Chowing Down In New Port Richey

My wife and I had dropped into a bit of a routine over the past few years, automatically heading to the Mezzaluna restaurant after locking the office doors on Friday evenings.  That changed with the restaurant’s closing this past spring.

We’ve been making an effort to visit different restaurants around town each week.  We found ourselves south of town last Friday and decided to drop in on Joey’s in the Southgate Shopping Plaza.

We weren’t quite sure what to make of this “hole in the wall” restaurant about a third of the way from the north end of the plaza.  We were shocked to find all but a few tables occupied when we walked in the door.  That changed while we were eating.  There was a line out the door by the time we left.

A number of folks were having pizza, so we decided to do the same.  It was good and we had enough left over for dinner Saturday night as well.  We saw a number of the other dishes on the menu, so we’ll definitely have to go back and try some of them.

Joey’s opened in January and has clearly developed a following.

There is a sign in the front door of Johnny Grits saying that they will open on Wednesday.  It should be interesting to see how fast they develop a following in New Port Richey.  I predict it won’t be long.  Cornerstone Pizza should also open shortly.

Two weeks ago,  Deputy Mayor Bill Phillips met with Times columnist C.T. Bowen for coffee at Jimmy’s Restaurant.  Mr. Bowen wrote about the fact that he and the deputy mayor were meeting at the same restaurant where I was at another meeting.  Jimmy’s has been a fixture for breakfast in New Port Richey for decades and I’ll take one of their omelettes over a chain restaurant omelette any day of the week.   I’m not quite sure which character from “Doc Hollywood” C.T. Bowen was comparing me to, but I’ll take his observation as a compliment.

I’m reminded of a similar chat with Mr. Bowen over coffee a few years ago where I shared my vision of what New Port Richey could be.   After politely listening to me for a while, Mr. Bowen asked me if I realized how many times I said “If”… It is true, I did:  “If we can get the Hacienda fixed up.  If we fix up Sims Park.  If we can get businesses to open up in the empty storefronts.”

Peter Drucker is reported to have said:  “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”  There is a lot of truth to this.

I humbly submit that the entire city council is working with this mindset.  Each of us tends to concentrate on our passions, but they significantly overlap.  I’ve written extensively about the need for us to recreate our downtown into something uniquely New Port Richey.  My colleagues are on board with that.  Councilman Starkey has championed the cause of addressing crime in our city.  The rest of us are on board with that.   Councilman Phillips has championed fixing up our residential neighborhoods.  The rest of us are on board with that too.  Both councilman Davis and councilwoman DeBella-Thomas are passionate about our city and regularly share their dreams for how we can improve our city.  We then work as a group to try to make those dreams a reality.

It should come as no surprise to C.T. Bowen or anyone else that all five of us are actively working to build a consensus for positive change in our city.  Those activities aren’t confined to city council meetings.  Would you like to be a part of the discussion?  Deputy Mayor Phillips will be hosting another public forum this Thursday at 7:00pm at the Rec Center.  I’d encourage you to attend.

There are still some “ifs” we need to address, but there are a lot fewer than there were when C.T. Bowen and I sat down for coffee.  With HCA’s plans to demolish the old Community Hospital to make way for new development, that list will go down some more.

The excitement in New Port Richey is palpable.  I hope that you will join in and help us to create that future together.

 

Rob Marlowe, Mayor