01/14/2025

WHAT'S GOING UP January '25

With the new year in full swing, the DeSoto County community continues to inspire local business owners to build and expand.

For the January 2025 edition of What’s Going Up, we highlight changes at a longtime furniture store and other additions downtown, expansion of a martial arts academy and a popular veterinary facility, and some changes for Peace River attractions.

Old Badcock Furniture to reopen as Hometown Furniture

Photo source: Daniel Sutphin & Facebook

A new name, a new sign and a new sense of freedom — longtime Badcock Furniture franchisees, the Boyle Family, will be reopening the Arcadia location as Hometown Furniture, independent from the now bankrupt Badcock.

“We’ve been in this community for years,” Andrew Boyle said. “My family all still live here, and we just couldn’t see closing just because the corporation went down, that doesn’t mean we want to close our doors on our community.”

Badcock Furniture parent company Conn’s Home Plus filed for bankruptcy in late summer 2024, shutting the doors on 388 stores.

“There were a lot of hands (involved) with Badcock, especially when corporate came in and started raising prices and raising interest rates,” Boyle said. “So, getting rid of all that and being independent, we have a lot more flexibility with getting better pricing, better financing and, overall, a better experience for our customers.”

Boyle said they will still carry the variety of quality furniture, mattresses and appliances the store was known for, while still offering financing — 12-months no interest, 20-months no interest, among other options.

“We’ll have all the (financing) options that everybody else has, but we will be that local, hometown business where you can come in the store and you can see the products instead of buying online or going to Port Charlotte,” he said.

Hometown Furniture is located at 14 W Hickory Street. A specific opening date was not available at the time of this post.

For more information, call (863) 494-2905 or find them on Facebook.

DeSoto Martial Arts kicks off expansion plans

Photo source: Daniel Sutphin & Facebook

DeSoto Martial Arts academy only has a few years under its belt in Arcadia, but expansion is needed with classes growing in numbers.

“As we’ve been here in our second, almost third year, we have grown within the community and our (classes) have gotten bigger,” owner Tony Ruiz said. “Our access to smaller families has grown as well.”

Ruiz plans to move their family-oriented academy from their current location, 301 N. Brevard Avenue, near the old Crews Bank, to a new spot at 221 W. Magnolia Street, by Smith’s Ranch & Garden Inc.

Ruiz said they currently have 55 students but hope to provide more options for families with the expansion.

“We hope to provide yoga classes and dance classes,” he said. “That would create a better atmosphere and more choices not only for the kids but for the parents, as well. That is the main thing with the expansion, providing more days and more options for the kids, teens and adults and the community.”

Ruiz hopes to finish renovations within this month and move in the first or second week of February.

For more information, call 863-266-5188 or find them on Facebook by clicking here.

Animal Ark opens new location

Photo Source: Daniel Sutphin.

After a long journey of planning and building, Animal Ark of Arcadia has officially opened its new location at the corner of E. Cypress Street and US 17 N (DeSoto Avenue).

The big day came on Jan. 6, 2025, for Dr. Adam Sorrells and staff for the veterinarian office at 162 N. DeSoto Avenue, previously located at 109 S. DeSoto Avenue.  

Animal Ark had outgrown the old space, which provided around 2,000 sq. feet. The new building provides around 7,000 sq. feet.

At the new facility, Sorrells said they can provide more options for boarding, options for overnights and emergency work, as well as more grooming, bathing and other needs for pets and pet owners.

If you have a pet in need, or want more information, go to Animal Ark of Arcadia (AnimalArkofArcadia.com) or call (863) 494-2101.

New Additions, Changes in Downtown Arcadia

Photo source: Daniel Sutphin & Facebook

Attractions in Downtown Arcadia continue to evolve with a variety of new businesses, as well as some changes to others.

Within the last few months, new billiards hall Dozier’s, ice cream shop Sweet Magnolia Creamery & Confections, and décor gift shop The Lucky Monkey Mercantile all opened their doors. 

Also, local and tourist favorite Magnolia St. Seafood & Grill has changed its name to Arcadia Seafood & Grill.

Dozier’s, 104 West Oak Street, hosts four pool tables, two dart boards, and other games for people of all ages. Owners Krissy Constantino and Danny Mastrodonato, who manage the Historic Heard Opera House, also plan to add live music, bringing fun everyone in the evenings and at night.

Sweet Magnolia, 203 W Oak Street, offers hand-crafted ice cream, chocolates, and nostalgic confections. Their mission: to create a place where tradition and community come together, one scoop at a time.

Lucky Monkey, 132 W. Oak Street, offers gifts, décor, unique finds, cards and more.

Arcadia Seafood & Grill is located at 117 W Oak Street, and offers the same amazing dishes and more that made them so popular over the years.

For more information, click on the highlight links above.

Peace River tourism attractions go with the flow moving forward

Photo source: Daniel Sutphin

Peace River favorites like Canoe Outpost and Peace River Charters have made some changes and additions, some temporary and some long-term.

For Canoe Outpost, they have moved to Peace River Charters from their decades-old location at 2816 NW County Road 661, near Peace River Campground.

Owner Trent Anthney said the move is temporary while they work out issues at the old location.

“We’re trying to buy our old property back from the family that had it all in trust,” Anthney said. “We’ve had to move down to Peace River Charters and operate under them until we can either buy that (original property) back or find another piece of property to buy.”

Anthney added that business hasn’t slowed, regardless of the move.

Peace River Charters is located at 4192 SW Adventure Way.

At Peace River Charters, owners have finished converting an old office that was destroyed during Hurricane Ian, to a new, two-story general store and office for the river destination. And it’s built for potential storms and flooding issues.

“This is the prime place to be a tour operation,” said Stephen Casteel, operations manager, of the finished structure. “We had to get approvals to build up and, all of this building was essentially redone.”

He said they kept the classic look to preserve the old-town country store feel.

“This was redone behind these walls to be waterproof,” Casteel said. “So, if a storm is to happen again, all the important stuff is upstairs and all this (goods, tables, etc.) can be quickly cleaned out and this building can be washed out and put back in.”

For more information about Canoe Outpost, call (863) 494-1215. For Peace River Charters, call (863) 884-4000.