Cleopatra's Palace
In August, Theresa Lawton opened a hookah bar complete with gold walls, torch-bearing statues of Egyptian goddesses and servers in bellydancing costumes in Downtown Hollywood.
Cleopatra's Palace, located at 2032 Hollywood Blvd., offers about 20 different hookah flavors, including wine-flavored hookah, as well as beer, wine and champagne, and it has a house DJ and bellydancing contests.
"I love the atmosphere. I love the culture. It has a very European, very Middle Eastern touch," said Lawton, who was born in Egypt and is also part Greek and Italian. "I think Downtown Hollywood is a great place."
Cleopatra's Palace is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. For additional information, call 954-926-5995.
Sweetz Chocolate & Treats Cafe
This chocolate shop and lounge, which also opened in August at 1940 Harrison St., Suite 100-B, is a new venture for owners Donna Cyrus Wessely and her husband, Jair, who chose Hollywood for their store because they knew it would have great foot traffic.
The shop serves desserts such as mousse cakes, cheesecakes, ice cream concoctions, chocolate bars, hand-dipped chocolate truffles, chocolate-caramel pretzel rods and apples and organic, nut-free and sugar-free specialty chocolates.
"We love chocolate," Donna said. "That's kind of why we settled on this business because everybody loves chocolate."
Sweetz Chocolate & Treats Cafe is open from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and from 2 to 10:30 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. For additional information, call 954-251-4002 or visit www.sweetzchocolate.com.
Whiskey Tango All American Bar and Grill
John Todora opened Whiskey Tango All American Bar and Grill to provide Hollywood with a corner bar with a Downtown vibe, featuring inexpensive food and drinks and fun.
The family-friendly sports bar, which opened at 1903 Hollywood Blvd. in August, hosts rock bands every Friday and Saturday, nightly pool tournaments, dart tournaments and drink specials and a full menu.
"Whiskey Tango will offer something to do and a place to hang seven days a week," Todora said. "Food, fun and entertainment - what more could you ask for?"
For more information on Whiskey Tango All American Bar and Grill, call 954-925-2555.
Ninel’s Beauty & Wellness Studio
In June, Vera Russin Orsatti opened Ninel’s Studio, named after her mother who she calls the best person she knows, to create a place where people can feel relaxed, rejuvenated and pampered in one stop for a great price.
Ninel’s offers Henna tattoos, sugar body waxing, threading, facials, Swedish and deep tissue massages, reflexology and Reiki Energy Healing, a Japanese method for body and mind stress release and healing developed in 1926.
Orsatti chose Hollywood (2850 Stirling Road Suite E) for her business because she loves the atmosphere.
“I lived here since I was 12 years old,” she said. “This is my home. I love the people and the weather.”
For more information, call 954-651-6001.
City National Bank of Florida
City National Bank of Florida opened a new banking center last month in Downtown Hollywood at 1845 Hollywood Blvd.
"This convenient location on Young Circle allows us to bring our financial strength and dedicated customer service directly to our customers in Hollywood. We look forward to showing them what we have to offer," President Jorge Gonzalez said.
Founded in 1946, City National prides itself on its tradition of strength, stability and customer service. It has offices throughout Florida including Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, the Treasure Coast and the Orlando area with corporate offices in Miami.
The office will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m, and Ryan Riley is the bank manager. For more information, call 954-926-4240.
Kilwin's
Kilwin's confectionery shop, which originated in Michigan in 1947 and has more than 70 stores, opened in Downtown Hollywood at 1907 Hollywood Blvd. on Oct. 1.
Patrons will be able to choose from more than 150 different products, many of which will be created in view of the public. It will also offer ice cream concoctions in 32 flavors created from Kilwin's 62-year-old secret recipe and more than 100 varieties of chocolates.
Kilwin's shops are typically found in popular family-oriented visitor destinations, historic cities and thriving downtowns where there is foot traffic, said Edouard St. Hilaire, who owns the new Downtown Hollywood business with his wife, Danies.
"The City has really done a lot to improve Downtown Hollywood," St. Hilaire said. "It's a place where people come to have a good time, to relax in the evening."
Kilwin's opens daily at 11 a.m. For additional information, call 954-367-2872 or visit www.kilwins.com.
Mercury Auto Transport
Mercury Auto Transport recently relocated to Hollywood at 1200 S. Federal Highway.
“We chose to open our office in Hollywood because I have enjoyed working with the Hollywood community, have participated in the Chamber’s Leadership Hollywood program and am a member of the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce,” Owner Matt Sandomir said. “We are pretty well connected here.”
Mercury Auto Transport is rated 5-stars on TransportReviews.com, the industry’s leading testimonial Web site. It is also A-rated with the Better Business Bureau.
“At Mercury Auto Transport, our commitment is to serve the customer every step of the way by using only the most reliable and reputable auto carriers in the industry,” Sales Manager Brian Cespedes said.
The business is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 954-239-1780.
Do you have a new business in town? E-mail brett@hollywoodgazette.com.
