The Minaret | September 5, 2008
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News
3 IKEA Coming to Tampa BET Update
SG Report Free Transporation
Tampa to Be Infused with Swedish Furniture Giant
By JP Busche Reporter
Allen wrenches, pictureloaded instructions and Swedish furniture are invading the Channelside district as IKEA nears completion of their newest store. IKEA is currently building a new store in Tampa, which will open its doors next summer. T h e new store will be the third in Florida, sixth in the Southeast and the 37th in the US. It will offer its DIY furniture and food all on 353,000 square feet. The new store will be built on 29 acres along Adamo Drive at 22nd Street and the Crosstown Expressway. Customers will have a variety to choose from the 10,000 exclusively designed items they want to take home. Like most of the other IKEA stores throughout the world (there are stores in 36 countries) this one will have a playground, which will help make shopping more enjoyable.
“Good Furniture for reason able prices,” UT student Hope Waterman said about the new store. “I appreciate the quality of their products and the fact that there is no latency,“ MBA student Phillip Fries said, The company is wellknown for its outstanding work environment which has been honored by several national and international rankings, such as the FORTUNE’s annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” and the Working Mother magazine’s annual list of “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers”. Ikea was founded 1943 in Sweden by a men named Ingvar Kamprad and is also known for its charities such as their Cooperation with UNICEF. The company is still owned by the founders Family, which is registered as a foundation in the Netherlands. The store will be hiring 400 workers. Anyone interested in a position can apply at www.ikea-usa. com.
Tampa Goes Hoppity Hop Hop Hop By Delaney Spoerl Reporter
Hopping isn’t the most common way for non-rabbits to traverse the streets of Tampa, but a new company is making it fashionable this year. Last February a transportation company called Hop Tampa started servicing the Tampa area. Started by Tod Tersico, Hop Tampa transports people anywhere from downtown Tampa to Channelside, Hyde Park, Harbour Island and Ybor City just before dark. “If you’ve had too much to drink call us,” said Tersico. The company is currently looking to expand into local areas but is not currently revealing the alternative routes. Sure, you could pay for a three dollar cab ride downtown and back, but Hop service works strictly on tips. With high gas prices during a turbulent economy, The Minaret wanted to know how this service survives only on tips. The beauty of Hop Tampa is that it operates with electric vehicles, so there is no need to worry about high gas prices. However, there is a downside to going green in this business. Drivers work exclusively on tips, so they need time to recharge their vehicles, which does not make
the drivers available 24 hours each day. Hop Tampa is in service seven days each week starting in the late morning and ending business before 10 p.m. On weekends, they are open until 2:30 a.m. Tersico said they will be happy
Hop Tampa in front of Plant Hall.
to come get you, but don’t forget to tip. If you would like further information about Hop Tampa, please call 813-220-0175 or visit their Web site at www.hoptampa. net.
Photo By Anna Burrell
Sept. 2 Meeting
•Now at Dairy Queen, a smoothie can be purchased with a meal exchange. •The Academic Affairs Committee is looking into lower prices for textbooks and UT apparel •Speeches for Student Congress on Sept. 16 voting begins after the meeting •Speech and Election for Speaker Pro Tempore on Sept. 23 •Organization PowerPoint’s during the SG meetings will be replaced with 30 second YouTube commercials broadcasted during General Assembly. Email mkieslor@gmail.com before each Tuesday to make an appointment. •Visit the SG’s website and register your organization at utampasg.org by Monday, Sept. 8 at 12 a.m. •E-mail tlemay@ut.edu for finance appropriations.
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