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Caterers' Business Heats Up

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By LAURA CONE The Sun

Published: March 25, 2009

From club events and church picnics to family reunions and pool parties, summer events mean business for restaurants and cafes that offer catering.

Ruskin's Steve Rybczynski, the owner of Java Cow in Sun City Center, said his ice cream catering business keeps his business afloat during a difficult economy.

Catering boosts business for the ice cream and sandwich shop which Rybczynski has been trying to sell for several months. Although he's had a few nibbles on the deal, there have been no bites so far.

"We cater the Sun City Center retirement clubs," he said. "We do a lot of ice cream socials."

While ice cream is always on the catering menu, other requests include assorted sandwiches, lasagna, hamburgers and hotdogs for summer picnics.

"The catering is a help to our business," Rybczynski said. "Our location is tough. We are in Sun City Center and when it gets hot in Florida, you would think people eat more ice cream, but that's not as true. Up north, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, little ice cream stands in the country are packed. And here we do less business in the summer."

Throughout the years, he has catered major community events in Sun City Center such as the FunFest. But day to day, business is slow at his storefront in the Sun City Center Plaza.

"In Sun City Center, basically the sidewalks roll up when it gets dark," he said. "The older generations don't come out."

Other cafes in Hillsborough County also depend on the catering segment of their business to stay profitable.

Mike Marc said he recently hired Ms. Cyndi's Catering Company in Valrico for a grand re-opening of his Curves Fitness Center for Women in Bloomingdale.

He ordered chicken salad sandwiches for the crowd.

"There is no doubt they have the best chicken salad," Marc said. "It's fresh and tasty like homemade. Their barbeque is second to none."

Marc said he likes the personal touch of the catering services owned by Jaymer and Cyndi Holcombe. Jaymer runs Jaymer-Q Southern BBQ next door to Ms. Cyndi's Corner Cafe, 3327 Lithia Pinecrest Road.

Cyndi Holcombe said some of the most popular catering items include sandwich trays as well as the more fancy prime rib for formal events. Her catering menu features sandwich, cheese, fruit, and meat trays as well as boxed lunches, chicken wings, chicken finger platters and salads.

"We don't use any iceberg lettuce for our salads," Cyndi said. "Everything is field greens, spinach and Romaine."

Since they partner together, they also are able to provide a variety of smoked meats such as chicken, beef ribs, pulled pork and pork ribs for catered events.

Kimberly Hirschey of Valrico, who works at Ms. Cyndi's Corner Cafe, said she thinks her employer will become famous with her smoked chicken salad recipe.

"I think she will go national like Mrs. Fields who started in her kitchen. It's that good," Hirschey said. "I don't even know the recipe. It's a secret even from us."

For more information on Java Cow, 1517 Sun City Center Plaza No. B, Sun City Center, call (813) 642-8752. For more information on Ms. Cyndi's and Jaymer-Q Southern BBQ catering, call (813) 651-4235 or (813) 657-4227.

Editor Laura Cone may be reached at lcone@mediageneral.com.

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