Owner Kortnee Holley-VanValkenburgh recently celebrated the Grand Opening of her Kouture Kidz Consignment Shop in the Pebble Creek Collection..

Kouture Kidz Opens In Pebble Creek Collection - Whether you have an infant, a toddler, a bun in the oven or you need to buy a nice present for a friend or relative who just had a baby, you should definitely check out the new Kouture Kidz Consignment Bou- tique which recently opened between the new Full Circle Pizza and Party Scene in the Pebble Creek Collection (19651 Bruce B. Downs [BBD] Blvd.).

Kouture Kidz owner Kortnee Holley Van-Valkenburgh held her Grand Opening and New Tampa Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cutting as we went to press with a ballon-twisting clown, an appearance by Mix 100.7-FM, food and beverages, as hundreds of parents and kids got their first glimpse of the great clothing, toys, bedding, accessories and more at this attractive, new consignment boutique for young’ns from preemie through 16/18 months old, with brand names like Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Gymboree and Osh Kosh B’Gosh, and new items arriving every day.

For more info, call 528-8747 or visit KoutureKidz.com.

Monkey Bizness Opens In Wiregrass - Families with young children should also be excited about the recent Grand Opening of the new Monkey Bizness play place in the Wiregrass mall, near Dillards. Co-owner Kristin Green says these colorful play places, which are geared primarily to kids under age 8, started in Colorado and has just ten other locations in Colorado and the midwestern U.S., other than this one in our back yard.

“We sell Seattle’s Best coffee and grab-n-go snacks but no pizza or other hot foods and no video games, but Monkey Bizness is a comfortable, fun place for families and there’s even an art room for older kids,” Kristin says. “We hope you’ll check us out the next time you visit the mall.” And, from the crowd of young parents I’ve seen in the maze at the new Monkey Bizness with their kids. A lot of you are already checking it out! 

For more info, call 388-2922 or visit MonkeyBizness.com! 

Bits & Bytes Cyber Café Coming To Wiregrass - Although we had no further info at our press time, a sign has gone up announcing that Bits & Bytes Cyber Café & Island Grill is coming to the space previously occupied by Cosi Café in the Shops at Wiregrass mall.

There also have been unconfirmed rumors that The Cheesecake Factory might be coming to the space previously occupied by Aja Wiregrass and that despite the fact it already has a New Tampa location on BBD, Panera Bread is planning to open on a new outparcel near the east end of the mall.

We will update you if and when we receive any new information.

Palmside Barbershop Under New Management - New owner Laith Washah and his staff of professional barbers and stylists invite you to check out the revamped Palmside Barber- shop & Hair Salon, located at 17066 Palm Pointe Dr., in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza (behind Olive Garden & Red Lobster) in Tampa Palms.

“The name may not have changed, but our barbers and stylists are all professionally trained and talented and we provide business, kids, scissor and military cuts and many different types of fades,” says Washah. “We also offer a very calming and relaxing, seven-step hot towel, straight-razor shave.”

For more info, including how you can get $5 off your Back to School cut, call 558-8855, visit PalmsideBarbershop.com or see the ad on page 13 of this issue.

Koizi Japanese Hibachi Grill & Buffet To Open - Although it wasn’t quite open at our press time, the new Koizi (pronounced “Co-easy”) Japanese Hibachi Grill & Buffet could be open in the same Shoppes at The Pointe plaza as Palmside by the time you receive this issue.

One thing I can promise you is that even though Koizi still offers multiple buffet items, the upgraded eatery looks nothing like the old Panda Buffet that used to occupy the same space, and the addition of six sparkling, new hibachi tables means it will be an entirely different type of dining experience. Check it out & let us know what you think!

Ortho Technology Sold - Henry Schein Inc. has strengthened its dental specialty offering with the acquisition of Ortho Technology, Inc., which has been one of the largest (if not the largest) privately-owned companies in the New Tampa area the last 21 years, although financial terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

Ortho Technology is a Tampa Palms-based company that distributes orthodontic products, primarily to orthodontists. The company, founded in 1991, has about 90 employees and posted reported 2011 sales of $24 million. Henry Schein (NASDAQ: HSIC), is a Melville, NY, firm that provides health care products and services to office-based dental, medical and animal health practitioners, earlier acquired Ortho Organizers and expects the synergies between the two companies to help it further penetrate the $1.25-billion global orthodontics market. Henry Schein plans to operate Ortho Technology as a stand-alone business.

Brian Leaghty, president of Ortho Technology, will serve as a consultant for a year to ensure a smooth transition.

Ortho Technology offers a complete line of orthodontic supplies including brackets, bands, buccal tubes, archwires, adhesives, laboratory supplies and patient accessories. The company serves more than 10,000 customers worldwide via direct sales from the U.S. and distributors across the globe.

“With this transaction, we are further penetrating the $1.25-billion global orthodontics market with a company that has been gaining market share for several years,” said a spokesperson for Henry Schein Inc. “We plan to leverage Ortho Technology’s aesthetic brackets and its best-in-class direct marketing expertise.”

Leaghty says, “Orthodontics is an exciting dental specialty characterized by product innovation and growing global demand. As part of Henry Schein, Ortho Technology has consid- erably enhanced (its) business prospects and an opportunity to solidify market share gains into the future.”

Great Clips Opens In City Plaza - And finally, if you’ve seen the living advertisements standing on BBD (photo, below) for the new Great Clips location in City Plaza (16017 Tampa Palms Blvd. W.), I hope you took advantage of the new hair cutting shop’s amazing $4.99 haircut offer. Great Clips has more than 3,000 locations nationwide, including one on Cross Creek Blvd. and two more in Wesley Chapel.

For more info about the new Great Clips in Tampa Palms, call 971-5222.