One year later, Horse Lake Plaza sees the sun
BROOKSVILLE –
What’s the secret to success? According to the tenants at Horse Lake Plaza, a major factor is support and communication from their landlords, seconded by patronage and encouragement from each other.
Despite a tough economy, these businesses are doing well.
The plaza is owned and managed by Tampa entrepreneurs Tom Malouf and John Massaro, whose frequent presence is a source of inspiration, comfort and much positive comment from plaza occupants.
All four current tenants declare their genuine affection for and gratitude to Malouf and Massaro. In addition to patronizing each other’s establishments, the businesses work together on community outreach events, lend each other a helping hand, and network with and advise each other on a regular basis.
Massaro says they made sure to consult each business prior to leasing space to new tenants. “He asked our opinion, which is so important,” said Carol Roberts at Cuppy’s Coffee. “I can’t say enough good things about John and Tom. You would think we’re related. When there’s a need or a problem, they take care of it the same day. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and find this is a dream. It’s wonderful being here.”
The plaza shops are a combination of new, expanded and established enterprises. The “new kid on the block” is Lenny Gonzalez, managing partner at Beef’O’Brady’s Family Sports Pub.
“Beef’s,” as it’s called by employees and fellow tenants, opened last February, marking the birth of the plaza that sits at the intersection of Horse Lake Road and Cortez Boulevard.
Beef’O’Brady’s has a full lunch and dinner menu as well as daily food and drink specials. They currently employ about 32 Hernando County residents. They provide meeting and banquet space, free Wi-Fi, take-out and catering. Including their outdoor patio, the restaurant seats about 200 people.
Gonzalez says he has a great synergy with Malouf and Massaro.
“When I met John, I knew we had a lot in common. We share the same ethics and morals. I’m glad John suggested we open a Beef’s together.”
“We see a gem in Lenny,” said Massaro of Gonzalez. “When we met him, we knew that he ‘gets it,’ meaning he knows what it takes to be successful. He’s willing to put the time in and is respectful of the people and place where he does business.”
The owners of Mr & Ms Salon and Day Spa, who claim to be the oldest running salon in Hernando County (having operated since the early 1960s), relocated to the plaza in July. In this new location, owners Janie and Tom Wiley were able to expand, adding spa services for men, women and children that include hair design, cuts and styles, scalp treatments, nail services, pedicures, waxing, wedding and day packages, facials, skin care treatments, body massage and tanning.
Looper Sports Connection is owned and operated by former Cardinals baseball player Eddie Looper and his wife Jen, “with lots of help from Eddie’s parents, Keith and Jean,” adds Looper’s graphic designer Lisa Thieryung. Looper’s relocated to Horse Lake Plaza in August. They provide uniforms, letter jackets, equipment and awards to Hernando County schools, churches, youth groups and other athletic teams. They also do business cards and have their own in-house screen printing and embroidery.
The newest tenants are Carol and Joe Roberts, who expanded their Cuppy’s Coffee business by opening in the plaza’s end unit in November. They also operate Cuppy’s Drive-Thru at 15270 Cortez Blvd., just east of the Suncoast Parkway.
They offer free Wi-Fi and sell hot coffee, espresso, lattes, hot chocolate, frozen “Dr. Smoothie” fruit drinks, frozen hot chocolate, frozen mochachinos, hot soup, ice cream, breakfast and lunch panini sandwiches, and an assortment of fresh baked pastries.
A sunny spot in the stories of these Brooksville businesses includes that the four shops complement each other, each serving a different need within Hernando County. Each also shares a common customer base: families and the adults who run them.
“It’s a constant flow of youth through here. It’s like the local coffee shop. Everyone shows up here eventually,” said Looper of his shop. “Brooksville’s a small town. Everybody knows everyone.”
Massaro gave a different example: “A husband may drop off his wife at the spa, stop by Looper’s to chat-up Eddie, grab a coffee at Cuppy’s, then have dinner at Beef’s with his wife when she’s done at the spa.”
Tenants say they see many repeat customers.
Megan Cartwright, receptionist at Mr & Ms Salon, put it simply. “It’s fun to come to work every day. We feel like family rather than tenants with landlords. Our business had tripled since we moved here, in part because we were able to add new spa services. We know everybody by name. There’s so much family history in this town.”
Cartwright says the plaza shops all work as a community.
“We’ll send customers over to Cuppy’s or Beef’s. We pick up ‘to-go’ orders from Beef’s for customers spending a spa day with us. Our 16 employees eat at Cuppy’s or Beef’s every day. Our salon sponsors a co-ed softball team through the Jerome Brown Community Center. Looper’s did our shirts. We all support each other. The Loopers and the girls at Beef’s get their hair and nails done here.”
Carol Roberts at Cuppy’s added that the landlords display a consistent willingness to work with each tenant, and that tenants are happy and willing to work together.
“Together, we’ll all succeed,” she said. “They (Malouf and Massaro) bring their families up to patronize our businesses. They offer suggestions and positive feedback on our operation. They are also very meticulous. They keep the plaza really clean, which reflects on all of us. Everyone has committed to do the same.
“It’s a really nice mix of businesses here. The Loopers are great people. Janie at the spa is just wonderful, and so are all the folks at Beef’s. When we moved in, everybody helped us.”
Massaro says he makes excuses to come up from Tampa because he finds the area so relaxing.
“When I get here, all my worries seem to disappear,” he said. “The plaza and surrounding area are so beautiful. I love the sandhill cranes. We even added cows in our adjacent pasture. Lots of people come by to just watch them. It’s very peaceful here.”
Massaro says they made a point to use only local contractors to create their Horse Lake Road commerce center. Stopping by Beef’O’Brady’s in the early afternoon, he noted that many of these local craftsmen now patronize the plaza on a regular basis.
Gonzalez said, “Today, the landscaper was in, and the construction contractor. And there’s the parking lot and infrastructure guy.”
A little later, the metal roofing contractor stopped in for a bite.
“It’s all about building relationships,” said Massaro. “Also, we really love all the nature that surrounds these great businesses. We could have cut down a bunch of trees and paved over everything, but we wouldn’t allow it.”
There’s plenty of land to expand. Malouf and Massaro purchased 25 acres. The one remaining open storefront will soon become a baseball batting and pitching training center, headed by Eddie Looper.
“It will be perfect for times when the weather’s not right for outdoor practice,” added Looper. “Local teams need to get ready and we’ll be set up to help.”
There are still two outbuildings available. Massaro says they’ve been talking to financial institutions and restaurants that are interested in opening there. “We’ll make sure that whoever goes in will be a good fit with our existing businesses.”
Of their success, Massaro and Malouf claim that “half the battle is your attitude.”
“Things are tough, but we’ve been very fortunate,” Malouf said. “Our tenants are doing well and we’re grateful for that.”
Massaro added that they “try to keep on the positive side of things. Out of all the businesses I have, I love Hernando County. Sometimes when we live in the city we forget how nice it is to be up here, with some country around us.”
Horse Lake Plaza at a glance:
Name – Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Family Sports Pub
Hours – 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. / 7 days a week
Contact – Lenny Gonzalez, managing partner
Location – 7601 Horse Lake Road, Brooksville
Telephone – 352-797-9464
Web site – www.beefobradys.com
Name – Mr & Ms Salon and Day Spa
Hours – Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. / Sat. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact – Janie Wiley, President
Location – 7623 Horse Lake Road, Brooksville
Telephone – 352-796-1011
Web site – www.myspace.com/mr_ms_salon
Name – Looper Sports Connection
Hours – Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appt.
Contact – Eddie and Jen Looper
Location – 7631 Horse Lake Road, Brooksville
Telephone – 352-796-7974
E-mail – [email protected]
Name – Cuppy’s Coffee
Hours on.- Thu. 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. / Fri.-Sat. 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Contact – Carol and Joe Roberts
Location – 7635 Horse Lake Road, Brooksville
Telephone – 352-345-4837
E-mail – [email protected]
Web site – www.cuppyscoffeebrooksville.com
For information on retail space available at Horse Lake Plaza, contact Arnold Sevell, Sevell Realty Partners, at 561-995-0100 or call John Massaro at 813-310-2516.
