I am going to update this post as places open, places close and rumors bounce around and I will update when they become reality (if they become reality). By reality I don’t mean that your mama’s cousin works for the XYZ Company and they know for a FACT that it is a Buffalo Wild Wings. I mean, there is actually a sign on the door, wait staff is hired and I can go in and order a meal. Or buy something. Please comment about any rumors of new businesses you have heard or openings or closings. Don’t just comment about any rumors you have heard– this isn’t that type of website!

RUMORS AND PLANNED OPENINGS

• Cook Out– two rumored locations– Celebration and the old Fazolis
• Once Upon a Child (in progress!)
• Lizards Thicket — Confirmed that they are in talks to open at the old Carolina Wings
• Wholly smokin BBQ– Planned opening in the old Roberto’s location
• Hooters in the Old Prime Time Location — or will it be a Dave and Busters?
• California Dreamin
• Woofers Reopened on Jody Road
• Fuddruckers (I would actually love this, so easy with kids too.)
• Ulta- location is old Books a Million (Hearing there are construction delays)
• Sweet Frog Yogurt (See this link)
• Virginia college in the Old Circuit City
• The Grotto possibly reopening– but with a twist!

OPENINGS

• Let them eat cake!– a cake store
• Mellow Mushroom– OPEN and yummy!
• Roberto’s Italian– Delicious!
• Sweet!  (it is sweet!)
• Dunkin Donuts near Florence Mall
• Buffalo Wild Wings at the Old Pier One Location (love)
• Old Europe (reopened on 2d Loop at old Cafe Florentine location)
• Sundae House (Reopened– new owners)
• Jimmy Johns on Pamplico Highway
• Planet Fitness (pre-grand opening sale going on)
• George’s Funnel Cakes on Cashua
• 1720 Burger Bar (Positive reviews on my FB posting asking for intel!)
• Ozzie’s Alamangia
• Red Bowl Asian Bistro
• Rebel Pie– defy Ordinary Pizza (Timmonsville)

CLOSINGS

• Dance Etc(2012)
• Robertos (closed for good according to their FB status 3/21/12.)
• Indian Buffet– New one opened on Palmetto Street near Irby.
• FatBoys
• Handpicked
• Fazolis
• Smackin Daddies.
• Dr. Fishbones is closed
• Artie Macs has closed
• Books  A Million (Wahhhhhh)
• Prime Time
• Artie Macs
• Travis Jewelers (Sniff)(2012)
• Shuckers (Now renamed to Cactus Jack Saloon)(2012)

(I need your help to keep this post going! Comment away! I will put a permanent link in the sidebar.)

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

(From Press Release)

THIS is so cool!  Party at Creek Ratz on August 26 at 6:00 p.m. to celebrate with ESAB!  (They are not paying but will have fun prizes throughout the event.)

ESAB Supplies Equipment for New Season of American Chopper;
Plans Party at CreekRatz to Celebrate

Florence, SC – When American Chopper premieres its new season August 12 on TLC, the show will have a new local tie-in: all the welding equipment and filler metals for the Orange County Choppers design shop featured in the show has been provided by ESAB Welding & Cutting Products. The welding equipment used to create custom motorcycles on the show was manufactured right here in Florence.

ESAB entered into a partnership with Orange County Choppers, the custom motorcycle shop founded by Paul Teutul Sr, to be the exclusive welding equipment provider for OCC, providing the equipment and filler metals used in the shop and featured on American Chopper. As part of the deal, OCC designed and produced a custom OCC chopper for ESAB.

The episode airing on August 26 focuses on the creation of theESAB custom motorcycle and ends with its delivery on June 21 at Paulus Hook Pier, New Jersey, in front of the 9/11 memorial. The pier is located across from Manhatten Island with an amazing view of the NYC skyline, including a perfect view of where the Twin Towers once stood and where the new Freedom Towers are now under construction. Two of those new towers are currently being constructed using ESAB filler metals.

The custom motorcycle will travel to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta in November, where it will be on display at ESAB’s booth at FABTECH International, North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, finishing and welding event. After FABTECH, the bike will make its home at ESAB in Florence and will be available for special events.

ESAB is very excited and pleased to be associated with Orange County Choppers, according to ESAB North America President Andrew Masterman. “OCC is the premiere custom motorcycle design shop in the country with a long history of excellence in its workmanship,” Masterman said. “Like ESAB,

OCC has been praised worldwide for its innovation and leadership. Like OCC, ESAB is dedicated to providing top quality product and exceptional customer service. We think this sets the stage for a perfect partnership. ESAB prides itself on our ability to partner with our customers to provide the best solutions for their needs. We are especially proud to welcome Orange County Choppers to our family of partners worldwide and to be able to support Paul Teutul, Sr. in this upcoming season of American Chopper.”

Orange County Choppers shares similar sentiments. “ESAB makes the best welding equipment and filler metals on the market today,” says founder Paul Teutul, Sr. “They have led the industry in innovation for quite some time and have contributed so much to make welding easier, safer and more profitable for welders around the world. ESAB cares about the little guys in the shop, whether you’re welding for business, art or just to have fun. We love the feel of welding with quality ESAB equipment and filler metals, and we are looking forward to creating some beautiful new bikes with the ESAB advantage.”

ESAB wants to celebrate the premiere of the American Chopper episode featuring the ESAB bike with the Florence community. The company will host a premiere party at CreekRats on August 26 at 6 pm. The party is open to the public, and ESAB will provide prizes throughout the event.

With more than 100 years of experience, ESAB Welding & Cutting Products is one of the world’s largest and most skilled manufacturers of welding and cutting equipment and welding filler metals. Ensuring customer satisfaction, a wide range of ESAB products carry the 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Recognized as the technological leader in the industry, ESAB is committed to providing customized solutions for their customers. For more information on the company, visit www.esabna.com or call 1-800-ESAB123. For more information on Orange County Choppers, visit www.orangecountychoppers.com.

I am Flossip and I love Creek Ratz and when Flo-town makes the news in a good way.  Tomorrow I will be shopping for a dream house in Florence on a budget.  be sure to read that at http://www.theflossip.com  and follow me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/flossip

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I enjoyed this show so much the other night. I intended to post this on Friday, but my real job had to take precedence.

I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect… a medley of patriotic songs? I have never heard the FLT singers before, so I definitely wanted to go. I bought a ticket at the door.

It was that and so much more. Shaw Thompson does a perfect job with the program, there are patriotic songs interspersed with songs from the movies that we all know and love. (There is even a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame) for the “seventh inning stretch”. I wish I could praise each and every song, but this post would take up more than you would be interested to read. Robin Thompson, looking very Kennedyesque, did a fantastic job on the piano.

There were several times I got chill bumps from head to toe. The first was in the very beginning when they sang the songs associated with each branch of the Armed Forces.
“The Caisson Song” Army
“The Marine’s Hymn” Marines
“Anchors Aweigh” Navy
“Semper Paratus” US Coast Guard
“The U.S. Airforce” Air Force

What was wonderful was that they asked any service members to stand during the playing of their song. Seeing all the heroes standing was truly awe inspiring. If there was a recruiter outside at intermission I think he would be in luck.

Michael Lindley sang “On This Day” and I was floored. It was absolutely beautiful and everyone around me was grabbing for tissues. Rebecca and Shaw Thompson sang “The Red, White, & Blue.” I don’t know them personally but I envision that their house is absolutely full of music. It was fun to see them sing together and they did an amazing job.

Courtney Dease performed “Tell My Father” from “The Civil War.” I loved him in “The Fantasticks” and he did a great job with this song. I also enjoyed the performance by Kevin Carter (Anthem from Chess). It was good to see him back on the stage after last seeing him in Guys and Dolls.

Cole Davis and Megerlyn Davis performed “Wheels of a Dream” from Ragtime. Y’all. They were amazing. I don’t believe I have seen them in anything before, but I hope they will return.

I enjoyed Arlene Boyd’s solo “Over the Rainbow.” I have seen her in the chorus but loved hearing her solo. I’m pretty sure she could record that and sell the CD pretty easily. Ben Hankinson did a great job tap dancing and “Singing in the Rain.” Chrissy Fennell sang “Part of your World” from the Little Mermaid. If you have a little girl that you think can sit through the performance, she will love this! Frankie Sullivan’s “Under the Sea” was a hoot! Watch out though– during the performance he selected one lucky audience volunteer that got to dance on stage with him.

Mr. Thompson then brought things back to America at its Best. The women of the FLT Singers did a superb job with “I Dream A World.” The show concludes with “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”

The show moves along quickly and I enjoyed every minute. I do hope that there a lot of people there on closing night, so I definitely recommend you checking it out. The number for the box office is 662-3731. It is well worth the $15.00. Also, if you have any family members (especially older family members) that were in the service? You should take them. It is quite a tribute.

(As a side note, I thought the lighting was perfect. I sometimes don’t feel like it is dark enough and last night it was exactly the way I like it.)

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I love good chicken bog! I inquired about who was making this batch of chicken bog (I always want to know) and was told that it is a secret Gregg family recipe. Hmmm. I may need to try this!

If you are interested, it is from 12-7 this Wednesday at Hopewell Presbyterian at 5320 Old River Road. 5.00 a plate.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I just got an email from Wholly Smokin’ BBQ & Ribs. I am thinking this sounds like an EXCELLENT Tuesday night dinner!

Bill is smoking meat Monday night and Tuesday, so if there is something specific you want, let us know so that we can have it ready for Tuesday afternoon pick-up. We will most likely do ribs, pulled pork, BBQ beans and possibly some chicken if we get enough orders. And of course, our amazing BBQ mustard sauce for which Bill has become known is always available! Just shoot us a message by Monday afternoon via inbox, call us at Travis Jewelers (667-3511), email Bill at Jewelerbill@aol.com or you can call Bill at 601-2986.

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

We were sitting in a corner booth, happily discussing things of no real consequence to the world around us. I noticed a young family seated at a table close by. The dad had on an army uniform– the same color of the uniforms I see on the news when units are deploying. The kids were full of smiles and yammering to their dad about everything under the sun. The mom looked as if her smile was forced, she was leaning into her husband as if she needed him to help her hold it together.

I continued my meal, paying no more attention to the family until I noticed an older woman approaching their table. She paused next to them and held out her hand to the young soldier. “I just want to say thank you. Thank you for everything you do for me and everyone I know. I want you to have this.” She handed him something then, I don’t know if it was a dollar or a thousand. I think she was paying for their breakfast, but it was the gesture that inspired me. I looked at him too. I noticed his uniform and assumed he might be shipping out. Yet, I wasn’t the one that took the initiative to say thank you.

The older woman left the restaurant and I looked at the young family again. The young mother was openly crying now, her husband was attempting to comfort her. The children were looking at their dad with the brightest, proudest eyes I have ever seen. As well they should, he is not only their hero but ours as well. He kept his arm around his wife for the remainder of the meal. The young boys tried to cheer her up by smiling and joking with her, already trying to fill a void that their dad’s absence will create.

This is not a family I saw on television or read about on the news. This family was right here in the Pee Dee, people that you may know. It is not a love story about strangers, it is a love story about our neighbors.

Have you said thank you to a soldier lately?

To any and all members of the armed forces that read the Flossip, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I know many of our service members are headed to Haiti, Afghanistan, Iraq, and other points around the globe. Thank you for all that you do. If there is ever any problem that you think I may be able to facilitate help with, please email me at theflossipATgmail.com

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.

I received an email earlier alerting me that a former Florentine just won tickets to watch the Jets play. Local readers may know John Turner, a South Florence graduate. John is a Captain and the Commander of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Field Artillery (or 2-8 FA), which is part of the 1-25 Stryker Brigade Combat Team (US Army).

Jay Feely, a kicker for the New York Jets, posted a contest for tickets to a Jets game on Twitter. The National Post picked up the story and the entries flowed in.

In the specialized world of the NFL, double kicking duty is a rarity. Feely on Tuesday is having some fun with the feat, offering two tickets for Sunday’s division-round game in San Diego for the best photo of someone punting while doing their regular job. He will get you into the game but you are on your own to get to San Diego.

John rose to the challenge and took a picture of himself kicking a football in snowshoes in front of the Fort Wainwright sign in Alaska (his current station). The temperature reads -41 degrees.

After reviewing the entries, Feely posted the winner– our own John Turner — on Twitter. He also tweeted (verb for posting on twitter) that a member of the military serving in negative 41 degrees deserves to win. I agree! I feel guilty that I have been complaining about the cold weather in Florence!

John fortunately has four days of leave and has invited his roommate from West Point to use the second ticket. I hope they have the trip of a lifetime, after all they do for us they deserve it! Thanks guys from all of us at the Flossip!

(Follow the Flossip on twitter as well.)

(Thanks to his mom, Berta, for calling him to get permission to post this story!)

Flossip Featuring reviews, to-do's, and the not quite news in Florence, SC.