Tampa Tribune - Merchants'
Hopes Riding on Streetcars
Merchants' Hopes Riding On Streetcars
By SHANNON BEHNKEN
sbehnken@tampatrib.com
TAMPA - Sam Buggica, 92, slowly stepped up to the controls of the
restored Birney streetcar, No. 163. He rang the bell seven times then grew
silent.
For a moment, he was back in the early 1940s, working as a controller of
Tampa Electric's streetcar system. When it closed in 1946, more than Tampa's
transportation changed. For Buggica and millions of commuters, the streetcar
was a way of life.
``The streetcar defined who I was,'' said Buggica, whose car connected
Ybor City, Tampa Heights and West Tampa. ``That's where I made my friends.
People recognized me anywhere when I was in my uniform.''
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Sam
Buggica, 92, remembers the days when the old streetcar clanged along
from Port Tampa to Sulphur Springs. "The streetcar defined who I was."
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The old streetcar clanged along between Port Tampa and Sulphur Springs
from 1892 to 1946. At the system's peak in 1926, 25 million relied on the
5-cent ride to get to work and school.
``When the streetcar closed, this city changed,'' Buggica said.
Merchants in Ybor City and the Channel District hope the city's new $53
million TECO Electric Streetcar System again will change transportation in
Tampa.
The new streetcar line, which debuts Saturday, will link the Tampa
Convention Center and Ybor City. The 2.3-mile one-way trip will take 20
minutes and cost $1.25. The Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority
will operate the eight streetcars, newer and sleeker than the ones Buggica
used to control. There will be 11 stops, seven days a week, with extended
hours on weekends.
Restaurants, bars and stores in the city's two entertainment districts
have awaited the streetcar for years. The quick and easy transportation,
they hope, will bring customers who ordinarily wouldn't make the trip.
``Adults will ride the trolley, and that's what Ybor City needs,'' said
Marian Lasher, owner of Joffrey's coffee shop on Seventh Avenue. ``People
who don't come here, or haven't been in a long time, may give us another
try.''
Lasher and other business owners are preparing for big crowds during
opening weekend. Lasher has hired extra staff and is planning specials for
Saturday.
Annette DeLisle, executive director of the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce,
said many view the streetcar line as the solution to Ybor's image problem
and lagging sales.
The chamber, along with the new Tampa Bay Hospitality Resource Panel, is
working to bring an older, more affluent group to the historic entertainment
district.
``We're hoping downtown hotel patrons and cruise ship passengers will hop
on the streetcar to visit us,'' DeLisle said, noting many businesses have
dealt with a sluggish economy after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Some,
she said, hope the streetcar will bring enough customers to keep their
stores open.
A View Of The Tracks
David Greco of Barley Hoppers International Ale House said he chose his
Centro Ybor location in part because it overlooks the streetcar line.
``Everybody was rushing to lease storefronts facing Seventh Avenue, but I
had visions of the trolley,'' Greco said. ``I wanted an open cafe with
balconies and knew it would have a nice feel to see the colorful trolleys
below.
``It was a bit of a gamble as to whether the trolley would actually
happen, though. Now that it is, I'm excited to death about it.''
But some business owners aren't as thrilled.
Richard McCormack of Grandma's Attic said some overestimate the
streetcar.
``I do see it adding flavor to Ybor City,'' he said, noting business is
suffering. ``But I don't see it changing Ybor City.
``It would still be a 45-minute round trip for someone from downtown to
come for lunch.''
Lasher, of Joffrey's, worries the excitement of the new transportation
will fizzle.
``It's definitely going to bring a lot of people to check it out,'' she
said. ``But I don't think it'll stay that way long term, at least not at my
business.''
Commuter Interest
Tim Endicott, events coordinator at Camden Ybor City, said many residents
want to use the trolley to get to work downtown.
``When we take potential residents on tour, they get really excited when
we mention the trolley,'' Endicott said.
Mira Kozel, marketing director for Pop City, hopes the streetcar will
boost afternoon business at Channelside.
``Many people who work downtown aren't aware of all the restaurants we
have to offer,'' she said.
The only drawback, she said, is traffic.
``People are going to have to get used to a trolley crossing the road,''
she said.
If there's anything to worry about, Buggica said, traffic would be it. He
got out of the business in 1942 when a truck crossed the track in Tampa
Heights and he hit it with his streetcar.
``The idea of trolleys and cars collided back then,'' he said. ``But
people are really excited about this new streetcar. I think, I hope, they
respect it and enjoy it.''
Reporter Shannon Behnken can be reached at (813) 259-7146.
Link to this story the Tampa Tribune website:
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