Press Releases Archive - Page 2 of 3

Patticakes to Open Second Location at Tioga Town Center

Tioga Town Center welcomes Patticakes, a local coffee and bakery staple focused on “building community” by providing a space where neighbors can gather and connect.

Gainesville, Fla. — Patticakes ‘Coffee and Cupcakes’ recently announced plans to open their second location at Tioga Town Center. Their new 2,019 square foot space is located at, 12921 SW 1st Road, Suite 111, Newberry, FL 32669 and expands upon their mission to create places where neighbors can gather and linger over top notch, hand-crafted treats and expertly prepared coffee and espresso.

Based on the belief that “connected people are the happiest” Patticakes owners Jan and David Patterson have a longing for people to know they are valued and belong. Their first shop, located in Haile Village where David is the Pastor of River Cross Church, has been a beloved place for locals to gather and connect since its opening in 2011. Their new Tioga location will further their desire to build community through coffee and cupcakes. “We look forward to connecting with our new friends and neighbors in Tioga and the surrounding area” said Jan Patterson.

The new Tioga store will offer indoor and outdoor seating, and will feature a variety of homemade, made-to-order treats! In addition to customized coffee and espresso, some other menu items include smoothies, milkshakes, breakfast sandwiches, quiches, scones, turkey and veggie panini’s, gluten-free muffins, even a vegan muffin, as well as 12 flavors of hand-dipped ice cream, most of which are gluten free in addition to a dairy-free flavor. Patticakes will also offer their three classic cupcake flavors; traditional red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting, black tie dark chocolate cake with a white chocolate cream cheese frosting, and vanilla cake with vanilla buttercream frosting, as well as premium flavors that change weekly based on the season.

Their menu is just a small part of what makes Patticakes so special. Living true to their mission and vision, Patticakes’ community-focused roots are felt throughout their company. They carefully hire staff that share their desire and will to lovingly serve every customer. And similar to their first grand opening, a portion of proceeds for their Tioga opening will be donated to PACE Center for Girls, whose mission is to provide girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy. Wayne Patterson, son of Jan and David, will be managing this location and brings a wealth of experience in the industry, previously working with Chick-fil-A.

“We are thrilled to welcome Patticakes to the Town Center” said Cheryl Carroll, Regional Asset Manager for Tioga Town Center and The Flats on behalf of Hankin Group. “Now more than ever, it is a priority for us to partner with small local businesses such as Patticakes, that serve the local community in such an impactful way. Additions such as these, speak to the strength of the Tioga Town Center’s location, desirability and commitment to the local business community.” With a focus on quality over quantity, Patticakes aims to make every experience enjoyable for their customers. They offer free internet, order-ahead options through Byppo, call-ahead ordering for large orders, in addition to a loyalty program for frequent customers, and an annual membership club offered once per year! The new Tioga location is expected to be open by the end of Fall. Patticakes also plans to open their doors daily at 6:00 am.

Rick Cain, Principal of Avison Young, and Nick Banks, Managing Director and Principal of Avison Young represented both Patticakes and the owner, Hankin Group, in this real estate transaction.

Tioga Town Center currently features over 30 businesses, as well as The Flats at Tioga, which offer 40 luxury apartments, with 144 new apartments currently under construction. Phase II of Tioga Town Center is now available for leasing. This new development will add two new four-story apartment buildings with an additional 11,827 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, additional parking, a pool, expansive resident clubhouse, and state of the art playground.

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For further information/comment/photos:

• Virginia MacKoul, Owner, Impact Hive: 239.462.8640

• Cheryl A. Carroll, Regional Asset Manager, Hankin Group: 352.331.4000

www.tiogatowncenter.com

Tioga Town Center is an award-winning 23-acre mixed-use lifestyle center featuring over 30 businesses, and over 180 luxury apartments.

https://patticakesgnv.com/

Follow Patticakes on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patticakesgnv/
Follow Patticakes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patticakesgnv/

About Hankin Group:

Pennsylvania based real estate developer, owner and manager Hankin Group, purchased Tioga Town Center in 2017, as it represents a cutting-edge example of mixed-use development at its finest, both in Gainesville and on a national scale. Tioga seamlessly incorporates retail, office, luxury apartments, and green spaces within a single development. Recognized with numerous awards for quality, design and innovation, Hankin Group has served home buyers and the building community for more than 60 years. Today, the company remains dedicated to its founding ideals of building and operating to superior standards and providing the ultimate experience in service and support.

New Local Business, Complete Home Boutique, Opens at Tioga Town Center

Tioga Town Center welcomes Complete Home Boutique, a local storefront retail and design center delivering “concept to completion” services in the Greater Gainesville region.

Gainesville, Fla. — Complete Home Boutique, a retail and design center, is now open at Tioga Town Center. Their new 910 square foot space is located at 140 SW 128th Street, Suite E, Newberry, FL 32669 and features home goods, décor, and gifts for sale, along with samples and ample room to brainstorm, collaborate, and bring their client’s dream home designs from “concept to completion.”

Wanting to fill a niche commonly found in the industry, owners and founders Trina Christensen and Richelle Pace aim to provide a one-stop-shop solution for new builds, remodels, and interior design. No job is too big, or too small for this team. “With over 40 years combined experience we are the home pros, and aim to make your experience a stress-free, positive one,” Said Christensen.

Both Trina Christensen and Richelle Pace are licensed Realtors, and Richelle is also a Certified General Contractor, allowing Complete Home Boutique to fully serve their clients in-house to sustain quality and design with consistency from initial higher-level concepts, through execution and oversight. “With an eye for perfection I make it my mission to deliver the best quality product possible while building a relationship with my customers,” said Pace. She continued, “my motto is building homes and building relationships.”

Complete Home Boutique offers a variety of services, including, but not limited to: new #residential home #build, #design build, complete #remodels, #renovations, #flooring, #countertops, #custom #cabinets, custom #closets, custom #lighting, and more. Complete Home Boutique is also hoping to help impact the community with philanthropy-focused events and fundraisers once the opportunity allows. Being a family owned business, the community is near and dear to their hearts and ingrained in their roots.

“We’re very excited to welcome Complete Home Boutique to Tioga Town Center,” said Cheryl Carroll, Regional Asset Manager for Hankin Group. “Given their extensive knowledge in home design and décor plus a solid understanding of this market and the needs of their clients, will most definitely broaden the range of services available at the town center.” Complete Home Boutique is the second new local business to open their doors at Tioga Town Center this year.

Rick Cain, Principal of Avison Young, represented the owner, Hankin Group, in this real estate transaction.

Tioga Town Center currently features over 30 businesses, as well as The Flats at Tioga, which offer 40 luxury apartments, with 144 new apartments currently under construction. Phase II of Tioga Town Center is now available for pre-leasing with an expected delivery of Summer 2020. This new development will add two new four-story apartment buildings with an additional 11,827 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, additional parking, a pool, clubhouse, and playground.

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For further information/comment/photos:

Virginia MacKoul, Owner, Impact Hive: 239.462.8640
Cheryl A. Carroll, Regional Asset Manager, Hankin Group: 352.331.4000

Tioga Town Center: www.tiogatowncenter.com – 352-331-4000

Tioga Town Center is an award-winning 23-acre mixed-use lifestyle center featuring over 30 businesses, and over 180 luxury apartments.

Complete Home Boutique https://completehomeboutique.com/
Follow Complete Home Boutique on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Complete-Home-Boutique-109516783954252/
The Flats at Tioga Town Center: https://www.flatstioga.com/ – 352-331-4000
Follow The Flats on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flatstioga/
Follow The Flats on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flatstioga/

About Hankin Group: https://hankingroup.com/

Pennsylvania based real estate developer, Hankin Group, purchased Tioga Town Center in 2017, as it represents a cutting-edge example of mixed-use development at its finest, both in Gainesville and on a national scale. Tioga seamlessly incorporates retail, office, luxury apartments, and green spaces within a single development. Recognized with numerous awards for quality, design and innovation, Hankin Group has served home buyers and the building community for more than 60 years. Today, the company remains dedicated to its founding ideals of building and operating to superior standards and providing the ultimate experience in service and support.

First of its Kind Nail Boutique, Ensō, Joins Tioga Town Center

Tioga Town Center welcomes Ensō, A Healthier Nail Boutique, featuring the first of its kind nail services in the Greater Gainesville region.

Gainesville, Fla. — Enso A Healthier Boutique Tioga, will be opening on March 18th at award-winning 23-acre mixed-use lifestyle center where their new 1,210 square foot space will reside, located at 13005 SW 1stRoad, Suite 133, in Newberry Florida. Ensō will be the first non-toxic, fume-free nail salon in the greater Gainesville region. Ensō aims to set a higher standard for the local beauty industry, strictly offering ‘10 free’ services, meaning they only use products that are made without 10 of the most common chemicals found in nail polishes: Toluene, Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP), Formaldehyde, Formaldehyde Resin, Camphor, Ethyl Tosylamide, Xylene, parabens, animal by-products, and fragrance.

Ensō strives to create a worry-free ambiance by staffing knowledgeable, trained professionals who operate under strict sanitation procedures, and provide healthier choices for beauty services. By using vegan, cruelty-free, organic products, combined with a modern ventilation system, their clients experience less chemical exposure during their services, and their team members have a much healthier working environment when compared to a typical nail salon.

“We strive to be more mindful, eco-friendly, and health-conscious in the way we do business and interact with each other” said Bich Nguyen, Owner of Ensō. “We want to focus on educating those that we serve, and elevate the local industry to a higher standard. By doing so, we hope to build long-lasting relationships with our patrons, team members, and community.”

Ensō is going above and beyond standard sanitation practices, and aims for fully transparency when it comes to proper sanitation procedures. They will have custom ventilation systems at every station, and will utilize a medical grade autoclave to sterilize equipment and other objects. Instead of jetted tubs, they will feature chic ceramic basins free of nooks and crannies which typically hide and foster bacteria.

Ensō will offer a small selection of wine-based cocktails, and will also feature a small boutique, offering locally sourced health and wellness products for sale such as soaps, scrubs, plants, jewelry, and art. They will also offer membership services as an added value to their loyal clients. Ensō will be hosting an open house, and meet-and-greet on Saturday, February 29th.

“We’re very excited to welcome Ensō to Tioga Town Center,” said Cheryl Carroll, Regional Asset Manager for Hankin Group. “Ensō’s focus on the health-minded trends in the nail care and beauty industry, paired with their focus on quality and experience, will further enhance the dynamic tenant mix at Tioga Town Center.”

Rick Cain, Principal of Avison Young – North Florida, represented the owner, Hankin Group, in this real estate transaction. Avison Young has been handling commercial leasing for years on behalf of Hankin Group.

Tioga Town Center currently features over 30 businesses, as well as The Flats at Tioga Town Center, which offer 40 luxury apartments, with 144 new apartments currently under construction. Phase II of Tioga Town Center is now available for pre-leasing with an expected delivery of Summer 2020. This new development will add two new four-story apartment buildings with an additional 15,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, additional parking, a pool, clubhouse, and playground.

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For further information/comment/photos:
• Virginia MacKoul, Owner, Impact Hive: 239.462.8640
• Cheryl A. Carroll, Regional Asset Manager, Hankin Group: 352.331.4000

www.tiogatowncenter.com

Tioga Town Center is an award-winning 23-acre mixed-use lifestyle center featuring over 30 businesses, and over 180 luxury apartments.

Follow Tioga Town Center on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TiogaTownCenter
Follow Tioga Town Center on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TiogaTownCenter
Follow Tioga Town Center on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiogatowncenter
www.Ensotioga.com
Follow Ensō on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ensotioga/
Follow Ensō on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ensotioga/

About Hankin Group:

Hankin Group Brings Exciting Changes to Tioga Town Center

“We are thrilled to begin the expansion of Tioga Town Center,” said Michael Hankin, COO of Hankin Group.

144 new luxury apartments will be added to Tioga Town Center with state-of-the-art amenities. New features include a clubhouse, resort style pool, resident lounge, game room, business center, outdoor grilling stations, fire pits, a pet washing station, and a brand- new playground. Construction will begin this month and is scheduled to be completed in fall of 2020.

In addition to new apartments, Tioga Town Center will add 15,000 sq. ft.square feet of retail space. “Recently, Cilantro Tacos and Maple Street Biscuit Company opened their doors, and soon we’ll be announcing the addition of another great retailer,” said Michael. He added, “Our goal is to fill the new retail space with top-notch businesses and create a vibrant destination for the Gainesville area. A great community to live, dine, shop, and play.”

Hankin Group is also excited to add new events to the calendar and, when construction is complete, bring back some old favorites; like the art show and the Tioga Car Show. Be sure to check out the Tioga Town Center’s website and Facebook page for upcoming events.

Pennsylvania based real estate developer, Hankin Group, purchased Tioga Town Center in 2017, as it represents a cutting-edge example of mixed-use development at its finest, both in Gainesville and on a national scale. Tioga seamlessly incorporates retail, office, luxury apartments, and green spaces within a single development. The property features outstanding businesses including UF Health, Starbucks, Gainesville Health and Fitness, World of Beer, Blue Highway a Pizzeria, AEI Affiliated Engineers, Weyerhaeuser, and more. Tioga fits perfectly into Hankin’s portfolio, as they specialize in developing award-winning mixed-use communities and they are committed to further enhancing Tioga Town Center.
For leasing opportunities call Avison Young at (352) 331-4000.

About Hankin Group
Recognized with numerous awards for quality, design, and innovation, Hankin Group is a full-service sustainable developer for over 60 years. Today, the company remains dedicated to its founding ideals of building and operating to superior standards and providing the ultimate experience in service and support. Visit www.hankingroup.com for more information.
Tioga Town Center, located at 105 SW 128th Street, Newberry, FL 32669.

Tioga Businesses Multiply, Lean on Each Other

Courtesy of The Gainesville Sun

Although the business is only a month old, the owners of Golf & Tennis Etc. say the shop already is enjoying the benefits of its location.

Owned by Lynne and Bill Saunders, the business’ home in the Tioga Town Center off Newberry Road appears to be prime. Across the street is the West End Golf Club. Three miles down the road lies the Jonesville Tennis Center.

“Business is good,” Lynne Saunders said last week.

But the strongest asset could be the community atmosphere among merchants at the Tioga Town Center, say the shop’s owners and center management, pointing to the center’s growth and cohesion.

“We have a great loop of merchants here at the center who reach out to the newer merchants; they provide guidance, and they all work together,” said Gil Levy, president of Tioga Town Center.

Lynne Saunders agreed, saying, “All of us in the center refer one another to potential customers, and we can already feel the strengths that could bring.”

Golf & Tennis Etc. offers a variety of services and merchandise, including custom fitting for golf clubs, repairs, clothing, apparel and shoes. It also features a glass-enclosed golf hitting bay that allows the store to develop an accurate profile of golfers’ abilities and tendencies.

“Nobody in this area has one of those,” Bill Saunders said.

Along with Golf & Tennis Etc., seven businesses have opened at Tioga Town Center over the past 18 months, including Lowry Financial Advisors, Poser Plastic Surgery Center, The Little Shop, Bike Works, Gator Tec, Down to Earth Boutique and Sabore Restaurant.

One business, Keith Watson Productions, is scheduled to open Jan. 15, and over the past 18 months, only one store has closed – Vela Clothing.

With nearly 30,000 commuters passing the Tioga Town Center daily, the area is quickly growing into a commercial hub.

The center is also the gateway to the Town of Tioga, a 300-home community of luxury houses and townhomes.

“The community surrounding us has a huge impact – it makes us try to be as local-oriented as possible,” said Seth Schmer, general manager of Blue Highway Pizza, which has had a location at Tioga Town Center for two and a half years.

“Most of the traffic we have would be from people who live in Gainesville and from just behind us in the Tioga community. We are like the ‘pizzeria around the corner’ for them,” Schmer added.

By Paul Kardasz
Correspondent
9:00 am, December 26, 2011

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20111224/articles/111229751?p=2&tc=pg

Navigator Game Day Shuttle Ramps Up for New Season

navigator

Courtesy of Tioga Town Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 17, 2010

With Gator football season kicking off just around the corner, you’ll want a no-hassle way to get to the games. Navigator by Fabulous Coach Lines is ready to provide just that! With luxury motorcoaches and speedy, friendly service, the Park & Ride you know has had an extreme makeover.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA August 17, 2010 Fabulous Coach is very excited to introduce the Navigator service to all Gator fans! Premium shuttle service between park and ride locations and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on game days is not only convenient, but fun as well.

Service from the same locations as years past, Navigator offers the following park and ride sites: the Oaks Mall, Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, The Village Center at Haile Plantation, Tioga Town Center, the southwest Downtown Parking Garage, and Garage IX. Each site will be hosted by a Fabulous Coach Lines administrator and will boast multiple cashiers to expedite ticket transactions. Fabulous coaches feature a host of guest pleasing amenities including comfortable reclining seats, an onboard Audio Visual system with multiple tv monitors, armrests, footrests, and an onboard lavatory.

Single Game Passes for roundtrip service may be purchased at all park and ride sties on game days for $10 per person, payable in cash or credit card. Season Passes are available for $60 online at www.FabulousCoach.com and at all park and ride sites. Season Passes offer a discount of $20 and includes transportation to Gator Growl.

Navigator shuttles begins three hours before each UF home game, allowing riders to arrive early on campus in time for Gator Walk and other pre-game festivities. The last coach to the stadium departs 30 minutes before the game. Returning Navigator coaches will run from the beginning of the fourth quarter through the first hour after the game ends.

Gator fans can show their pride on the road with Navigator’s tour packages, which include luxury motorcoach transportation, an onboard escort, exceptional hotel accommodations, full breakfasts each morning, and all inclusive tailgate parties. Away trip packages can be purchased at www.FabulousCoach.com or by calling (877) GO-FABULOUS and range from $59 for single day trips (Georgia & FSU) to $389 for overnight tours. Game tickets are not included in tour packages.

Fabulous Coach Lines offers premium motorcoach service from the Southeast to destinations across North America. Recognized in 2009 as the BusRide Magazine Operator of the Year and in 2007 as a Metro’s Top Innovative Operator. Fabulous Coach is the product of the industry’s youngest proprietor, Ray Land, established at age 17. Outstanding equipment and cheerful customer service make Fabulous the preferred coach company for organizations with the highest expectations for excellence in motorcoach travel. Fabulous People, Fabulous Coaches.

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For more information, or to schedule an interview with Navigator by Fabulous Coach Lines, contact Laura M Fowler at (386) 935-2700 or by email at laura@fabulouscoach.com.

By Laura Fowler
Fabulous Coach Lines
9:37 am, September 02, 2010

(386) 935-2700

Sundance makes first Gainesville Appearance with author Shelly Mickle

Courtesy of Tioga Town Center

Sundance, the miniature horse that is a character in the just-released novel, JASON AND ELIHU, A FISHERMAN\’S STORY,
by Shelley Fraser Mickle, will be making his first Gainesville public appearance at the town square in Tioga Town Center Saturday, May 15th from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sundance was trained to fulfill his role in the novel by learning to smile on cue and count out how many peppermints he wants.

JASON AND ELIHU is a children\’s novel set at our beloved Cross Creek in the literary tradition of THE YEARLING. It features an 11-year-old boy dream-bitten with the desire to catch Elihu, the legendary bass. Two foster children join the hunt and a young girl, named Jazel, who has to revise her dream of becoming an ice skater when a brain tumor robs her balance.

Whenever Elihu is caught, the mighty fish whispers a secret. That is, if Elihu is ever caught, since Old Snout, the gator, tends to rise out of the water and snap the line whenever Elihu is hooked. So when you learn the secret, you must keep it!

JASON AND ELIHU is a fundraiser for foster care with its focus on prevention. The novel is perfect for families to read together. Lynn McNeill, elementary school principal, says, \”This book needs to be in the hands of children.\”

Shelley will also be signing 101 DOG STREET, THE STORY OF AMOS, THE BUMMED-OUT CANINE, a chapter book for second grade that is a fundraiser for the Ferrero Children\’s Hospital Foundation.
Come meet Shelley and Sundance. Also Magic, the miniature horse, recently voted \”The Most Heroic Pet in America,\” will be there.

Both JASON AND ELIHU, $15 and 101 DOG STREET, $12, are published by Wild Onion Press, Books Starring Kids with Physical Differences with a portion of each books\’ proceeds going to its nonprofit partner.

By Shelley Frasier Mickle
author
10:27 am, April 22, 2010

Debbie Garcie-Bengochea

Tioga Jazzfest

Courtesy of Tioga Town Center

TIOGA JAZZFEST 2010

Press Release

Gainesville, Florida
March 22, 2010

The inaugural TIOGA JAZZFEST will be held Sunday, November 14th, 2010 in the new Town Square at the award-winning Tioga Town Center! The event will feature National Recording Artist and jazz guitarist, Nate Najar, and will be headlined by smooth jazz superstar and saxophonist, Jessy J.

True Love. With these two perfectly chosen words, Jessy J has, in unveiling the title of her second Peak Records release, captured the blazing emotions of her legions of fans across the U.S. and Latin America who made her the breakout genre star of 2008.

With her sizzling mix of hot beats, Latin and samba rhythms, instantly captivating melodies and model looks, this Mexican American saxophonist/singer proved quite the sensation with her debut CD Tequila Moon–earning her such accolades as Radio and Records Debut Artist of The Year and contemporary jazz song of the year by R&R and Billboard for the title track, which stayed perched at #1 for an incredible eight weeks. Adding to this multi-talented rising star was her cover story in Jazziz Magazine, features in People Espanol, and JazzTimes, to name a few, plus numerous television appearances and radio interviews.

Jessy has also been making urban jazz fans across the U.S. dance up a storm these past two years as a featured performer with genre greats Gerald Albright, Peter White, Jeff Lorber, Euge Groove and Jeff Golub on the popular 2008-2009 editions of the all-star Guitars and Saxes tours. She has also headlined with her own band several times at the Catalina Island JazzTrax Festival and at such events as the City of Lights Jazz and Rhythm & Blues Festival in Las Vegas and the 98.1 Anniversary Gaslamp Festival in San Diego. This burgeoning slate of shows complements her extensive schedule in the pop and Latin music worlds, where she continues to tour as saxophonist and backing vocalist for pop great Michael Bolton and has played extensively with two of Mexicos most popular artists, Gloria Trevi (aka The Madonna of Mexico) and Armando Manzanero (whom Jessy calls the Mancini of Mexico).

[Quote] After the success of Tequila Moon, it was inevitable that many fans would ask me, ok, so what is next? Where do you go from number 1?[End quote] says Jessy. [quote] But I never really worried about that pressure because I knew my approach would be to simply dig deeper into my essence as a person, songwriter and musician. My goal was to convey my True Love by putting 100 percent of my heart and soul into every note, every session and every song. As the journey of this new album unfolded, I discovered something amazing, a little secret I will now share: after all this romantic searching, I realize now that my True Love is actually my lifelong passion for music. Its a joy and an honor to have the opportunity to share more and more of this with the world as the years unfold. [end quote] For more information on Jessy, go to: www.jessyj.com

Ticket and Sponsorship information will be made available shortly.

For more information on the TIOGA JAZZFEST please contact Mark Nordman at 352-339-3285.

Producer Charitable Partner
Mark C. Nordman Catholic Charities
President, M&H Productions Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida Steve Henneka
352-339-3285 352-372-0294 x 18

By Mark Nordman

3:26 pm, March 24, 2010

352-339-3285

Town of Tioga Ready to Go the Distance

center

Courtesy of Tioga Town Center

The community of Town of Tioga will immerse itself in a benefit on Saturday.

The community just east of Jonesville on Newberry Road will host the inaugural “Run for Haven” to benefit Haven Hospice. The run will weave through the neighborhood and the paths surrounding it.

But this benefit features much than a 5K and 10K run.

Tioga residents will be competing in a contest to see who can decorate their lawn and balcony the best during the run. And after the run, an outdoor party will commence at Tioga Town Center, featuring the Rick Gordon Band, booths from the Town Center stores and catering from Adam’s Rib Company, Domino’s Pizza and Burkhardt Distributing. Registration for the “Run for Haven” starts at 2 p.m., and the run will begin at 4:30.

Catering and entertainment at the block party have all been donated, which means 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Haven Hospice and its many programs.

“We are very pleased at the turnout this far and grateful for the support from the community,” said Jenni Williams, communications coordinator for Haven Hospice.

According to Williams, about 250 people have signed up for the run so far, but she expects 600 people to show up Saturday.

It’s not just residents of Town of Tioga who have signed up to run, but also people with connections to the University of Florida, local public schools, running groups like the Gainesville Track Club and other members of the community.

Williams said the run is a first for Haven Hospice. “It’s targeting a new audience,” she said.

Grace Lambert-Horvath, director of marketing and leasing at the Tioga Town Center, said Saturday’s festivities “made perfect sense for everyone. We get to play up on the design and location of the new town square at the gateway to Town of Tioga.”

Tickets for just the outdoor party cost $15. For those who want to run in the event, the cost is $45, which includes a T-shirt, food and drink and attendance at the party, according to Williams. While online registration ended on Wednesday, people can still sign up to run Saturday, starting at 2 p.m.

For more information about the event, go to http://www.RunForHaven.org

By Gainesville Sun
Correspondent
5:36 pm, March 19, 2010

Sarah Clark

Tioga Town Center Welcomes Blue Highway Pizza

Courtesy of The Gainesville Sun

Funky pizza place opening in Tioga

After celebrating a successful five years in Micanopy, Blue Highway Pizza will join the likes of Nature’s Table, Flour Pot Bakery, Dionysus Wine Bar, Northwest Seafood and Peterbrooke Chocolatier in the Tioga Town Center on Newberry Road.

Blue Highway, known for its fun, funky atmosphere and specialty pizzas, is expanding to its second location, which chef and owner Frank Ruffino hopes to open sometime in June.

“We get people from Alachua and from The Villages that make the drive to our restaurant,” Ruffino said.

The new location, which replaces Cucina Mia, a former gourmet cooking shop, will still maintain the family, hometown environment while enhancing the kitchen and menu.

Lee Deaderick, owner of the Northwest Seafood fish market in Tioga, said he his excited to have a new addition.

“It’s always good to have successful businesses around you,” Deaderick said. “They are good local business people, and most of the businesses here are local people.”

The 2,300-square-foot space – 1,200 more square feet than the location in Micanopy – will have more seating, between 75 to 80 instead of seating for only 37, and will have new equipment so Ruffino can also expand the menu.

“We are getting a fryer, so we will be able to offer things like fried calamari and wings,” he said.

The revamped menu also will include lasagna, pastas and piadines, a traditional Italian flatbread, which Ruffino said is one of the more popular items at his Micanopy location.

“It’s like a sandwich, salad and pizza all rolled into one,” he said.

Even during an economic recession, Ruffino is confident Blue Highway’s second location will attract new customers as well as maintaining its regulars.

“It’s a concern opening another place, but I can’t let that dictate what’s going on,” he said. “We are still going strong, and people enjoy the type of food and atmosphere we offer.”

Ruffino, a native of Chicago, got his start in the restaurant business when he bought his first restaurant in Sarasota at age 27. It was there that he met his wife, Winny. The couple was known as “Pop and Mom” to customers.

In 1978, he and Winny opened a seafood restaurant in Siesta Key.

After moving to Gainesville, where Ruffino was the executive chef at the University of Florida, in the late 1980s, the next stop was Pittsburgh in 1994, then corporate executive chef at Sedhexo and finally back to Gainesville.

“We love this area,” he said. “Then we found this beat-up, little place.”

That beat-up, little place was the former Witts Inn, 12 miles south of Gainesville on U.S. 441.

Ruffino bought the building, gutted it and in 2004 started Blue Highway Pizza, a family-run business with Winny, his son and daughter.

Blue Highway celebrated its fifth anniversary April 6.

Ruffino has won numerous awards, such as the Top 50 Research and Development Culinarians in the U.S.A. in 2003, the Menu Master’s Award in 2003 and Gainesville’s Fresh Food Challenge in 2007.

With Blue Highway, “I wanted something casual that people enjoy and eat all the time,” Ruffino said. “To be able to create a good pizza, that’s a beautiful thing.”

Ruffino said he only uses local fresh and organic ingredients and takes pride in making affordable dishes from scratch.

“We try to make all of our stuff in-house and just try to keep our service as friendly and efficient as it is now,” Ruffino said. “We try to create good food at a good value.”

By The Gainesville Sun
Hayley Mathis, Brian W. Kratzer/Staff photographer
5:13 pm, April 13, 2009

Media Contact: Frankel Media Group 352-331-5558