Just moved into Ruskin/Apollo Beach Area.. (Tampa, Brandon: HOA, hairstylists)

[LianeMJ]

Have you tried Circles in Apollo? Very tasty and not too expensive if you go for lunch. Also I hear that the restaurant in Bahia Beach is very good as well. I live in Riverview and yes, we need more shops & restaurants - but I think you'll see in time they will come, and it will help our property values to increase even more! If I were a restaurant chain, I know where I'd be building!

[crispeta99]

We just move to Cypress Creeck and we were frustated with the lack of good restaurants, there is just fast food in the sun city area. But we recently found a Thai restaurant in the little shoping area located at pleebles Rd. and College Ave. , behind the Bank of America. The service is great, she makes areal effort to keep the quality of the food, the food high standar is always consistent everytime and is not pricy at all. I highly recomend this place, my favorite chili spicy basil noodles.
Good luck

[crispeta99]

We just move to Cypress Creeck and we were frustated with the lack of good restaurants, there is just fast food in the sun city area. But we recently found a Thai restaurant in the little shoping area located at pleebles Rd. and College Ave. , behind the Bank of America. The service is great, she makes areal effort to keep the quality of the food, the food high standar is always consistent everytime and is not pricy at all. I highly recomend this place, my favorite chili spicy basil noodles.
Good luck

[tampaguy03]

My mom is in Valencia Lakes(301 just north of Sun City Blvd)..here is what we have found so far besides the chains:
Circles - Apollo Beach
Sunset Grille and Tiki Bar at Little Harbor - Ruskin
East Coast Pizza - Apollo Beach

Want to try that Thai place, tehre is also a place called "By the Bay Cafe" in Ruskin, anyone know about that. Wish there were more places we could find in that area.

THANKS!

[ma_denicourt]

I forgot to mention that yes, we could use more hairstylists. We already have a few of the in-out hairshops + 1 nice hair & spa that just opened. I'm in the process of opening a store. Still working on the location but the wateside shops (behind Sonic's) are very cute and have a fun and different look to them.

Here are some info you might find helpful if you start your own business ( provided by the apollo beach chamber of commerce ):

median age is between 39-47 (there's 2 calculations)
2006 median income was $47,349
2006 average Household Income $62,060
Population making over $50,000 a year: $49.87% but most people making between $50-$100K

age 0-17 : 23.99%
age 18-24 : 9.04%
AGE 25-39: 16.24%
age 40-49: 15.78%
age 50-59: 14.98%
age 60-64 : 6.20%
age 65+ : 13.77%

That said, Florida's demographics are changing greatly, new schools are being built, etc..

These numbers are calculated from a 3mile radius from covington garden street ( entrance of the covington park community). Because Apollo Beach has been growing so fast, there's no way you can rely on the 2000 census, so this is really the most recent information I've been able to find, but they are encouraging!!!

The other thing I like about Apollo Beach, it's a very nice place to raise a family. I'm 36 with no kids, but we have a new school and the streets are filled with children and people pay extra attention to their security.Sun City Center's residents are generally older than AB's. Ruskin;s downtown looks like crap but because of Little Harbor's, Mira Largo, Mira Bay and Harbour Isles, I believe it will change within a few years.

As for Gibsonton, well, I don't know. It is pretty poor and has a high crime rate, unlike Apollo Beach. Every week, in our local paper, you have the list of the newly convicted criminals and wht their offense is.

I feel bad for the person that wrote how much they hated AB's but since then, it changed dramatically ( but the Chimney's are still there ).

Originally Posted by hairstylist

Hi SSpiro,
I'm relocating soon to Apollo as well. Anything about the Real life there would help. My home will be new as well. I'm from NH. First relocation. Very nervous. But I'm a hairstylist and I hear the area needs more of us.

[BucFan]

Stop by Alpha's Pizza House on Apollo Beach. The food is very good, but the atmosphere isn't anything to brag about. I think prices are decent. Great greek salad and spaghetti. You'll see some old folks in there, but since you're close to SSC, you can always expect that everywhere. Bahia Beach's restauarant is pretty good - especially Sunday brunch. That place changes management so often, you never know what you'll get. But the last time I was there (July 2006), the new management was doing a very good job.

Of course, Brandon has a lot of places to eat - Hops near the mall is pretty good. You don't have to travel far to Brandon or Bradenton/Sarasota to find outstanding restaurants. You just have to jump in the car and drive for 20 mins.

[BucFan]

Originally Posted by JSnFla

the golf course is off suncity center blvd to the north off the road that passes by the motel before 75....maybe cypress crk blvd, not sure...i am ironically moving to sun city center from south florida, only 30, gonna stay in my parents vacant home til i find a job then move....could be the youngest person for miles...anyhow 301 is crazy. big bend crazy...if all those proposed condos/homes go up along 301 they will have to widen the road...where is the mall going to be?

I think SSC has rules about how old you can be to live in a home for over 30 days. Be careful with your association. SSCers are sticklers about everything.

I've played the Cypress Creek course. Not bad. I think they're renovating the course again. It needed it.

[JValle]

I'm buying a house in Cypress Creek right now, I'm sort of worried about the area. Has anyone in the new development areas noticed any problems?

[bnepler]

Try heading north on 301 to Big Bend. The shops, markets and restaurants are popping up here. We're even getting a free standing Starbucks!! Also you can continue up the back way to Brandon.

[Superbecky79]

Hi neighbor, we're moving to Cypress Creek next month!