What Safety Harbor's Saying: 509 Main Street's Future

A recent Safety Harbor Patch story about has sparked lots of response from our readers.

On Friday, Patch reported on the efforts by Bill Bailey, the owner of the Main Street Market, to bring a surf and turf market and tapas restaurant to 509 Main St.

Bailey to keep his market open for nine more months as he continues to work on a deal for the permanent restaurant/market to the two-story building down the street. At the council meeting, nearly a dozen residents spoke up in favor of the Main Street Market and how it has galvanized the community.

As for the plans for 509 Main St., several Patch readers say they would welcome a tapas restaurant and surf and turf market with open arms:

"I love the idea of a fresh meat/ seafood market. The produce stand is a great addition to the town," Aaron Stewart commented.

Some said at least having something take up the abandoned space would be a boon for business and the rest of the community:

"More restaurants could only help the existing restaurants. It brings more restaurateurs into town. Competition is a GREAT thing. It would certainly be better than watching it be vacant all these years collecting dust and graffiti," Michael Rusch posted on our Facebook page.

"We need thriving businesses to have a thriving downtown," Heather McGuire said on Facebook. "SH needs to take a look at what Dunedin and other small towns have done to promote walking traffic and attract people to Main St. Much appreciation and support to the Baileys for hitting on what I think will be a great addition to our town."

"It would be nice to see a positive change for that wonderful building," Facebook fan Laura Kepner wrote. "I will continue to support downtown businesses, including that one, whatever it becomes.

Still others reminisced about Safety Harbor businesses of the past:

"I miss the old Taste Cafe where you could get a snack and a cup of coffee," Fritz Kirsch posted on Facebook. "I'd love to see something like that come back."

So what do you think? Would a surf and turf market and tapas restaurant be a welcome Main Street addition? What else would you like to see come to Safety Harbor? Are there other businesses you wish were still around?

Post your comment below and continue the conversation.