Ready-to-cook meals feed a new crop of customers at the third market owned by Dean Hampers, who lives in Valrico.
By JANET ZINK
Published March 26, 2004
For eight years, people have been buzzing about Carrollwood's Land and Sea Market, an upscale meat and fish market that specializes in ready-to-cook meals.
Now they're buzzing about the Land and Sea in Valrico.
Dean Hampers, who has lived in Valrico for 15 years, opened his third store less than two weeks ago. From the first day, he has had customers waiting outside well before business hours officially began.
"We have good customers," Hampers said. "They've told their friends and relatives, and they were waiting for us."
Land and Sea fans are eager to get inside and start salivating over the selections. There's everything from Bourbon-marinated chicken to steaks stuffed with bleu cheese and the most popular dish, honey-roasted salmon topped with crushed walnuts.
River Hills resident Rusty Fox stopped in for the first time on a Saturday for filets. He was back two days later to buy chicken kebobs.
Gail Mollenkopf, who lives in FishHawk Ranch, was there on the recommendation of several neighbors.
"They're saying it's absolutely wonderful," she said. "The food is very fresh and it's easy to prepare. You just throw it in the oven, and it's done."
The freezer cases are packed with unusual choices such as ostrich, venison, buffalo, goat, octopus, conch and quail. Special requests, Hampers said, are no problem. Turtle meat? Step right up.
"If there's something someone wants, we'll get it," Hampers said.
Customer service and satisfaction, he said, are his top priorities.
"I respect these people," Hampers said of his customers. "If they took the time to drive all the way over, they deserve service. There's no place for indifference."
"He's Greek," said his daughter, Marisa, 20, who works behind the counter at the Valrico store. "He's really into being hospitable. He wants to make sure everyone feels welcome and make sure they're fed."
Hampers' ethnicity also explains the abundance of Greek seasonings and feta cheese in his recipes, and the availability of everything needed for a gyro, including tzatziki sauce, in the cooler.
The food service business represents a midlife career change for Hampers, a Michigan native.
Eight years ago, he was working as a lab analyst for Anheuser-Busch when the company closed its Tampa plant. Hampers was left unemployed at the age of 51. So he bought the Land and Sea Market in Carrollwood.
"I bought myself a job," he said.
Hampers added items to the existing inventory and put his family members to work. His wife, Valerie, ran the register. Marisa made kebobs and stuffed mushrooms. Daughter Viviana helped come up with new recipes.
The store took off. Soon, people were driving all the way from New Tampa to the store on Gunn Highway. In January 2003, Hampers opened a second store in New Tampa.
And finally, he opened the store in Valrico, where Hampers has lived for 15 years.
He now has 50 employees, including Chad Hermida, a family friend and Bloomingdale High School graduate who manages the Valrico store, and his son-in-law Rob Chandler, who serves as operations manager for all three locations.
These days, Hampers sees the demise of his Anheuser-Busch job as a blessing.
Still, he's not looking to become the next Publix.
Said Hampers: "We just take one step at a time."
LAND AND SEA MARKET
ADDRESS: 3478 Lithia-Pinecrest Road
TELEPHONE: 654-8043
HOURS: 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
