Press Releases
Press release confirming that Ross Dress for Less will move to Uptown Sation
Press release confirming that Uptown Station's new office and retail buildings are ahead of schedule and that Ross Dress for Less will take possession of their new store in February 2009
Frankie Riley today opened her new hair and beauty salon in Uptown Stations J G Plaza.
Frankie Riley has been in business for a little over 7 years and decided to move into Uptown Station after considering different locations that she felt would best fit the vision of growth for her business.
Frankie is a native of Fort Walton Beach, and has also lived and worked in a couple of bigger cities. She loves the diverse culture and energy that a big city has to offer. Frankie says that Uptown Station has managed to create an interest and excitement that this area has needed for quite some time.
Frankie Riley says “Mr. Odom clearly has a progressive vision with the way he has approached this business venture. For me, this was a no-brainer.” Riley added “I truly appreciate the opportunity to become a part of such a strong team. My dream is to branch the business out and what greater of a place to start! “
Frankie has had her work featured in quite a few national magazine publications (including front cover). She is also an Artistic Educator with Matrix (A global product manufacturer, owned by L'Oreal).
The stylists at the salon come from various areas around the U.S and are all very passionate about their craft. The team strongly believes in continuing education.
Frankie’s A Salon currently offer an innovative referral system to reach new clients. Also featured is a " Happy Hair Hour” on certain days (Frankie has yet to decide which days) which will be featured on the Uptown Station website at www.uptownstation.com
Clarke’s Collectibles, one of the longest standing tenants at Santa Rosa Mall, will be moving to a brand new retail store at Uptown Station in February.
Originally opening ‘Wicks & Sticks’ in the Mall in 1994, sisters, Trisha Hull and Mary Simmons went further into the gift line business by opening ‘Clarke’s Collectibles’ in 1999. Clarke’s is now the largest Swarovski Crystal retailer on the Emerald Coast.
After a total of 15 years in Santa Rosa Mall, owners, Trisha Hull and Mary Simmons felt that the time was right to move to a new location in the fastest growing retail center in Northwest Florida.
Clarke’s Collectibles will open at Suite 119 in the new retail section of Uptown Station along side J G Plaza, on February 1st.
Trisha Hull said “We plan on a Grand Opening on February 19th when we will have special Swarovski Event”. Clarke’s Collectibles is the only Lladro and Giuseppi Armani dealer between Panama City and Pensacola. Their product assortment includes crystal, jewelry, porcelain, home décor, fantasy lines (dragons and fairies), and so much more.
Clarke’s Collectible’s website is at www.clarkescollectibles.com, and Trisha Hull can be contacted at 850 243 6722.
It’s been a long time coming, but finally Mary’s Kitchen is coming home! Opened by Ray Jones in 1949 as Ray’s Bar-B-Q, the Fort Walton Beach institution became known as Mary’s Kitchen – named after Ray’s wife. They set up shop in Fort Walton Square (now Uptown Station), on the site of what is now Kim’s Korean Restaurant.
There were various moves in its long history, first to Mary Esther and more recently to Eglin Parkway and Yacht Club.
Ray Jones passed on some time ago and Mary is now retired and living in Houston.
Joe Ezell bought Mary’s Kitchen two years ago when Mary retired. Joe’s family has been in the restaurant business since the ‘40’s in Alabama, where they have a thriving Catfish restaurant chain. Their most famous restaurant is Ezell’s Fish Camp on the Tom Bigbee River in Choctaw County, Alabama – renowned for their Catfish Fillet.
Joe has introduced the Ezell’s Catfish Fillet to the Mary’s Kitchen menu and Joe credits part of the increasing success of Mary’s to this.
Success and the need to serve more diners is one of the reasons why Mary’s Kitchen is moving back home to Uptown Station. The new restaurant will be located between Wine World Outlet and Winn-Dixie Market Place, with a slated opening date of January 18th.
Opening hours will be Monday to Saturday 11am to 9pm and Sunday, 11am to 3pm.
Joe Ezell can be contacted at 850 863 1141
20 years ago, Miss Pornpimon Kirdpirote from Thailand, opened the Art Street Gallery in the Far East Interiors furniture store, on Main Street, Fort Walton Beach. Now, Art Street Gallery is moving uptown to Uptown Station.
Art Street Gallery specializes in framed art, custom framing, and tropical accessories. As well as contemporary coastal and tropical art, the biggest selling accessory is Ceramic Art Tiles.
Manager Jan Thomas said that Art Street Gallery was looking for a better location with more traffic and so chose Uptown Station. She added that as the only gallery and frame shop in the area, Uptown Station was the ideal location.
Plans are that Art Street Gallery will open in early March at unit 21, Uptown Station.
Five Guys Burgers and Fries, the burger restaurant with a strong cult following, is set to open at Uptown Station in the spring. The menu at Five Guys is simple: burgers, hotdogs, fries, veggies, grilled cheese sandwiches and beverages. The burgers are hand pattied daily and made to order with 100% American Beef that is preservative free and never frozen. The fries are whole potatoes, cut daily, soaked in water and then cooked to order in no-trans-fat peanut oil and may be ordered with or without Cajun seasoning. The rolls are shipped in fresh from the Five Guys bakery and do not contain fillers or artificial preservatives. Kosher hot dogs are served split and grilled plain, or topped with cheese and bacon.
Over the years it appears this place has taken in more than its share of praise for "juicyness" and "freshness." The Tampa Tribune even goes so far as to describe it as, “Heaven on a Bun.” The Washington Post proclaims, “(they are the) Willy Wonkas of Burger Craft.”
Beware of the smiling faces when the door swings open and you step into a well-lit dining room of people stuffing their faces and licking their fingers. Don’t be surprised when the cashier smiles at you and offers to explain the menu. Don’t feel guilty when you’re told you can have any topping on your sandwich at no additional cost. And don’t pinch yourself when you sink your teeth into a messy-looking bun and realize you’ve just bitten perhaps the best burger you’ll ever have. Kids? You have a family to feed? Well, get ready, because Five Guys is the most ‘Family Friendly’ burger joint you will ever patronize!
The owners of the new Five Guys at Uptown Station are so confident in their product; they’ve vowed to have it voted best burger in the panhandle. Why not? They’ve done it everywhere else they’ve been.
According to owner Blake Geoghagan, “Comfort food is where it’s at. Everyone enjoys a fresh-tasting, juicy burger,” Geoghagan says. “In fact we believe in total ‘freshness’ which is why there are no freezers on the premises. We use only high quality beef that is hand shaped at each store daily. And, inside the bags that help shape the barrier between the dining area and the ordering line are the actual potatoes that are cut daily, hand washed, and fried in 100% peanut oil.“
Five Guy’s Operating Partner, Andy Miller adds, that the opening of this first Five Guy’s restaurant in Ft. Walton Beach represents 55 new jobs for the community. Which Mr. Geoghagan notes, “doesn’t include the indirect economic impact brought about during the planning and construction of this new facility.” The selection of this location at Uptown Station on Eglin Parkway was chosen for several reasons; “it is central, there is a high volume of traffic along this strip throughout the day, and this is the most established and growing area in Okaloosa County” according to Geoghagan.
Geoghagan and Five Guys expect to see a great deal of success serving the Ft. Walton Beach market and they have already developed plans to open additional stores nearby and across the panhandle. At a time when restaurants throughout Florida, and across the country are being forced to close their doors, Five Guy’s Burgers and Fries is following through on an aggressive plan to expand its presence in North Florida which Geoghagan states is a testament to the strength of the Five Guys concept and the stability of the local markets.
Spokesman for Uptown Station, Crystal Beach Development’s Marketing Director Martin Owen added “We’re really excited to welcome 5 Guys to the Uptown Station Family and to the Heart of Fort Walton Beach”. Owen says that 5 Guys confidence in the Uptown Shopping District shows how dynamic companies are recognising that there has been a seismic and permanent shift in the trading demographics of the area. “ It’s simple” he said “ Uptown Station is THE place to be!”
