Melting Pot To Bring Chocolate To The Mall
By Mary Shedden of The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 2, 2007

TAMPA – Get ready for fondue on the go.

The Melting Pot Restaurants plans to expand its unique fondue dining concept with a chocolate kiosk at the Westfield Citrus Park mall. It will open next month.

Called Dip, the kiosk will offer made-to-order and pre-dipped chocolate creations, said Kendra Sartor, vice president of brand development for the Tampa-based company.

Other locations are planned for Westfield Group properties in Brandon and Clearwater.

Sartor said Dip allows the franchise to grow beyond its current model that's traditionally aimed at people celebrating special events. The quicker, casual mall environment will expose people unfamiliar with the establishment where customers linger two hours or more over dipping breads, vegetables meats and desserts in tabletop fondue pots.

"It's a taste of what The Melting Pot is like," she said.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/aug/02/melting-pot-bring-chocolate-mall/?news-breaking

Citrus Mall is doing pretty good. The new Dick's Sporting Goods store open awhile back and they are now renovating space for a new BD Mongolian Grill Restuarant! Pretty impressive.

^I went to Citrus Park mall yesterday and it appeared BJ's was now open. I didin't go in but the take-out sign was lit and it seemed as though all of the lights in the inside were on. I was too much in a hurry to get a good look though.

Those Westfield malls are doing pretty good from what I'm hearing now. Not just Citrus Park, but also Brandon and Countryside. I like it when malls continue to thrive and expand. I feel a bit sorry for those that had to close such as Tampa Bay Center.