasure to serve."

Patients at the hospital, about 80 each day, are delivered food from Alexander's.

Alexander's is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner on the hospital's first floor, restaurant manager John Belcher said.

"We invite the public to come try us out. I think they will be pleasantly surprised. We also cater events in and out of the hospital," he said.

Tim Smith and Tracey Dowdell, part owners of Woody's Bar-B-Q, 203 W. Alexander St., offered free samples of meats, cole slaw and baked beans. They had to move fast to keep up with a line of enthusiastic samplers.

"This is one way for us to get the word," McDowell said. "We are home-owned and take pride in preparing and serving a great product. We've made some lasting friendships today. I'm sure we'll be seeing some of these folks soon at the restaurant. It is our real pleasure to serve."

The expo is "a lot of fun," Rodwell said.

"The Trinkle center is the perfect venue. People can come in and take their time moving through the building, gathering information, finding businesses that fit their particular needs. It's also a great way to meet people, make new friends and put faces to the names you have talked with on the phone."

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

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