THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 31, 1996 TAG: 9601300146
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINDSOR LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
Stores in the town's first shopping center, Windsor Plaza, are expected to be open by the end of April.
The 15,000-square-foot strip center, under construction at 78 E. Windsor Blvd., will provide growing room for several of the town's businesses. Windsor Plaza also will be home to several new businesses providing services and merchandise shoppers have had to find outside the town.
Windsor Plaza is being built by three of the town's business owners: Dr. Harold F. Demsko, a denist; his wife, Rhonda Demsko, owner of Windsor School of Dance; and Linwood Duck, owner of Duck's Windsor Florist.
Duck estimates the cost of construction at $750,000.
The three expect to move their respective businesses into Windsor Plaza's light, airy stores and offices this spring.
Duck will have a great deal more space when he moves his floral shop. This will enable him to expand his floral offerings and to put more emphasis on another, little-known service the florist provides: tuxedo rentals.
In the 11 years since opening his dental practice in Windsor, Demsko's patient list has long since outgrown his small office on Court Street. Space was tight even after he opened a second office in Zuni.
Moving is essential to the Windsor School of Dance, which has grown considerably since Rhonda Demsko opened it four years ago with just 100 students. Today, more than 400 children - girls and boys - are registered in the school's dance, gymnastics and karate classes, she said.
The new school will feature a 2,400-square-foot dance studio equipped with sliding walls so several classes can be taught at the same time. It also will have a disc jockey's booth with a professional sound system, a revolving mirror ball and a large kitchen.
``I want this to be more than just a dance school,'' Demsko said. ``I'm planning to make it into a community room people can rent to hold wedding receptions or banquets.''
The Demskos plan to open several other businesses there:
Windsor Dry Cleaners, the town's first dry-cleaning service.
Dollarville, a discount store where all merchandise costs $1. The closest similar store is at Chesapeake Square, Demsko said.
Rhonda Demsko also plans to turn a service she provides for her students - selling them costumes, batons, leotards and the like - into a store open to the public. In the past, people wanting to buy specialized dance supplies have had to travel to Chesapeake or Virginia Beach, she said.
In addition to their own businesses, the Demskos say Windsor Plaza also will be the new home of Mr. Video, now on Court Street, and a new business, Blackwater Frame and Gift Shop. The shopping center's only remaining vacancy is a 500-square-foot corner space, Duck said.
Duck believes Windsor Plaza is just a prelude to many changes Windsor will see in coming years.
``Windsor is a very fast-growing area. I don't think people realize just how rapidly we are growing because so much of the growth is outside the town. We have become a bedroom community for the rest of Hampton Roads.
``And once the sewage is connected, this town will never be the same.''
Lynn Harris, Isle of Wight County director of economic development, agrees.
``For the first couple of years after we get sewerage, there's going to be a growth spurt in the Windsor area. After that, the growth will steady out.''
Harris estimated the town probably will see a 10 percent increase in new businesses once Windsor's sewer lines are connected to the Hampton Roads Sanitation District.
That, she said, is expected to occur in just under two years. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Windsor Plaza is being built by Dr. Harold F. Demsko, left; his
wife, Rhonda Demsko, and Linwood Duck, owner of Duck's Windsor
Florist.
by CNB