Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 34, Issue 4, February 17, 2026

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Lt. Gov. Jay Collins Makes His Pitch For Becoming Governor

By Gary Nager

No matter which side of the political aisle you may be on, if you sit and listen to Florida’s 49-year-old Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins speak, you can’t help but be impressed with him. He has had a 23-year career in the U.S. Army and has served as a medic and parachutist in the Army’s elite Special Forces Green Berets corps twice — qualifying the second time after having his leg amputated.

He’s been shot, “which I do not recommend,” performed surgery on himself on the battlefield, has been awarded a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star and numerous other military medals and his story — and his life — could have ended with his military service, during which he met his wife Layla, who had a 20-year military career as a counterintelligence agent.

Instead, after he entered Florida’s political scene four years ago, when he was elected to Florida Senate District 14, defeating the incumbent Democrat Janet Cruz for the seat.

The father of two boys ages 13 and 10 served for almost three years in the State Senate and passed 55 bills during that time. “I passed more bills in three years than many in the State Legislature do in eight,” he told an enthusiastic crowd of more than 100 North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) members at the NTBC Business Breakfast on Feb. 3, at the

MEET TONY BENGE

Our editor talks impact fees & Pasco County with the developer & new Chamber Board chair. See page 3

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel.

Then, in August 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed him as Florida’s 21st Lieutenant Governor, replacing Jeanette Nuñez, who had resigned in May. Collins is now the favorite to win the Republican

MATER ACADEMY NORTHWOOD

Check out the huge new charter school coming to County Line Rd. in Wesley Chapel. See page 8

nomination for Governor of Florida in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. He definitely captivated that room.

He spoke confidently about his plans to improve upon the record of DeSantis, who he said, “has led the nation. He has put a lot of

WESLEY CHAPEL’S S.T.A.R.S

WCH’s Matt Hayes & CCH’s Terri Almeida win, Long ’s Richard Wohl falls short of District honor!

See page 10

things together. While other states have raised taxes, over-regulated businesses and chased jobs away, Florida has chosen a different path. He’s focused on freedom, responsibility and opportunity. Florida is now the strongest state

See “Jay Collins” on pg.

SO MUCH DINING NEWS!

Our editor’s WC favorites, plus updates on O’Brien’s, Bahama Breeze, CAVA, Whataburger & much more! See pages 34-53

From 3 to 6 pm Monday through Friday • 2-for-1 draft beer, wine & margaritas

Talking Impact Fees With New North Tampa Bay Chamber Chair Tony Benge

An Editorial by GARY NAGER

The first time I ever met new North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) Board chair

Tony Benge was at the NTBC’s annual meeting back in December, when he was sworn in with the rest of the NTBC’s 2026 Board of Directors and we were introduced to each other by NTBC president and CEO Hope Kennedy.

At that time, Mr. Benge and I agreed that we should sit down to discuss his vision for his tenure as the new Chamber Board chair, as well as his primary role as the president of Benge Development Corp., which has been based in Orlando since 1994, but also has one current development project in Pasco County and recently had its original Pasco development plan denied by the Board of County Commissioners.

Although neither of those projects is located in Wesley Chapel, the denied “Fletcher Project” (more on that below) was located at the intersection of S.R. 52 and U.S. Hwy. 41 in Land O’Lakes, immediately adjacent to the Moffitt Speros campus we told you about last issue.

The other project, called the Hawes MPUD, which is moving forward, sits north of Wesley Chapel and east of the Mirada development. both north and south of S.R. 52, east of Handcart Rd. in San Antonio, and is approved for up to 523 multifamily units (see map on page 7).

His Benge Development Corp. has developed more than 30 large-scale projects, mainly in Orlando and Apopka, FL.

Benge, who introduced Florida’s Lieutenant Governor Jay Collins at the NTBC Business Breakfast on Feb. 3 (see story on page 1), also asked Lt. Gov. Collins about mobility and school impact fees (see story on pg. 6)., subjects Benge knows a lot about because his company has to pay them every time he develops a new project.

“Impact fees have started to cripple a lot of the [development] industry,” he said to Collins. “For a typical residential unit, as an average, $30,000 per unit is now being levied. When they were originally passed, they were specifically to be limited to incremental new capacity for things like schools, roads, sewer and water treatment plants. But, we’ve paid into this now for a decade and there’s been no accountability. You can’t get any information from these counties, which seize the money, in essence. And yet, they have no new schools or anything else to point to. How do we get accountability for this?”

Collins responded, “It’s got to be statewide legislation. It can’t be executive action. It has to go through the legislature and it’s got to be codified into law. There has to be some form of accountability in that system.”

He added, however, “But, valid impact fees? I think we all agree that valid is a good word. We can do that, but the accountability has to be there. I don’t think DOGE ( (the Dept. of Government Efficiency) is something we should just do once and walk away from. I think sustained accountability and predictability for our people matters. We’re going to have to implement that.”

State Senator Danny Burgess, of course, presented a different solution when he was the guest speaker at an NTBC “Coffee &

Connections” event two years ago, before DOGE even existed, saying that he wanted to see an audit of every county regarding impact fees.

Benge agreed that an audit showing how much impact fee money has been collected and what that money was spent on would be a good way to hold counties accountable for the impact fees they collect.

He says that although Pasco’s impact fees are among the highest in the state, “Osceola County’s are actually the highest. They’ve really become insane, literally. The night they did the most recent increase, there were probably 20 developers in the audience, representing hundreds of millions of dollars in projects. I told them, ‘If you pass this, just throw our application in the trash.”

He added that for a typical 300-unit apartment complex, the developer has to pay $9 million in impact fees to get a building permit.

“I mean, we’re already building all the roads, improvements... we’re having to do turn lanes, traffic signals, water, sewer, bus stops, all of that. And we still have to pay regular taxes and everything else.”

Benge also told me that impact fees first started back in 2000, with something called the “Martinez Doctrine,” which was named after former Orange County Chair and U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, who served as Secretary of Housing & Urban Development under U.S. President

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Publisher & Editor

Gary Nager

Correspondents

Celeste McLaughlin • Iris Vitelli

Joel Provenzano

Editorial Research by Joel Provenzano

Ad Sales & Marketing Director Jannah Nager

Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George

Graphic Designers

Georgia Carmichael • Valerie Wegener

Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions & final advertisements for Volume 34, Issue 6, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Tuesday, March 3.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials.

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‘Jay Collins’

Continued from page 1 economy in the country. We lead the nation in new business formation. Our workforce continues to grow. Families and employers are choosing Florida and that success is especially visible right here in this region. People want to be here because we have opportunity. You’ve got the government out of the way as much as possible.”

Even so, Collins acknowledged, “That doesn’t mean we’re exactly where we need to be, but we’re on the right path.”

He said he had recently attended the opening of a health care innovation lab in downtown Bradenton that is doing implants that get rid of metal and using absorbable material, “so it goes right in and grows bone — safe, not causing scabs or abscesses. That’s going to change people’s lives by eliminating the need for at least one surgery.

“The number one killer of people in health care is sepsis. The less you have to open somebody up, the less susceptible they are to sepsis. If we can stop that, we stop or lower health care costs, and some of the frivolous or excessive lawsuits at the back end, further dropping health care costs.”

Collins added that he shared that story, “because that was one person who had a dream to build something great, came here to Florida, started a business, and will now inject hundreds of millions and, at some point, billions of dollars into our local economy.

“And that is what each and every one of you do every day. It just takes one moment for something to catch like wildfire and change how we do everything.”

He then moved on to one of this year’s most discussed proposals being considered by the state legislature — reducing or eliminating property taxes.

“Show of hands,” he said, “how many of you would like to have your homesteaded property free and clear of property tax?” (Everyone raised their hands.)

“But now,” he continued, “how many of you have concerns about how that would affect our education, our roads, our firefighters and our law enforcement?” (Again, most hands went up)

“Well, let me tell you something,” Collins said, “in this state, we are not going to put at risk our law enforcement or our firefighters. I would rather jump in front of a moving car than hurt the people who serve our communities. I would give my last full measure to protect our people. We will stand with our men and women of law enforcement and fire. We will not allow our cities or counties to underfund or cut that. It’s the same with roads and education.”

He noted that although people usually assume his kids go to private school, “My kids go to public school in Hillsborough County, just down the road from my house. A rising tide floats all boats.

“We have school choice in Florida because we understand that the money should follow the kids. It’s not the government’s money. It’s the people’s money being utilized to help provide something common to all — and we hold them accountable for those reasons. But, I also know that 85% of people will almost always go to public schools. And the right thing for my kids is that school just down the road, where they have their

friends. I want my kids to be successful. I want them to have every opportunity to blow what I’ve done out of the water, to make my name irrelevant. That is what I dream on. So believe me, we’re going to protect those exact things.”

The Unknown Property Tax Fact

The thing Collins said that raised the most eyebrows was about just how much of Florida’s property tax revenue comes from homesteaded properties. “Less than 30% of the money that comes from property tax comes from homesteaded properties,” he said. “That’s a shockingly low number. Now, some counties are higher, some are significantly lower — and I’m sure you can probably formulate which ones go that way, but that’s manageable. It’s solvable.”

He then asked, “How many of you have seen your property value go up every year, from a tax standpoint? Has anybody had theirs go down repeatedly? I’ve never had anyone who said that and I’ve asked it a hundred times.

“How many of you have had millage rate increases as well?,” Collins added. “You’re getting hit twice. It’s getting wider, because you’re paying more, and it’s getting taller because of the millage increase.

“Now, ask yourself this simple question. Have you seen that exponential increase over the last ten years positively impact your education, roads, fire or law enforcement? Do they have more time, tools and training?

“If the answer is decidedly ‘no’ — which it has been everywhere I’ve gone — where did that money go?

“Friends, I am not here to pay more taxes. Lord knows, I put in time for what I get. I probably get about seven cents an hour as Lieutenant Governor — and I am grateful to do it. Please don’t think I’m whining. I’m just making fun of the system we’re in sometimes.

“It’s fascinating. We have to solve that — hold people accountable. What we’re doing with DOGE (the Dept. of Government Efficiency) in Florida is significant, but we have to lock that in and make sure the (city and county) governments follow through, that we’re holding them accountable.”

He also said that, “I’m frustrated that we have allowed the affordability conversation to focus just on saving our way to success.

Friends, this is America, this is Florida. I expect us to lead, to dream boldly, to draw in more life-changing industry — to raise our salaries as part of that story. I don’t want my kids to

make what I made someday. I want them to have so much more. We have to be dedicated to that.

“We can talk about property tax, but we have to draw in more businesses and get the government out of the way.”

Impact Fees & Permitting Issues

Collins was a little surprised that only a couple of people in the audience, including NTBC Board chair Tony Benge — who introduced Collins — were in real estate development.

“How many of you who are in development deal with impact fees? How about permitting? How many of you have bought or built homes and had a permitting crisis you had to deal with?

“There are two things right now that I believe we can lever and fix when it comes to home affordability. One is impact fees. They seem to just be levied left and right. Some counties are really great at it and some are less than stellar. Either way, it’s going right back to the consumer.

“We have to reward people and let those fees come back the appropriate way, but there’s got to be a lot of commonality and common sense.

“When it comes to permitting, I’ve gone through this as a business leader. I’ve gone through this personally when I built my home, but there has to be clarity and accountability in how that’s done.

“We have a building code that works. I worked in disaster management for many years. I was there everywhere lives were impacted by hurricanes and I would see a slab, a slab and then three homes almost completely unfazed by the same hurricane. [That means] our building code works, if we can get them there. We, as a state, have to do more from a resiliency, a power side, without spending ourselves into oblivion.

“Your individual amount that you owe to state debt is about $200. But, let’s compare that to the federal government, where it’s $126,000 per person. We have paid down 50% of our debt as a state over the last six years. We are balancing and lowering our budget every single year. Our reserves are maximized and yet, we’re still dropping them down more and more. That is what fiscal leadership and prudency looks like as a state. We have to maintain what we do.”

Before opening his appearance up to the floor for questions, Collins closed with, “In our state, I don’t believe the past is our best. I think the best lies ahead of us. I’m an optimist. I believe in our people. I believe in getting government out of the way so businesses can thrive

and more opportunities can exist.”

And finally, Collins asked a question of his own: “Tell us what you see, what your problems are. The simple fact is that, as a leader, I can’t solve what I don’t know. I listen to Ronald Reagan a lot. I love how he spoke to the people and he solved problems. I love his approach.

“To paraphrase him, ‘If the government thinks they have a solution, you should be afraid...very afraid.’

“Please work with us. We need business leaders from the Chamber and from the community, to help us understand where the rubber meets the road. How that impacts lives and how we can solve [problems], to really create solutions.

“And, as a former legislator, I can tell you that, of the 55 bills I passed, probably three quarters of them came from the community in some way, shape or form, because we worked with them. We solved those functional problems on the ground and they improved. That’s good work. That’s good government. That’s how we work together.”

Collins then took a number of questions, the first from Ryan Quattlebaum, the CEO of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, who asked, “As we continue to hire, recruit and retain doctors into the state of Florida, what do you see you can do to help us continue to attract and retain physicians to Florida?”

Collins responded that Florida, “needs more medical schools. I also know that every doctor we talk to says they are hemorrhaging people at the three to five to seven-year mark because they’re tired of litigation. They’re tired of the games. They’re tired of being told to write their SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan) notes in a specific way to fit into an insurance algorithm. Those are systemic issues we have to solve.”

Next up was NTBC Board member Jamie Hess, the owner of Computer Emergency Room, who told Collins that the Chamber was looking into incorporating Wesley Chapel as its own city, “but we put it on hold because of the property tax issue. What do you think, realistically, is the forecast to get the homestead property tax reduced or eliminated this year?”

Collins responded, “If I were Governor, I’ll tell you what I would do. I would call a Special Session so you have everybody there. I do think you can get full property tax relief for homestead properties [because] the math plays out.

“But, for those who may not know how the system works, you’ve got to pass identical bills —

within a 98% margin — in both the House and the Senate, and then have

sign it.

“And, because [incorporation] would have to be a constitutional amendment, it’s then got to go on the ballot and it’s got to get 60% of the people to vote for it.

“Friends, there are times when it’s hard to get people to agree that we should even have a 60% level. It’s going to cost, at a minimum, $15$25 million of advertising to understand what its going to look like.

“But again, on property taxes, if there’s more than one thing on that property tax [bill], it’s 100% going to fail. But, I think it’s pretty likely that we get this, but where it ends up on the spectrum, that variability, I think you’ll know, probably within a month or so. But yes, it’s very doable, very manageable.

“I know the Governor pretty well and,

when he lays out his plan, it will be very detailed. You have to get ahead of the system to make sure people don’t move the money, don’t revenue taxes, and don’t just create another bureaucracy, instead of solving a problem.

“I know pretty well where the Governor is at on this and I will not be part of anything that’s going to cut services. I will not do it.”

Collins also answered a question from Primrose School of Wesley Chapel (see story on pg. 22) owner Rob Fitzpatrick about Florida’s insurance crisis and one from yours truly about holding private schools that accept school vouchers to the same standards as public schools. He also addressed a question from Benge about the lack of accountability on the part of local governments regarding impact fees (see the Editorial on pg. 3 & the story on pg. 7 for more on this topic).

Very interesting stuff, Mr. Collins!

Confused About When You Can Retire — And If Your Money Will Last?

Who Actually Pays For Our Roads? A Primer On Pasco’s Mobility/Impact Fees

By Joel Provenzano Neighborhood News Correspondent

Editor’s note — The motivation for writing this story came from a post by Kelly Gilroy on her outstanding Pasco County Development & Growth Updates Facebook page. Former Florida Department of Transportation engineer — and, of course, Neighborhood News correspondent Joel Provenzano agreed that it was worth a deeper dive into what Kelly so perfectly presented. — GN

If you’ve driven around Wesley Chapel lately, you don’t need a traffic study to know one thing: Pasco County is growing fast. New neighborhoods, shopping centers, hospitals and medical offices and industrial parks seem to pop up overnight. With all of that growth comes an obvious question:

Who actually pays for the roads, sidewalks, and transportation infrastructure we all use?

The simple answer, of course, is “all of us,” but one of the biggest pieces of that answer is something called “mobility” (aka “impact”) fees.

What Are Mobility Fees, Anyway?

Mobility fees are one-time charges paid by developers each time a new building permit is issued. These fees help pay for the transportation improvements needed to support new growth, such as:

• New or widened roads

• Turn lanes and intersections

• Sidewalks and bike paths

• Other transportation facilities tied to development

In simple terms: new development helps pay for the new infrastructure it requires — and Pasco County has some of the highest impact fees of any county in Florida.

These fees don’t replace gas taxes or sales taxes, but they work alongside them to fund transportation

It’s also important to note that mobility fees are just one type of impact fee charged on new development in Pasco County. New construction is also subject to school impact fees, which help fund new schools and classroom capacity. And, park impact fees are used for land acquisition and creating new recreational facilities.

Together, transportation, school and park impact fees make up the bulk of the one-time charges paid when new homes and commercial projects are built. When combined, Pasco County’s total impact fee burden is often cited as among the highest in the region, reflecting both its rapid growth and the scale of infrastructure needed to support that growth

Why Are Mobility Fees Going Up?

Construction costs have skyrocketed in recent years. Roadway materials, labor and engineering costs have all increased — often sharply. Because of this, mobility fees have to be periodically updated to reflect the real cost of building roads today, instead of the costs from ten years ago.

Pasco County is allowed to update its mobility fee schedule every four years, and those updates are reviewed and recommended by the county’s Planning Commission, which looks at growth projections, construction costs and longterm transportation needs.

According to the county, Pasco is projected to add approximately 330,000 new residents over the next 20 to 25 years, requiring roughly 950 new lane miles of roads. Even with existing revenue sources, projected funding falls short of the need —which is why mobility fees matter.

How Much $ Are We Talking About?

Here’s a concrete example that helps put things in perspective:

• A single-family home built in Pasco in 2026 will carry a one-time mobility fee of $11,660 that is paid by the builder.

• That money goes into county coffers for roads, sidewalks and transportation facilities.

The fee is paid once — not annually, and not by the homeowner directly at tax time. A common question is whether mobility and other impact fees on new homes are ultimately passed along to homebuyers. While opinions vary, there is little evidence this is happening in today’s market.

In many cases, new-construction homes in Pasco are priced equal to — or even less than —c comparable resale homes, which carry no such fees. Builders are also routinely offering substantial incentives, including covering large portions of closing costs and providing builder-financed mortgages with rates currently as low as 3.99% for 30 years.

Based on current pricing trends and transaction data, impact fees do not appear to be quietly “added back” elsewhere in the deal. As a result, despite these one-time development fees, new construction remains one of the most competitive and accessible options for buyers today.

Why Some Businesses Pay Nothing

This is where things get nuanced — and are often misunderstood by homeowners.

Pasco County doesn’t charge the same mobility fees to every type of development. Instead, it offers incentives to encourage certain kinds of businesses that bring higher-paying jobs and long-term economic growth, including medical & professional offices, industrial, logistics, warehouses, distribution centers and hotels

These uses currently receive a 100%

incentive, meaning they pay $0 in mobility fees.

On the other hand, a fast-food restaurant with a drive-through might be charged a mobility fee of around $80,569, because it receives only a 25% incentive.

Why the difference? County officials have been clear about their goal: “Pasco is open for business,” especially for industries that diversify the tax base and bring higher-wage jobs to the county.

Who Covers The Rest Of The Cost?

This is where something called Tax Increment Financing (TIF) comes in.

TIF is often mentioned alongside mobility fees, but they work very differently:

• Mobility fees are one-time payments made upfront by developers.

• TIF uses future property tax growth to fund infrastructure over time.

Pasco County, “locks in” property tax values at a base year (2012 for unincorporated Pasco). As development happens and property values rise, the increase in tax revenue — the “increment” — is set aside.

About 33% of that increment is dedicated

specifically to transportation improvements.

Those TIF funds are then used to “buy down” mobility fees for targeted developments like offices, industrial sites and hotels. In other words, the county — and its taxpayers — still funds the roads, but with future tax growth instead of charging those businesses up front for them.

Other Ways Infrastructure Is Built

Mobility fees aren’t the only way roads and infrastructure come online:

• Developers often build roads, turn lanes and/or sidewalks themselves as part of their residential or commercial projects and dedicate them to the county.

• If those improvements benefit more than just the residents of those developments, the developers can apply for mobility fee credits.

• Some communities (including many in Wesley Chapel) are built with Community Development Districts (CDDs) — quasi-governmental entities that maintain roads, sidewalks and landscaping within the developments themselves, rather than the county taking on that responsibility long-term.

This approach shifts some maintenance costs away from the county and onto the developments that directly benefit from them.

Why This Should Matter To You!

At the end of the day, mobility fees are about matching new growth with new infrastructure — and making sure existing residents aren’t left paying the full bill for new development. Mobility fees are imperfect, complex and

often controversial. But without them, Pasco County would face even larger funding gaps, even slower road improvements and even more pressure on general taxes.

As Pasco continues to grow, understanding how these fees work can help you better engage in conversations about development, transportation and the future of our community.

The growth is coming, no matter what. The real question is how we plan and pay for it.

And, most people sitting in traffic every day in Wesley Chapel believe that they are the ones paying for it — and that whatever money is coming in isn’t either not enough or not being spent fast enough to keep up — and no, they’re not wrong.

George W. Bush. The Martinez Doctrine attempted to limit school overcrowding by requiring local developers to address school capacity issues before breaking ground.

“The idea was that growth should have to pay for itself, which makes sense,” Benge said, “But the trade-off was supposed to be that we will always have utilities and roads and services available to go along with this.

“So when these impact fees first started, I don’t know who came up with the numbers, but they’re so abominably disproportionate. We’ve actually tracked some of the apartment communities, which might have kids in only 20% of the complex’s units. So, on 300 units, I’d have maybe 60 units that have kids, I paid $6 million in impact fees for the construction of new schools, which is basically 1/3 of a whole [700-student) schoolhouse for 60 kids. And, I’m still paying taxes every year, too. These fees were supposed to only be used for new school construction, but they never gave me any data.”

Benge also said he decided to go about it a different way. “Let’s just track how many homes and apartments were built from, let’s say, 2015 through 2025. So, I made up a number, let’s say 100,000 units were built. Each one paid $14,000 per unit. Where’s that $1.4 billion? Or, list me out the new schools that’ve been built with that money, with the budget you spent on each one.

“A K-8 school right now costs $18-$20 million, a high school is upwards of $50 million, and that would house, in Orange County, up to 5,000 students. By our estimation, there should have been around 84 new schools built during that time — and they only have three.

“So, where’s all that money? [Counties aren’t] allowed to use it for [their] general fund. You can’t use it to pay more administrators. This money should be segregated out and if it’s not, this is a big issue.”

He added that many of the assumptions used by counties to set their school impact fees, “are horribly flawed. If I build a 300-unit apartment complex and a third of those units are

one-bedroom units, how many kids live in onebedroom apartments? Historical precedence says that only unless someone is building a house that isn’t ready yet, one-bedroom units don’t generate any kids, yet I still have to pay the same school impact fees for those units. It’s crazy.”

The Fletcher Project

Speaking of crazy, Benge said that his Fletcher Project — named for the family that owned the 100-acre property — was originally planned in Aug. 2024 for 350 multi-family units, about 160 townhomes and 25,000 sq. ft. of commercial uses and had been through more than a year of meetings and plans when Pasco’s commissioners voted last year to deny it.

“The big pushback was the private, neverpermitted airstrip from the 1950s next door, which would have prevented us from building anything on 1/3 of the property. We agreed to not build on that portion, but we asked to have the same density on the rest of the property. So, we wouldn’t build as [many total units], and they turned us down. We started with Plan A and were up to Plan Q, and they still turned us down.”

Hawes MPUD

Despite that setback in Pasco, Benge Development is moving forward with its plan for the Hawes MPUD (marked in red on map below). The project will extend Handcart Rd. to the north, with 396 multi-family units on the south side and 127 townhomes on the north side and some neighborhood commercial (grocery store, etc.) entitlements. The Hawes project was approved in 2023, but Benge has not yet begun building at that site.

Jonathan’s Landing

Benge also is building Jonathan’s Landing, the first adult autistic facility in the U.S, in Lake Nona, FL. “It will have 5,000 beds and bring 5,000 jobs to that area,” Benge said. “My friend, Jason Eichenholz, has a son named Jonathan who is an adult with autism. This will help so many adults because state support for [developmentally disabled] people ends at age 18.”

Look for more info about Tony Benge and his vision for the NTBC in our next issue.

Mater Academy — The (Charter) School You (Probably) Didn’t Know You Were Getting!

By Joel Provenzano Neighborhood News Correspondent

If you happened to be driving down County Line Rd. a few weeks ago, just past Grand Hampton, you might have done a double take. We sure did. There, seemingly out of nowhere, was a brand-new traffic signal (photo on next page) going in at Dunham Station Dr. Curious enough on its own — but what really caught our attention was why it was being installed… especially since it didn’t appear anywhere on the county’s latest comprehensive transportation projects map.

As it turns out, the signal isn’t random at all. It’s there to serve a huge, previously-under-the-radar K-12 public charter school quietly rising (top left photo) at the south end of Wesley Chapel, about a mile west of Northwood.

And when we say “quietly,” we actually mean very quietly.

The school is called Mater Academy at Northwood, a tuition-free K-12 public charter school slated to open in August 2026. Until recently, most residents — including us — had no idea it was coming. Its Facebook page has had just nine followers since November, and there’s been almost no public chatter about it online.

Honestly, if it weren’t for that new traffic signal on County Line Rd., we might not have even known about the Mater Academy until it opened its doors.

The site is impressively hidden. When we drove back there out of sheer curiosity (and, of course, our ongoing commitment to nosy neighborhood journalism), we fully expected to find yet another three-story, climate-controlled

self-storage facility being built.

Instead? Thankfully… a school. In Wesley Chapel. Actual, real-deal education infrastructure.

Though to be fair, that spot would have been the perfect place for self-storage. No one would have ever seen it back there.

Where Exactly Is This Located?

Mater Academy at Northwood is being built on a 15-acre site at the northern end of Dunham Station Dr., tucked behind the Woodside Trace townhomes, just north of County Line Rd. It’s barely visible from the main road.

That detail matters, because Dunham Station Dr. also serves as the second, residents-only entrance and exit for Grand Hampton. This means many Grand Hampton residents are probably thrilled about the new signal — especially since it’s just 0.3 miles west of Grand Hampton’s main entrance signal, which only first went live in July 2024.

Yes, two signals. Less than a third of a mile apart. On already-packed County Line Rd.

Déjà Vu On County Line Rd.

If this sounds familiar, it should. This story is very much a sequel to our 2024 “Cheers & Jeers” story about the new Grand Hampton entrance traffic signal. Back then, residents were split — some cheering a long-overdue safety improvement, others grumbling about backups and timing issues.

That article also pointed out what longtime locals already know: Two-lane County Line Rd. may still feel rural, but it hasn’t been truly rural for a long time. With growing neighborhoods, schools, townhomes and commercial development, traffic volumes — and turning movement times — have steadily increased.

The new Dunham Station Dr. signal continues that trend. And unlike the Grand Hampton signal, this one comes with a new westbound right turn lane and full pedestrian crosswalks, clearly designed to manage the traffic that a large school inevitably brings.

But, will County Line Rd. ever get proper, full- length arterial sidewalks? That’s still to be

determined— maybe when (or if) it ever gets widened to four lanes. But, with the North Tampa Christian Academy and a brand new Primrose School (see pg. 23) already adding traffic on this two-lane roadway, there’s no doubt that another 700-2,500 students is not going to make traveling on County Line Rd. any easier.

How Big A School Is It?

Big. Like, really big. (See rendering above)

According to construction plans dated September 2025, the school will be built in seven total phases:

• Phase 1 includes a 3-story, 38,000-sq-ft classroom building at the entrance, currently under construction

• Phase 2-4 will add three more 3-story standalone classroom buildings and a gym, bringing the total to five buildings and 139,000 sq. ft. overall

• Phase 5 adds outdoor basketball courts and playgrounds

• Phase 6 adds a full-size sports field and an additional baseball diamond

• Phase 7 includes the 12,000-sq-ft, one-story gymnasium at the rear of the site

In total, the school is planned to serve

up to a maximum of 2,500 students — 1,200 elementary, 600 middle and 700 high school.

Each student body will have 30-minute staggered start and end times. Current plans show:

• Elementary starting first at 7:30 a.m.

• High school ending last at 3:30 p.m.

Those details will likely evolve as construction progresses and subsequent phases get built-out.

Parking, Pick-Up & The ‘Shuffle’

The site includes 269 parking spaces and a three-lane-wide car drop-off and pick-up loop for most of the property, narrowing to two lanes at the end. If it operates like other charter schools, don’t be surprised if that triple-wide drop-off doubles as overflow parking during events.

It’s still unclear how many students will be accommodated in Phase 1 — although the building’s size indicates a likely maximum of 700 students in that Phase 1 building.

We also couldn’t reach anyone who could tell us whether or not all grade levels will open immediately. However, the school’s online “Student Interest Form” already lists all grades as options in the pull-down.

What Is Mater Academy?

Mater Academy is a Miami-based charter school network that, according to its website

— MaterAcademy.org — serves 29,000+ students in 44 charter schools in Florida, Nevada and Ohio. The company’s mission statement reads:

“Mater provides a safe learning environment where academics are facilitated by teachers, administrators, parents and the community which enables students to become confident, self-directed learners in a technologically-rich, college preparatory environment through rigor, relevance and relationships.”

The Takeaway

So yes — the new traffic signal on County Line Rd. is about traffic. But, it’s also the first visible sign of a major new educational development quietly taking shape just out of sight in Wesley Chapel.

Motorists should also expect another new signal to start taking shape soon— two miles to the west at Cypress Creek Rd., as this one is shown in the county’s work plan for 2026.

So, between these new signals, growing communities, and now a massive K-12 charter campus, one thing is clear: County Line Rd. is continuing its slow transformation from “sleepy connector” to full-blown growth corridor.

And apparently, sometimes the traffic light really is the source of the news.

Parents interested in learning more about the new Mater Academy can find some information, as well as the “Student Interest Form” at MaterNorthwood.org. We did not know at our press time about any application deadline for the 2026-27 school year.

Local Schools Win Two ‘STAR’ Awards; Richard Wohl Denied ‘Teacher Of

I am proud to say that Jannah and I attended the Pasco County “S.T.A.R.” (Staff That Are Remarkable) Awards gala on Jan. 23, which was held at the Grace Family Church on S.R. 54 at Collier Pkwy. in Land O’Lakes.

Three staffers from Wesley Chapel’s schools were among the eight people honored at that event — Wesley Chapel High assistant principal Matt Hayes (near right photo), who was named the Pasco School District’s Assistant Principal of the Year; Cypress Creek High data entry operator Terri Almeida (holding football in photo below), who won the School-Related Personnel of the Year honors; and John Long Middle School band director and music teacher Richard Wohl, who was one of only three finalists for Pasco’s 2026 Teacher of the Year award, which ended up going to social studies teacher Anastacia Kelley of Angeline Academy of Innovation (in blue skirt at the top of the next page).

•

Unfortunately, Wohl didn’t receive the Teacher of the Year honors, but of course, he said that just being Long’s nominee and one of only three finalists for the District-wide award were “tremendous honors. We don’t teach to win awards, but it is nice to be recognized.”

As were his fellow finalists — Kelley and Connerton Elementary Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher Jenna Moore — Wohl was introduced to the crowd of more than 200 people by a special guest. In his case, that guest was one of his young students named Emma Cocozziello (top right photo), who said, “Mr. Wohl always keeps it 100. He will always cheer you up with his quick wit.

“Mr. Wohl has made band into much more

than just a music class. He has created an environment which feels more like the classmates are an extended family. He is vigilant about teaching us to have respect for our classroom, our instruments, our music, our teachers and the people we interact with and, most important to me, he teaches us how to have respect for ourselves.

“Mr. Wohl’s class is where we all learn that music connects us and that we are a team who must come together in support of each other. He helps us become the best musicians and the best people possible...and learn that it is OK to be unique and to express ourselves under the haven his classroom provides.

“In the small possibility that he doesn’t win this prestigious honor, the [Long MS] commu-

nity will remind ourselves that our school has already won because he has been a teacher here.”

Almeida and Hayes had been told that they won their awards in Nov., but they received Bucs logo footballs from Tampa Bay Buccaneers chief operating officer Brian Ford at the event, as did all of the Teacher of the Year finalists, who weren’t given their footballs until the event ended because it would have given away that Kelley had actually won the award.

Pasco’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Legg and four of the five School Board members were on hand for the evening’s festivities. It was a fantastic night and I applaud all of the nominees, finalists and winners! — GN, w/most of the photos provided by Pasco County Public Schools

Wiregrass Ranch High Sophomores Help Vulnerable People Get Ready For The Heat

By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent

While some Floridians grew tired of the prolonged cold we experienced in the early weeks of 2026, Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) sophomores Siyana Khan and Nicole Huynh know the heat is coming. Soon. Fast. Difficult for those without air conditioning and, especially, proper hydration, to survive.

As student athletes, Siyana and Nicole have both experienced some of the consequences of dehydration. “I’ve had sunburns, heat exhaustion and even strong nausea from not hydrating myself completely,” says Nicole, who is a member of the WRH color guard.

Siyana had lived in New Jersey for 10 years and wasn’t used to the heat, so playing flag football in Florida proved to be overwhelming for her. “When I moved to Florida, I wasn’t hydrating properly,” Siyana says. “I actually passed out and had to go to the ER, and was diagnosed with orthostatic hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure) because of dehydration.”

The girls teamed together and used their shared experiences to consider how others may need help when Florida’s heat takes hold.

“We created ‘Hydrating for Hope,’” Siyana explains. “It’s a local community service initiative dedicated to hydrating and serving those around us. Many vulnerable communities around Tampa Bay suffer in this hot environment, making them more susceptible to [several] heat-related illnesses.”

They began collecting heat-related essentials and also raised $1,260 through GoFundMe to purchase additional supplies.

Their efforts have allowed them to purchase nearly 1,200 items, including bottles of water, reusable water bottles, Gatorade, sunglasses, hats and portable electric and paper fans.

These items will be donated to homeless shelters and organizations that help vulnerable populations, such as Better Together, a Naples, FL-based nonprofit organization with a Tampa Bay-area chapter that is focused on preventing foster care by supporting families in crisis.

“I was genuinely moved by [Siyana and Nicole’s] passion for serving their community,” says Joy Harris, executive director of Better Together. “It was clear in our conversation that this initiative is coming from a place of deep compassion and a desire to make a tangible difference for others.”

Siyana and Nicole also worked with 100

students, including their peers at WRH and some at John Long Middle School, as well as The Learning Experience of New Tampa, to create 140 handwritten cards (above) for family members who are being served by Better Together.

“Their efforts not only provide encouragement to those receiving the cards,” Joy says, “they also inspire others to step up and look for ways to support their neighbors. I am grateful for the opportunity to partner with students like these and for the chance to see the next generation lead with such heart and intentionality.”

The girls have become close friends through their time at the WRH Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club. They plan to enter a statewide FBLA competition for community service projects this summer. They also are considering creating their own 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization to be able to continue doing the work they’ve started through their Hydrating for Hope project.

“We hope to hold more events, like when

we held an event to write cards,” Siyana explains, “and also make bracelets or other crafts, too.”

They hope their initiative will not only help those who are vulnerable, but will also provide awareness of heat-related problems for all of those living in Florida.

To learn more about Hydrating for Hope, visit Hydrating4Hope to link to its Instagram, GoFundMe, donation list on Amazon and more.

Accepting:

Upcoming Events — ‘Blizzard Of Bubbles,’ Charity Bingo, ‘Dance

Monday, February 16, 6:30pm. - East Pasco Democratic Club meeting. At the Genesis Center (38112 15th Ave., Zephyrhills). Also available to attend on Zoom. Scott Graber of the Pasco Democratic Election Committee will discuss plans for winning the U.S. House and Senate in 2026. All friends of the Democratic Party are welcome. Refreshments are provided. Free to attend. For more info, visit EastPascoDems.com.

Tuesday, February 17, 8 p.m.– Taiko Drums of Japan with Tampa Taiko. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Experience Asian culture and celebrations like Lunar New Year, Chinese New Year, and Matsuri Festivals with Tampa Taiko. Tickets $17.50-$25 depending on seat selection. Select tickets are available for $10 through NTPAC’s Affordable Art commitment. For more info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/taiko-drumsof-japan-with-tampa-taiko.

Wednesday, February 18, 9 a.m. – North Tampa Bay Chamber Coffee Social. At Barberitos (7021 Fletcher Ave., Temple Terrace). This is a relaxed morning meet-up designed for casual networking and meaningful connections. There will be coffee and light refreshments. Free to attend.

For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com/events.

Wednesday, February 18, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. – KidQuest Blizzard of Bubbles. At the Shops at Wiregrass (28211 Paseo Dr., Center Court). Grab your towel, goggles, or swimwear if you dare. Join KidQuest featured fan favorites Mr. Tommy & GiGi’s Musical Show for Kids — with special guest Bubble Meister–Spheres Bubble & Foam Family Fun. Music, movement, and photo ops galore, all while enjoying a blizzard of bubble and foam fun. Free to attend.

For more information, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/event/35776-kidquest-blizzard-of-bubbles

Wednesday, February 18, 6 p.m. - Central Pasco Democratic Club meeting. At Meadow Pointe I Clubhouse (28245 County Line Rd.). Also available to attend on Zoom. Open discussion on winning back the US House and Senate. All friends of the Democratic Party are invited.

Free to attend.

For more info, visit CentralPascoDems. com or call (813) 453-1663.

Friday, February 20, 11 a.m.– North Tampa Bay Chamber Ribbon Cutting. At Woodies Wash Shack (5618 Oakley Blvd.). Celebrate the grand opening of Woodies Wash Shack. Tour the new facility and celebrate with light refreshments and community fun. There will be free car washes, a vintage car show and merchandise giveaways. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com/events.

Saturday, February 21, 11 a.m.-noon & 3 p.m.-4 p.m. – Children’s Theater – “Angry Lizard, an Experiment by Dr. Kramer.” At New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). Attend a children’s theater performance that focuses on dramatic and imaginative play. Recommended for children ages 4 and up. Free to attend, but tickets will be available at the marked service point 30 minutes prior to the event on a first-come, first served basis.

For more info, call (813) 273-3652 or visit attend.hcplc.org/event/15461703

Saturday, February 21, 2:30 p.m. – Jon Lehrer Dance Company Master Class. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). The JLDC class integrates the approach and fluidity of modern dance, the excitement and energy of jazz dance, along with the laws of physics to create a highly physical, expressive, and engrossing style of movement

that is best described as “Organically Athletic”. $20 to attend. For more info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit JonLehrerDance.com/ntpac-master-class.html

Saturday, February 21, 4:30 p.m. — 2nd Annual Sean Bartell Charity Bingo. At Cypress Creek High Cafeteria (8701 Old Pasco Rd.). Doors will open at 3 p.m. Bring your own dauber or you can purchase one for $2. With 20 rounds, 4 cards per game you’ll have 80 chances to win. Donation to play is $25 if you pre-purchase or $30 at the door. Delicious finger foods will be provided by Azteca D’Oro in The Shops at Wiregrass at no additional charge. For more info, email SPBFoundation@hotmail. com or see the ad below. Or, to purchase bingo cards, visit Zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2nd-annual-sean-bartell-foundation-bingo.

Saturday, February 21, 8 p.m. & Sunday, February 22, 3 p.m. – Jon Lehrer Dance Company. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Experience four works never before seen at NTPAC including Foster, Jon’s heartfelt tribute to his younger

brother, Michael Foster Lehrer, who passed away on Jan. 17, 2023, after a 6-year battle with ALS. Tickets $17.50-$25 depending on seat selection. Select tickets are available for $10 through NTPAC’s Affordable Art commitment. For more info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/ jon-lehrer-dance-company.

Monday, February 23, 7 p.m. – New Tampa Democratic Club Monthly Meeting. At New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). Guest speakers, 2026 Hillsborough County Commission & School Board and 2027 Tampa City Council candidates, Free to attend. For more info, visit NewTampaDemocrats.com or Facebook.com/NewTampaDemocrats or see the ad below.

Tuesday, February 24, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. –NTPAC Open House. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Come see all that New Tampa Performing Arts Center has to offer! Join us for a free, all access Open House featuring guided tours and staff on hand to answer your questions. Free to attend. For more information, call (813) 8292760 or visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/ open-house.

Wednesday, February 25, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. – Steinway Signature Series: Markus Gottschlich & Friends: A Global Jazz Journey. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Austrian-American Stein-

2nd Annual Sean Bartell Charity Bingo

to benefit the Sean Bartell Memorial Foundation

at

Date: February 21, 2026, 4:30 pm-6:30 pm To Do: Bring All Of Your Friends

Details: Donation to play is $25 for pre-purchase or $30 at the door

Place: Cypress Creek High School Cafeteria (8701 Old Pasco Rd., Wesley Chapel)

20 Rounds — 4 cards per game, with 80 chances to win a prize valued at more than $100!

Contact information: Email SPBFoundation@hotmail.com or message

Paul or Jamie Bartell on FB

way Artist and internationally acclaimed pianist Markus Gottschlich makes his NTPAC debut with an evening that fuses jazz traditions from around the world. Tickets $17.50-$25 depending on seat selection. Select tickets are available for $10 through NTPAC’s Affordable Art commitment. For more info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/gottschlich.

Thursday, February 26, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. – How to Self Publish Your Book. At New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). In this dynamic and informative one-hour session, Dr. Jan Yager demystifies the process of self-publishing and empowers aspiring and experienced writers to take control of their publishing journey. Free to attend but please register. For more info, call (813) 273-3652 or visit attend. hcplc.org/event/15574381

Thursday, February 26, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. – Free Film: Grease Sing-Along. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, Grease tells the story of Sandy, a goody two-shoes teen who shares a summer romance with Danny, a slick-talking greaser. When fate brings them to the same high school, their love is tested by high school cliques, peer pressure, and the search for identity. For more info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/grease.

Saturday & Sunday, February 28 & March 1, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. – Wesley Chapel Craft Festival. At the Shops at Wiregrass (28211 Paseo

Dr.). Shop, stroll, and soak up the vibes at this outdoor craft festival at The Shops at Wiregrass. Discover unique, American-made goods from talented artisans featuring handmade jewelry, pottery, ceramics, art, photography, clothing, and more. Then wander through the Green Market filled with plants, orchids, exotic greenery, handmade soaps, gourmet spices, and freshly popped kettle corn. It’s a fun weekend event perfect for browsing, finding something special, and enjoying the fresh Tampa Bay air. Free to attend. For more info, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/ event/35505-wesley-chapel-craft-fait

Wednesday, March 4, 12:45 p.m.-1:45 p.m. – Take Charge of your Heart: Simple Steps for a Longer, Healthier Life. At the New Tampa Family YMCA (16221 Compton Dr.). Join Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Mohamed Omer, for an empowering session that goes beyond standard medical advice. Discover how to proactively shield your heart for the long term using the latest research in health and longevity. Free to attend. For more info, visit BayCareEvents.org or call 1-800-BayCare to register.

Thursday, March 5, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. –North Tampa Bay Chamber Ribbon Cutting. At Oculofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Laser Institute (18311 N US Highway 41, Lutz). Join Dr. Rosh in Celebrating the ribbon cutting of their new location. Champagne & Light Bites will be served. Free to attend.

For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com/ events. Or, to RSVP, text “Dr Rosh Pink Ribbon” and your name to (813) 303-0123.

Sunday, March 8, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. – 2026 Annual Kumquat Festival. At Downtown Dade City (37918 Meridian Ave, Dade City). Enjoy the unique, quaint and family fun of “old Florida” during the rescheduled Kumquat Festival - it’s one of a kind. You’ll have the opportunity to experience delicious food, visit hundreds of arts & crafts vendor booths (including the event’s sponsors, and learn about kumquats, “the little gold gems of the citrus industry.” Free to attend. For more info, visit KumquatFestival.org.

Sunday, March 8, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. – The Shops at Wiregrass Auto & Truck Showcase. At the Shops at Wiregrass (28211 Paseo Dr.). Get ready to rev your engines and your retail therapy—because Paseo Drive is turning into a full throttle, open air playground for car lovers, families, foodies, shoppers, and everyone in between. Stroll among gleaming vintage classics, jaw dropping modern builds, and the bold. Free to attend. For more info, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/event/32059-the-shops-atwiregrass-auto-and-truck-showcase

Sunday, March 15, 4 p.m. – “Dance Now: Tampa Bay’s Dance Festival, brought to you by Tampa City Ballet. At Water Works Park (1701 N. Highland Ave., downtown Tampa. The Dance Now Multi-Cultural Dance Festival is Tampa’s FREE, must-see outdoor dance event, presented by Tampa City Ballet. This high-energy celebration combines genres of dance with more than 120 professional dancers, choreographers, and independent artists from across the Tampa Bay area for one unforgettable day of movement and live performance.

Throughout the day, audiences can enjoy performances by both professional artists and youth dancers, highlighting the depth of talent in our local dance community. The festival also features free dance classes for all ages and experience levels, plus a silent disco that invites everyone to jump in and dance! The lineup of dance companies includes: Disfunktionals Tampa, Tampa City Ballet’s ERA program, USF School of Theatre & Dance, CreeAtive (Native American dancers & educators), Tampa Qipao Dance, Hillsborough Community College, Rudram Indian Dance Co., Scariff Irish Dance Tampa, Sunshine Dance Group & The Florida Center for Capoeira (Afro-Brazilian martial art & dance).

For more info, visit TampaCityBallet.org or see the ad below.

Tuesday, March 17, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. – Steinway Signature Series: Reflections Chamber Ensemble with Ghadeer Abaido. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Reflections Chamber Ensemble artistic director and clarinetist Stacey McColley will be joined by pianist extraordinaire Ghadeer Abaido to bring to life a program shaped by the ensemble’s hallmark spirit of innovation, featuring contemporary works, rarely heard treasures, and powerful musical voices spanning centuries. Tickets $17.50-$25 depending on seat selection. Select tickets are available for $10 as part of NTPAC’s Affordable Art Commitment.

For more info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to reserve tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter. org/events/reflections-abaido

We got a lot of great feedback — as well as thousands of online views — of our many updates of (almost) everything that is now under construction and/or expected to be built before the end of 2026 in (and adjacent to) Wesley Chapel.

As I said last issue, I know I’m still missing several projects that should be completed this year (or early next, at the latest), but the three surprises I neglected to include are all located either adjacent to or no more than a mile from where Jannah and I live in the Silversaw apartments on the north side of S.R. 56, just west of I-75, in Lutz.

The most obvious of these, which I’ve reported about at least twice before, is City Furniture. This 120,000-sq.-ft. behemoth — by far the largest furniture store in our area — is taking shape between Silversaw and the existing Floor & Decor store (right). As big as it is (the same size as

the City Furniture in Sarasota), you could nearly fit ten of our City Furnitures inside the company’s 1-million-sq.-ft. warehouse on I-4 in Plant City.

Just now fully cleared and outlined with a silt fence on the former site of Rock & Brews is Portillo’s (below right), the Chicago-style hot dog place that will be 6,250 sq. ft., with double drive-through lanes. Portillo’s is expected to be completed before the end of this year.

And finally, the one that seems to be the biggest concern of many locals is the long-anticipated 5,697-sq.-ft. Hooters restaurant in the parking lot of Harley-Davidson of Wesley Chapel. We were told Hooters had to re-submit its plans to Pasco County, but is expected to be breaking ground very soon. We’ll keep you updated about all of these projects & more! — GN, drone photographs by Charmaine George

Saks OFF 5TH Is Closing — What’s Coming Next?

A big change is coming to the Tampa Premium Outlets, as the Saks OFF 5TH store at the outlet mall is one of 62 Saks OFF 5TH and Last Call stores closing their doors, parent company Saks Global — which is going through the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process — announced earlier this month.

The Lutz/Wesley Chapel Saks OFF 5TH location is one of 34 stores now holding “Store Closing” sales and will reportedly stay open until inventory is sold down. And, our Neighborhood News sales & marketing director (and my wife) Jannah Nager was able to confirm for us at our press time that seemingly all of the inventory inside the store was marked as being at least 20% off original prices and many items were 40% off or more. Jannah also said that there was still plenty of inventory inside Saks OFF 5TH, although there wasn’t much still available in the women’s shoe department.

A note on the door proclaimed “All Sales Final as of Feb. 3,” with no price adjustments made for purchases made after that date. There has not yet been any announcement regarding the future of Saks Global’s other retail brands — Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.

Although Tampa Premium Outlets general manager Shannon Brzuchalski could not confirm or deny that Saks OFF 5TH was closing when we posted this information on our Facebook page on Jan. 30 (she only said that, “We had heard rumors it might be.”), the “Store Closing” signs went up the very next day — and we’ve had more than 112,000 views of that post.

Brzuchalski also said she had not heard anything about the possibility of a JC Penney Outlet coming to replace Saks OFF 5TH at the outlet mall, even though JC Penney recently began posting listings for “Tampa Premium Outlet sales associate” jobs on InDeed. “As far as we know, JC Penney is not coming to the Tampa Premium Outlets,” Brzuchalski told us.

Of course, there already is a JC Penney retail location at The Shops of Wiregrass, and we had no information as to the future of that store, nor were we able to reach anyone at The Shops at Wiregrass regarding that JC Penney location, but this is a developing story and we will keep you posted. For more info, visit SaksGlobal.com. — GN, photos by Jannah Nager

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With the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (JHACH) in Wesley Chapel still about a year away from opening, the All Children’s Specialty Physicians Outpatient Care Wesley Chapel office located at 2905 Allegra Way in the Cypress Bend Professional Park celebrated its one-year anniversary with a big party on Jan. 28, and one message was abundantly clear:

“Everyone wants to be here,” Dr. Justin Olsen (top right photo), the vice president and chief operating officer of JHACH, told the nearly 100 people in attendance at the event. “This original office is already full with physicians and staff and we have had to expand into an additional office — and we’ll probably have to expand again by the time the hospital opens.

Jill Lansky (blonde hair in top left photo), business growth & relationship development director, and Susan Byrd, the senior director of ambulatory services with JHACH, agreed that they were “extremely proud” of the quality of physicians at the office, which is 10 miles away from where the hospital is being built just east of I-75 on the north side of Overpass Rd. at McK endree Rd. and is expected to open in late 2027.

Among those physicians on hand for the event were pediatric gastroenterologist Dr. Michele Winesett (below left), pediatric pulmon ologist Dr. Yanerys Colon-Cortés (below center) and pediatric cardiologist Dr. Daniel Mauriello (below right). Attendees also got to check out the new exam rooms and ultrasound suite.

For more info, call (813) 910-5190 or visit HopkinsMedicine.org. — GN, all photos by Charmaine George

Atlas Performance, Remission Rheumatology & Primrose Wesley Chapel Cut Ribbons

Congratulations go out to three local members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) — las Performance Center, Remission Rheumatolo gy and the new Primrose School of Wesley Chapel — all of which recently cut ribbons with fellow NTBC members.

Atlas Performance (located at 3740 Windcrest Dr., Wesley Chapel), led by Doctor of Chiropractic Ryan Tropf (photo above), hosted its NTBC ribbon-cutting on Jan. 15.

Dr. Tropf explained that, “Through a holistic approach that integrates chiropractic care, fitness training and advanced wellness therapies, we aim to provide a comprehensive solution that addresses the diverse needs and goals of our community. With a commitment to excellence, compassion and integrity, we are dedicated to fostering a culture of empowerment, education and transformation, helping our clients live healthier, happier lives.”

In addition to chiropractic adjustments, Atlas Performance offers compression, red light & cold plunge therapies, a sauna and a hyperbaric chamber to treat a variety of conditions, and also offers a full gym for both performance and rehab training — and more.

For more info, visit AtlasPerformanceCenter.com. or call (813) 710-1999.

Later that same day, tology, the office of Dr. Sehreen Mumtaz, who is double-Board-certified (in both Rheumatology and Internal Medicine) also hosted an NTBC ribbon-cutting event at her office in the Mango Space executive suite at 25200 Sawyer Francis Lane, Suite 123, in Lutz.

During her ribbon-cutting event (right), Dr. Mumtaz (top right photo) explained why she founded Remission Rheumatology:

“During my medical training and early career, I witnessed how patients with autoimmune and rheumatic diseases often experienced delays in diagnosis, disintegrated care and limited follow-up — too often with serious consequences for their quality of life. These patterns revealed a simple truth: individuals with complex, chronic illness deserve more time, clarity and continuity.

a wide range of complex pathology in underserved, high-acuity settings. These experiences sharpened my clinical insight and deepened my belief in the power of patient-centered care. I founded Remission Rheumatology to reimagine what specialty care could look like: unhurried, collaborative and deeply attuned to the whole person. Here, we focus not only on managing disease, but also on restoring

Deanne Fitzpatrick (holding scissors in top photo) hosted an NTBC ribbon-cutting event at their Primrose School of Wesley Chapel (26031 E. County Line Rd.). The Fitzpatricks also own the Primrose School in Tampa Palms.

The event, which included a diaper drive to benefit Primrose School partner West Lakes Early Learning Center in Orlando, also featured a blessing by Rob and Deanne’s son, Pastor Matt Fitzpatrick (with microphone in center photo) of New City Lutheran Church in Orlando, as well as tours (bottom photo) of the beautiful and spacious new learning center for kids from six weeks old through pre-Kindergarten.

The Fitzpatricks opened the doors to the new Primrose School of Wesley Chapel to their young students earlier this month.

For more info, visit PrimroseSchools.com or call (813) 845-8900. — GN, all photos by Charmaine George

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From Copies To Banners To Blueprints, Check Out Office Dynamics!

By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent

Phil Lentsch first opened his Office Dy namics in 1990 and has been serving customers in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area looking for high-quality printed products ever since.

As he enters his 36th year in business, Phil says, “When you do business with us, you’re dealing with someone who has more experience. We offer personalized care, quick turnaround and competitive prices.”

Office Dynamics provides printing, scan ning and shipping — including both color and black-&-white copies — plus a wide variety of products, from business cards, brochures, fliers, booklets, notepads, letterhead, menus, posters, labels and folders to vinyl banners and even blueprints.

The shop is located on E. Fowler Ave. in Temple Terrace, just west of I-75, where Phil moved Office Dynamics about 10 years ago. It’s a quick drive from Phil’s home in Tampa Palms — and from most of Wesley Chapel.

But, if his neighbors prefer not to have to come to him, Phil says he and his team are equipped to handle pretty much any job remotely. “I would say 50 percent of my customers never set foot in my office,” he says. “They send us the art and we ship their job to them.”

He says he delivers printed products practically anywhere, and that he can easily deliver a job to locations across the country.

His team includes three experienced graphic artists, each with more than 25 years in

the printing industry — with most of that experience at Office Dynamics.

“We can create artwork from scratch,” he says, “or we can use your artwork, if you have it.”

Before opening his store, Phil’s background was in marketing, including working for Circle K.When he left that job, he saw a need for a print store in the area, a business that would allow him to use his marketing skills in a business of his own, so he decided to open his own shop.

More than three decades later, he has some customers who have been with him since

the beginning, and others who are just now learning about the superior experience Office Dynamics offers.

Yes, Even Blueprints...Fast!

Office Dynamics specializes in blueprints, which he says not all print and copy shops provide. Phil says he serves contractors, roofing companies, engineers and others who work in construction to provide blueprints fast.

“We do a quick turnaround on blueprints,” he says. “Some of the competition takes

a couple of days, but we usually can get them done within an hour.”

Blueprints aren’t the only things he can make that quickly. In fact, he says, sometimes people come in for trade show products on the same day they need the items. And, as often as possible, his team also will print those jobs within the hour.

He says that posters can usually be printed same-day, while banners typically take two days.

Office Dynamics can certainly accommodate large jobs, as well. “We just did a 45-foot by 6-foot banner for a car dealership,” Phil says.

It’s not just the products that draw people into Office Dynamics, though. It’s also the people. Phil and his team genuinely want to help all of their customers get exactly what they want, even if they don’t always know exactly what that is — or the best way to accomplish their goals.

“We have a personal relationship with our customers,” Phil says. “We get to know what they really need and make sure we always give them the best bang for their buck.”

Cheri Donohue is one customer who values that personal relationship.

Cheri is the retired executive director of the Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Temple Terrace City Council — and she says Office Dynamics is her go-to print shop.

“Everyone is in business to make their business successful,” Cheri says, “but Phil’s jobs come with an investment in your business to help you be successful.”

She explains that if she comes in to order 1,000 of something, Phil might suggest she start with 250 instead. Or, if she wants 50, he might tell her she’ll get a better price if she orders 100.

“The whole team is that way,” Cheri says. “They’ve all worked together for years and years, and what one says, the others back up and make it happen. They’re quite a team.”

She adds that, over the years, she has ordered everything from business programs and invitations to business cards, brochures, signs and banners. And, in all the time she’s ordered from Office Dynamics, she says, “They’ve never missed a deadline.”

And, she adds, they avoid mistakes. “They’ve always been great about making sure I’ve approved a final proof.”

Cheri says she appreciates that Office Dynamics partners with local vendors for anything they don’t produce in-house. “That’s another thing I really like about them,” she says.

“They’re not just ordering online and selling it to you as if they’ve done it themselves.”

Office Dynamics is located at 6720 E.Fowler Ave. It is open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Customers can email their orders at orders@officedynamicstampa.com. Or, call (813) 980-3494. For more information, visit OfficeDynamicsTampa.com or see the ad on page 30.

Dr. Neeraja Jasthi’s Family & Cosmetic Dentistry — Two Decades Of Serving Our Area

By Iris Vitelli Neighborhood News Correspondent

Dr. Neeraja Jasthi, DMD, has lived in New Tampa for 27 years, moving to the area in 1998. Her practice, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry of New Tampa is located in the plaza adjacent to the MidFlorida Credit Union and next to Amscot on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., less than a mile south of the Pasco County line.

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry offers comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages, beginning at age four. Services include general and family dentistry, hygiene and periodontal care, crowns and bridges, cosmetic dentistry, InvisalignTM aligners, veneers, dentures, bonding, white fillings, teeth whitening and dental implants. Dr. Jasthi believes in providing continuity of care for the entire family.

“When I first started the practice, I wanted a place where the whole family could go, “ she says. “Once the mouth is healthy and all the necessary work is completed, if the patient wants, we can then look at enhancing their smile with cosmetic procedures. It’s really a one-stop place for dental care.”

Dr. Jasthi was born in Vizag, India, and attended the Bapuji Dental College in Davanagere, where she initially received her Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree. After moving to the U.S., because of the different requirements in different states regarding the transferability of her degree from India), she again earned her D.M.D. degree (in 1996), this time from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in

Boston, MA. She has been practicing dentistry since 1997 and is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Dental Association, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Florida Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. She established her practice in New Tampa in 2002 before relocating to her current location in 2005.

The practice also includes Dr. Jignesh Patel, who works part-time at the office. Dr. Patel received his Bachelor of Dental Surgery from K.M. Shah Dental College and Hospital in Vandodara, Guijarat, India, in 2011. He then came to the U.S. and attended the University of Southern

California in Los Angeles, CA and received a Certificate Program in Oral Pathology and Radiology in 2024. He received his D.M.D. degree from Nova Southeastern University’s Clearwater, FL, campus in 2025.

Supporting the doctors is a dedicated team of five hygienists, four front office staff members, three dental assistants, and one sterilization technician. The practice culture centers on treating patients like family, with a focus on creating a welcoming, comfortable experience at every visit.

A Personal Focus On Smile Insecurity

The path to dentistry for Dr. Jasthi began

with her own experience as a young patient. “As a child, I struggled with insecurity about my smile,” she says. Like many children with dental issues, she went through orthodontic treatment, including braces, and experienced firsthand how improving her smile affected her confidence. That personal transformation sparked a lasting passion.

“Today, what excites me the most,” she says, “ is the ability to change people’s lives by giving them not only better smiles, but also healthy, pain-free mouths.”

Dr. Jasthi’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that dentistry and a person’s overall health are closely connected. She emphasizes that oral bacteria can affect the entire body and that maintaining good oral health plays a critical role in overall wellness. Through regular preventive care, early diagnosis, patient education and advanced diagnostic technology, she helps patients identify potential issues early and mitigate longterm health risks.

She says that modern dental technology plays an important role in supporting this approach. Digital scanning eliminates traditional goopy impression materials, improving comfort and accuracy while reducing the need for repeat visits. Intraoral cameras allow patients to see detailed images of their teeth and gums on a monitor, making it easier to understand treatment recommendations. Advanced 3D imaging provides detailed views of the teeth, jaw and surrounding bone, which is especially important when planning implant and restorative procedures. One interesting piece of technology Dr.

Jasthi and her staff uses is called Overjet AI. This tech is powered by sophisticated algorithms that analyze a patient’s X-rays and detect subtle changes in a their dental anatomy that may not be immediately apparent to the human eye. It highlights areas of concern, such as early signs of decay or periodontal disease. This AI system also measures the progression of conditions over time, providing a comprehensive overview of the patients dental health.

Implant dentistry is a significant part of the practice. Family & Cosmetic Dentistry offers single implants as well as full-mouth implant solutions. When patients lack sufficient bone, bone grafting options are available, using either synthetic or natural donor material. Procedures may include “All-on-X” treatment, where 4-6 titanium implants fuse with the jawbone over

several months. Patients receive a temporary bridge the same day, followed by a permanent bridge once healing is complete.

Helping Patients Deal With Anxiety

Dr. Jasthi believes patient comfort is essential to successful care. She tries to help her patients “leave fear at the door” and feel confident they are entering a safe, caring environment. While some dental offices rely on gas sedation, her practice does not. Adult patients who are apprehensive are given the option to take oral medication to help calm them before anesthesia is administered, allowing procedures to be completed more comfortably. It’s important to note, however, that she does not offer oral medication to help keep her younger patients calm. Instead, Dr. Jasthi and her staff just try to talk to anxious

school. Caring for everyone, that’s Dr. Jasthi.”

For patients without insurance, major credit cards such as Visa and Mastercard are accepted, as well as PPO insurance plans. For patients without dental insurance, the practice offers an exclusive in-house savings plan. Dr. Jasthi believes that whether or not a patient has insurance should not be an obstacle to getting the care you deserve.

Giving back to the community has always been an important part of Dr. Jasthi’s professional life. Along with volunteering several days each year at various community dental clinics, she has spent the past two years providing care at the Calvary Community Clinic in East Tampa, which offers completely free dental services to individuals who do not have insurance.

children and create a safe environment for them.

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry maintains an outstanding overall Google rating of 4.9 stars out of 5, based on more than 650 reviews.

One long-time patient, Cory C., began seeing Dr. Jasthi after his previous dentist retired. Cory’s daughter was already a patient of Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, and that connection led him to the practice 25 years ago.

“It’s a phenomenal experience. She is so knowledgeable,” Cory says. “She has done many procedures on me with excellent outcomes. She is kind, compassionate, and easy to work with. I don’t know what I will do if she retires. I can’t imagine going to someone else. She’s not only kind to her patients, but she is also kind to her staff. She [also] mentors, and [many] of her staff have gone on to dental school and hygienist

At home, family plays an equally meaningful role. She and her husband Ravi are the parents of two accomplished children. Their daughter Neha is an endodontic dentist practicing in Jersey City, NJ, and their son Rahul is attending the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston.

Her commitment to service, both professionally and personally, is rooted in her belief that everyone deserves access to quality dental care. It is this mindset that continues to guide Dr. Jasthi in her work each day.

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry is located at 20441 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Office hours are Mon.-Thur., 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Fri. Appointments can be made either online at DrJasthi.com or by calling (813) 866-9913. You also can find the practice on Instagram @ doctorjasthi, email questions to frontdesk2@ drjasthi.com, or see the ad on pg. 33.

Bloomin’ Blinds eatments& Repairs

By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent

When Sally Clark and her husband Joe decided to purchase a new home a few months ago, they “didn’t even let any dust gather on the awful builder mini-blinds,” says Sally. “My first call was to Michael. I told him, ‘Get ready. I’m moving again.’”

She’s referring to Michael Imses, who owns the local franchise of Bloomin’ Blinds with his wife Mariana. The couple provides custom win dow treatments to homeowners in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and surrounding areas such as Lutz, Land O’Lakes, Tampa and South Tampa.

Sally knew she wanted to work with Bloomin’ Blinds because Michael had provided window treatments at her two previous homes not too long ago.

Back in 2021, the Clarks had lived in their Valrico home for more than two decades and wanted to freshen things up, so they hired Bloomin’ Blinds to help.

“I really didn’t know what I wanted,” Sally says, “so Michael showed me a whole bunch of shades, shutters and blinds. He discussed all the different things we could get and what would look good, and we talked about color schemes. He has the patience of a saint.”

Sally was happy with her decision to add shutters throughout the house, but even with the renovations, she and Joe decided it was time to leave their long-time home and move closer to their daughter in Wesley Chapel. They bought a home in Esplanade at Wiregrass Ranch.

Once again, she says Michael spent lots of time explaining all of their options and giving them advice as to what would look best in their new home.

And once again, she has been thrilled with the results. This time, in addition to shutters, she added blinds to the home’s sliding doors.

Now, having recently finished her third home, Sally says she continues to recommend Michael without hesitation. “He’s fair and honest, and offers good prices,” she says, “and he’s the nicest person to deal with.”

to raise and lower cordless shades so the fabric doesn’t get damaged.

But, Michael says, the good news is that, if anything does happen, you’re covered.

“Our warranty is great,” Michael says. “With us, customers don’t have to worry about if anything breaks because we always repair or replace our products for free.”

That’s one reason Michael and Mariana chose to become Bloomin’ Blinds franchise owners. They like that the company offers high-quality products, backed by a guarantee, so customers can have peace of mind about the investment they make in their homes.

They are both accountants, and about seven years ago — around the same time their only daughter was born — they decided that they wanted to own their own business.

Michael says he takes his time with his customers because he wants them to be well educated. For example, on all of its custom plantation shutters, blinds, shades and drapes, Bloomin’ Blinds offers a lifetime warranty on its products, and also provides repairs.

“Once we install a product,” he says, “we guide our clients well on how to use it. That’s very important and will minimize warranty calls.”

That includes a number of tips — such as how to ensure that customers don’t overcharge their motorized window treatments, and how

They found Bloomin’ Blinds, a 25-year-old company that started in Dallas, TX, and began franchising within the last decade. There are now about 75 locations across the nation, including nine in the Sunshine State.

For window coverings such as roller shades, cellular shades, plantation shutters or blinds, Bloomin’ Blinds provides custom treatments direct from the factory, so the quality is much better than what you would buy off the shelf at a big box or home improvement store.

Michael says Bloomin’ Blinds sells Norman shutters, Graber window treatments, and Alta window fashions, among other brands — and notes that motorized, smartphone-operated shades also are available.

“We’re not a big corporation where people have to call and call and wait on the line for a long time to be transferred to someone who can help them,” Michael says. “We’re a small, family-owned local business and people love that we’re easy to communicate with.”

While Bloomin’ Blinds will replace anything that needs to be replaced, Michael and his crew can often make repairs on the spot, or come back soon if a part needs to be ordered.

In fact, if you have another company’s window treatments you already love in your home, and something breaks, such as a slat or a tilter, Bloomin’ Blinds will come out to provide a free estimate for the repair.

Michael says he recently repaired a window treatment for a homeowner who had a warranty from another company.

“She said they were giving her a hard time,” he explains, “She finally got so fed up with trying to get it fixed under warranty, so she decided to call us — and we were able to help her. She’s now very happy.”

He explains that since Bloomin’ Blinds didn’t install the product, there was a charge for the repair, but if he had installed it originally, there would have been no charge for the same work.

Bloomin’ Blinds provides a free estimate

in your home, allowing Michael to show you the available products in your own environment. That means colors and styles can be best matched to your existing décor, and you can see exactly what it all will look like in your space.

“We bring all the samples and colors to our customers,” he says, “we help them pick out what would work best, and share all that we’ve learned from our experience.”

Another advantage of Bloomin’ Blinds always

coming to you is that the business doesn’t have a lot of overhead expenses so, Michael says, “We can usually give our customers a better price.”

While plantation shutters continue to be a popular option in most homes, Michael says that, lately, Bloomin’ Blinds has been providing draperies (above) for many homeowners. These are often stationary panels that add a new color to the room or make an existing color “pop.”

Michael says he usually can install your new window coverings just three to four weeks after you order them, although shutters may take just a little longer.

Bloomin’ Blinds comes to you and offers a free in-home estimate. To schedule an appointment, call (813) 444-5536. Or, for more information, visit BloominBlinds.com or see the ad on page 34.

Murtha & Flischel CPAs Can Get You & Your Business Ready For Tax Season

By Joey Stanziani Neighborhood News Correspondent

With the inevitable, annual tax season arriving now, the firm of Murtha & Flischel Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) is already focused on preparation, staffing and proactive planning to help individuals and businesses avoid last-minute surprises.

Based in the Seven Oaks Professional Park off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, with a second office in Zephyrhills, Murtha & Flischel was founded by Thomas Murtha and his son, Patrick Murtha, with partner Kyle Flischel joining in 2014. These days, Tom focuses on mentoring and training newer accountants, while Patrick and Kyle handle the majority of the firm’s dayto-day management and client operations.

Heading into this tax season, Murtha & Flischel is employing 14 full-time staff members, including the three partners, and plans to bring on seasonal employees to meet high administrative demands. Since featuring Murtha & Flischel in these pages last year, the firm has added three additional junior accounting staff members.

Patrick says Murtha & Flischel hires ahead of tax season to ensure company flow during its busiest months. “Our strategy historically has been to hire more staff before our current staff is at capacity,” Patrick says. “It ensures that the client experience remains superior, which is our number one priority.”

Several seasoned team members play critical roles in maintaining Murtha & Flischel’s high-quality practices. Kaitlyn Kociba, who

started as an intern while attending Central Michigan University, is the senior tax and accounting manager who oversees four junior accounting staff members.

Kaitlyn Little, who also started as an intern while attending St. Leo’s University near Dade City, is the firm’s Zephyrhills senior tax specialist who handles clients in both Zephyrhills and several in Wesley Chapel.

Lourdes (“Lou”) Alers serves as Murtha & Flischel’s office director. She manages administrative operations and oversees the administrative staff and has created internal practices that improve efficiency for clients throughout the year.

Murtha & Flischel currently is seeking seasonal employees for data entry and administrative support. Patrick says these roles offer great opportunities for college students to gain real-world experience and notes that many interns who start with the firm this way go on to become full-time employees after graduation.

In addition to tax preparation, Murtha & Flischel CPAs offers advisory support for business owners through its Chief Financial Office (CFO) Retainer Program, which includes accounting/bookkeeping services, tax preparation, tax planning and corporate financial planning.

Patrick says that the program has become

popular over the years, due to the firm’s wealth of resources available to its clients.

“We have dozens of business clients currently working with us via this CFO Retainer Program,” Patrick says. “Our clients love having our team of experts at their disposal for any and all financial and tax-related events and concerns throughout the year.”

The program’s success is one reason Murtha & Flischel continues to hire more junior accounting staff to keep up with demand.

In a recent example of the CFO program in action, the firm identified a $40,000 overpayment on a construction materials invoice. After flagging the invoice and alerting the client, the client was able to recover the funds.

In addition to identifying invoice errors, the CFO program enables businesses to plan well in advance for potential tax obligations. Throughout the year, Murtha & Flischel works with clients to create strategies to minimize tax liability far in advance of tax deadlines.

‘Big Beautiful’ Tax Law Changes

This tax season, several tax law changes are affecting 2025 filings, many of which are attributed to President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” and Kyle says that many clients are contacting Murtha & Flischel’s partners for clarification on what has changed.

While Florida-specific tax rules remain largely unchanged, Federal tax updates can still affect Florida individual and corporate taxpayers, including the elimination of taxes on overtime and tips, the expiration of the solar power tax

credit, increased senior deductions, and higher state and local property-plus-sales tax deduction limits. Patrick says he and the other partners are working directly with clients to help them understand and adapt to these changes.

Murtha & Flischel delivers detailed explanations of tax law changes and updates through direct client communication, both in the firm’s newsletter and through business consulting with Patrick, Kyle and Tom.

Beyond tax filing, Murtha & Flischel offers exit planning and consulting services to clients who may wish to sell their businesses, whether soon or in the future. The firm assists in determining the business’ market value, identifying any weaknesses, and improving overall optimization to ensure success in a future sale.

A possible expansion by opening a third Murtha & Flischel office remains a long-term consideration for the partners — whether through acquisition or organic growth. But for now, Patrick, Kyle and Tom are focused on serving their clients through this tax season before revisiting any expansion ideas.

With another tax season kicking off, Murtha & Flischel CPAs continues to position itself as a resource for the Wesley Chapel area, ready to assist clients with all of their tax needs.

The Wesley Chapel office of Murtha & Flischel CPAs is located at 2236 Ashley Oaks Cir., Suite 101. For more information, call (813)991-1120, visit TampaTaxFirm.com or see the ad on pg. 40. The firm also has a location at 5315 8th St., Zephyrhills.

•Ozone therapy for oral care

•Recommendation of non-toxic materials

•Sedation dentistry (nitrous oxide) and Sedation

•Invisalign First for children & Invisalign Teen

•Digital 3D scans, ITERO (no goop) and digital X-rays

•Laser dentistry (release of tongue tie for infants, children and teens)

•Relaxed environment, so your children can enjoy their visit

UR Cabinets Wants To Help Transform Your Home Into Your Dream Home

By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent

Dale and Ashley Long are the husbandand-wife team who own UR Cabinets Central Florida, which is based in Plant City but serves the entire central part of the state, from west coast to east coast, and anywhere from Ocala in the north to Fort Myers in the south.

Both Dale and Ashley were born and raised in the Tampa Bay area. Ashley is from Plant City, but the pair bought their first home and spent eight years together in Land O’Lakes, where Dale grew up.

“Bruce B. Downs (Blvd.) is kind of the middle ground of where we’re both from,” explains Dale. They want to be sure that Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News readers know they can reach out to a local company for custom cabinets for any home remodeling job.

“[Our Plant City showroom is] only about 20 minutes from Wesley Chapel,” says Dale. “It’s a quick hop on the interstate, and we believe it’s worth the drive to pay a visit to us.”

But, Ashley adds, it’s not always necessary to come to the UR Cabinets showroom.

“If people don’t know what they want, then yes, come look at our samples,” Ashley says. “We have several little kitchens where they can touch, feel and see the differences between the paints and the stains, the different lines and what we can do in each line to meet their needs. You have an opportunity to get educated here, and the more we educate you, the happier you’ll be at the end.”

On the other hand, if you already know

what you’re looking for, UR Cabinets will come to your home to take measurements and help you choose the products that will make your vision come to life.

“If you know exactly what you’re envisioning, we can do that without you coming to the showroom,” Ashley explains, saying the only exception is that UR Cabinets won’t order cabinets for you unless you’ve seen them in person, so sometimes that quick trip is still necessary.

Ashley says the team can work with you, whether you’re looking for anything from the

most budget-friendly options, up to completely customized cabinets made to replicate your favorite pin on Pinterest.

Most often, she says, UR Cabinets customers will choose a semi-custom option, where standard cabinets are used, but the company makes changes to create a two-tone kitchen, modify cabinets, or customize certain pieces. In fact, UR Cabinets has 30 different cabinet lines that are not available directly to the public.

Dale says that with the customization options available and the experience of the team,

“We’re able to modify some cabinets and bring a custom aspect into your kitchen without a custom price. We’re willing to go above and beyond to help our customers.”

Ashley adds, “We can customize, and still keep it affordable for you. We keep as much as we can [standard] to meet your budget, and only alter the things you really want, to provide the kitchen of your dreams on a budget.”

While kitchens are their most common build, UR Cabinets also provides cabinets for bathrooms, closets, garages, laundry rooms, butler pantries, and the currently trendy “sculleries” — those “wet areas” for prep food and washing dishes away from the main kitchen and out of the sight of your guests.

But, if you want truly custom cabinets, UR Cabinets can build completely custom options in a millwork shop or order from a custom line.

Dale and Ashley often help families looking to remodel their homes, but UR Cabinets also is trusted by many local homebuilders to install all of the cabinets and countertops throughout new, custom-built homes. The team also can build to specification for commercial cabinets, or even from blueprints.

A Family Connection

Dale’s younger brother Jordan founded and still owns the original UR Cabinets, located on W.Kennedy Blvd. in South Tampa. While the brothers share the name and Jordan serves as a mentor to Dale, the companies are completely separate entities.

Both brothers started in the business with

their uncle, a cabinet installation contractor. Dale eventually became an industrial boilermaker, but continued to install cabinetry part time, until he started UR Cabinets Central Florida in 2019.

Ashley taught elementary school for 12 years, but joined her husband at UR Cabinets full time three years ago.

Dale and Ashley have been married since 2007. They have two daughters, one who is 18 and recently graduated from high school, and another who is 10 and attends school at First Baptist Brandon, where the family also goes to church.

While UR Cabinets was originally named for Urban Resto, and was Jordan’s original business building urban furniture, Ashley says she sees UR as an abbreviation for “your” and the perfect name for what they do, using the tag line “Ur Cabinets, Our Expertise.”

“Our job is to make ‘ur’ dream kitchen or

Ashley come to the new home for a consultation, they also spent time at the family’s prior location.

‘ur’ dream closet,” Ashley says, “and to make ‘ur’ experience phenomenal.”

The UR Cabinets team includes: Rich, a full-time designer who works in the showroom and accompanies Dale on in-home consultations. Malai, who is the office manager, handles scheduling, deliveries and invoicing and keeps customers in the loop during the entire process. And, Caressa works in the showroom and answers the phones.

The company also employs one full-time installer. But, when needed, Dale also can call on a team of subcontractors he trusts — people he has personally vetted and holds accountable to his high standards.

Ashley says UR Cabinets has a small-town vibe and last year won the Plant City Chamber of Commerce (PCCC)’s award for Best Customer Service. This year, the company is nominated

for PCCC’s Emerging Leader and Business of the Year awards.

“We put customer service first,” Dale says. “We always take the time to make the small things matter. We listen to our customers and do all we can to bring their vision to life.”

He says once people get to know UR Cabinets, they often continue to hire the company for future jobs and refer friends and family.

“We have one family we’ve done five kitchens for,” Dale says. “Every time they move, we do their new kitchen.”

Stephanie Varnum’s mom lost her husband of 56 years and, after a lot of thoughtful consideration, finally decided to downsize, selling the home her husband had lovingly made perfect for them. Stephanie turned to UR Cabinets to help her mom feel at home at a new, much smaller house.

Stephanie raves that not only did Dale and

“Mom wanted them to see what they had, and what my dad had provided,” Stephanie says. “They were so kind and patient and went through every room. She wanted to show them all the bathrooms, the laundry room, the kitchen, what she liked about them, and what she would want at the new home.”

Stephanie says Dale and Ashley then made suggestions for the new home based on the existing home, and Pinterest pictures. “They drew up plans, then made a few tweaks,” Stephanie explains. “Dale is very creative and was wonderful in making changes and adding his own ideas. They came up with the perfect kitchen and bathroom. It’s really beautiful.”

Stephanie said it was challenging for her mom to make decisions without her dad for the first time. “[Dale and Ashley] were so tender with her and sensitive to her loss,” she explains. She appreciated that communication with the team was great, with someone always available to answer the phone, phone calls returned quickly and emails and texts also used.

“They were very personal,” Stephanie says. “We have a remodel coming up in the next year or two and we’ll definitely be using them again.” UR Cabinets Central Florida is located at 104 W. Reynolds St., Suite 4, in Plant City. It’s open Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and by appointment only on weekends. For more info, call (813) 785-1033, visit URCabinetsCFL. com, or see the ad on page 40.

New RARE 1981 At Saddlebrook Resort Is

By Gary Nager

Photos by Charmaine George

Edwardo “Eddie” Torres, the director of restaurants at Saddlebrook Resort, says that working for the late founder and former owner of the resort Tom Dempsey and the resort’s Dempsey’s Steak House gave him a pretty good idea of what an upscale restaurant should be.

“Mr. Dempsey loved Dempsey’s and so did I,” Eddie told me on my most recent visit, when I told him that I had named the resort’s new RARE 1981 restaurant— which only opened in Nov. 2025 — as my 2025 Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel. “We want our guests to love RARE 1981 as much as they loved Dempsey’s.”

Eddie, chef Mark Davis and their outstanding crew at RARE 1981 are off to an amazing start, at least in one editor’s humble opinion.

Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I have now already dined at RARE 1981 four times, including the Media Preview day on Nov. 20, and we all keep finding new favorites.

The filet mignon (top right on this page) and the bone-in ribeye at the top of the next page are both so tender that Jannah (who usually finds ribeyes too chewy) said RARE 1981’s ribeye was the best she ever tasted, and it was perfectly seasoned and cooked to medium rare perfection.

The fresh fish on the menu, including the

recently revamped blackened mahi-mahi at the top left of page 36, is flaky and oh-so flavorful and Eddie says that the blackened spice mixture is absolutely house-made.

We’ve also enjoyed the pork osso bucco, ahi tuna tartare, the baby romaine Caesar salad, the seared snapper, the crispy Brussels sprouts, the charred broccolini and most recently, the

orecchiette (ear-shaped) pasta above right). We topped the pasta with grilled chicken and it was absolutely awesome.

Save room for the desserts, especially the house-made bread pudding (right) and the densest, creamiest guava cheesecake ever.

RARE 1981 isn’t cheap, but it is worth every penny. Tell Eddie and Mark I sent you!

Gary’s 2025 Top-25 Favorite Wesley Chapel Restaurants

1.Rare 1981 (top photo)

2.Zukku-San (middle)

3.Tallo Restaurant (bottom)

4.Falabella Family Bistro

5.Pisco Express

6.Azteca D’Oro

7.Arroy Thai

8.Señor Tequila

9.Grillsmith

10.Noble Crust

11.Inchin’s Bamboo Garden

12.Yamato Japanese Restaurant

13.NY NY Pizza

14.Amici Pizza

15.Food + Beer

16.Umu Japanese & Thai

17.Blush Wine Room

18.Bonsai Sushi

19.Roong Aroon Thai Café

20.PeppaJak

21.Fratelli’s Pizza & Café

22.900º Woodfired Pizza

23.Los Vallartas

24. 365 Woodfired & NY Pizza

25.Rudraksh Indian Cuisine

Gary’s 2025 Top-25 Favorite New Tampa Restaurants

1. Grill at Morris Bridge (top photo)

2.Stonewood Grill & Tavern (middle)

3.Lima Peruvian Cuisine (bottom)

4.Las Palmas Latin Grill

5.Via Italia

6.Fat Rabbit Pub

7.Frammi American& Italian

8.Johnny C’s Italian Eatery

9.Kobe Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse

10.Liang’s Bistro Asian Cuisine

11.Sushi Café

12.Cali Tampa Palms

13.Box of Cubans

14.Sushi Time

15.Bayscape Bistro

16.Ha Long Bay

17.Rain Bistro

18.Taste of NY Pizza

19.Palm Thai

20. Peabody’s Restaurant, Bar & Billiards

21.Thai Lanna

22.Gorkhali Kitchen

23.EggTown Breakfast & Lunch

24.Nawabi Hyderabad House

25.Sushi Masa

Neighborhood News Editor Gary Nager’s 2025 Favorite Restaurants In Wesley Chapel

1. RARE 1981

5700 Saddlebrook Way • Saddlebrook Resort (813) 907-4586 • Rare1981.com or see story on pg. 34

As I said in my longer write-up on page 34, RARE 1981 is off to a flying start, with some of the best fresh fish (like the blackened mahi-mahi on a bed of coconut rice, Green Goddess sauce, chili oil and seasonal veggie (right), as well as my Favorite Steak in New Tampa (NT) & Wesley Chapel (WC) — and many other delicious appetizers, entrées, sides & desserts. If you’re tired of all the chain restaurants in Wesley Chapel, RARE 1981 should become your new go-to individuallyowned restaurant — like it is now mine!

2. Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill

25916 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz (813) 419-1351 • ZukkuSushi.com or see the ad on pg. 39

My 2024 #1 Favorite Restaurant in WC didn’t drop too far in my rankings this year, as Zukku-San continues to be my Favorite Japanese Restaurant in NT & WC, for having the best assortment of appetizers — like the deep-fried pork gyoza dumplings shown here, the best tempura, great steak and chicken yakitori, tasty tuna tataki and artistically fresh sushi, plus dishes like the grilled short ribs, wok-fired udon or hibachi noodles and my favorite Japanese-style fried rice (see pg. 38).

3. Tallo Restaurant

4424 Friendly Way, #105 • Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel (813) 355-3603 • TalloRestaurant.com or see the ad below

If Tallo, which opened back in May 2025, had a little bit bigger menu, it might have been able to grab my #1 ranking this year. That’s how much I enjoy Chef José Soto’s unique AmericanCaribbean fusion menu. Coming in at #3 in WC in my rankings in only half a year of being in business speaks volumes. I love the lemon “airline” chicken shown here, the Asian “pig wings” (see pg. 35), the Cuatro Carnes (four meats) flatbread, the churrasco, ribeye & filet mignon steaks, fresh fish specials, the brunch and the gorgeous bar and atmosphere at Tallo!

NOW OPEN for Brunch!

Saturday & Sunday, 11am-3pm

Tallo Restaurant & Bar and La Creación Bakery have teamed up to bring you an exclusive weekend brunch!

Join us to enjoy the perfect blend of flavors, crafted together for your Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Tallo American/Cariibbean Restaurant & Bar

4424 Friendly Way, #105

Downtown Avalon Park, Wesley Chapel OPEN FOR DINNER TUESDAY-SUNDAY (check website for open hours each day) For reservations & more info, call 813.355.3603 or visit TalloRestaurant.com

4. Falabella Family Bistro

6027 Wesley Grove Blvd., The Village At The Grove (813) 428-6957 • FalabellaBistro.com

Speaking of specials, Jannah and I like the regular menu at Steve Falabella’s bistro, but what keeps bringing me back are the weekly weekend specials, from standards like chicken Francese to the cavatelli with spicy Italian sausage shown here, halibut topped with garlic sauce, spicy Calabrese calamari and so many more. Among the regular menu items we love are the crispy zucchini, the Sam’s meatballs, chicken parmesan & ricotta gnocchi Bolognese. And, the full liquor bar is another plus.

5. Pisco Express

.5903 Goldview Pkwy., #109, The KRATE at The Grove Container Park (813) 703-2725 • Facebook/Pisco Express

Although I still enjoy many of the restaurants at the KRATEs, I read a lot of complaints about the container park on social media. What I don’t see is a lot of chatter about Pisco Express, the Peruvian Chinese fusion place that has some of the best food not only at the KRATEs, but in all of Wesley Chapel! Try the tallarin with chicken shown here, the equally delicious ceviche de pescado, the fried wontons, the lomo saltado steak, the chaufa (fried rice)...everything!

6. Azteca D’Oro

2000 Piazza Ave., #170 • The Shops at Wiregrass (813) 527-6033 • AztecaDoro.com or see the ad on pg. 37

Every time Jannah, Charmaine and I visit Azteca, we always try to sample new items we haven’t tried before. Yes, the tableside guacamole, steak and chicken fajitas and chicken taquitos (right) are always great, but have you tried the pollo asado al carbon, the unique birria pizza, the mini empanadas, the borrego (lamb shank) or my new favorite, the carnitas Michoacanas (slow-simmered, crisp pork chunks)? Azteca also now has a great brunch menu, a beautiful, full-liquor indoor-outdoor bar, occasional entertainment and now, you can “roll a 3, eat for free” (see the ad on pg. 37).

7.Arroy Thai

27427 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Pinebrook At The Grove plaza (813)501-4924 • ArroyThaiWesleyChapel.com

Although there are lots of great Thai places in New Tampa, in Wesley Chapel, I only need one — Arroy Thai. This unassuming-looking place has the best Thai spring rolls (right) and the best crispy duck with fresh ginger or garlic & black pepper sauce (order the sauce on the side to keep that duck crisp!) & the best Thaistyle house fried rice in the Chap. Arroy Thai now also has fresh sushi, but that’s just a bonus to me.

8.Señor Tequila

1640 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.., The Shoppes At New Tampa of Wesley Chapel (813)428-5411 • TheSenorTequila.com or see the story on pg. 44

You can find out all of the reasons why I love Señor Tequila by reading the full-length story on pg. 44, but even with all of the new items Jannah, Charmaine & I sampled on our most recent visit detailed in that story, there are other great dishes, like the fish ceviche shown here, as well as the Señor Tequila appetizer sampler, the pollo ranchero or mole ranchero and the chili verde with medium-hot green sauce. And, with Señor Tequila’s full liquor bar and Happy Hour and other drink specials (see ad on pg. 2), your meal is sure to please!

9.Grillsmith

2000 Piazza Ave., #100 • The Shops at Wiregrass (813)907-1900 • Grillsmith.com/Wesley-Chapel

There’s lots of reasons why Grillsmith is the only original restaurant at The Shops at Wiregrass still open — but the biggest reason is that it has always served great food at fair prices. Among my favorite dishes are the crunchy ahi tuna shown here, the smoked salmon bruschetta, the prime filet & NY strip steaks and the fresh catch. In addition to the grouper and mahi most places serve, the Grillsmith catch can be cobia, corvina, pompano or even wahoo. We also enjoy the lemon feta chicken, the au gratin potatoes and smashed cauliflower.

10.Noble Crust

28330 Paseo Dr. • The Shops at Wiregrass (813)703-2602 • Noble-Crust.com/Wesley-Chapel

The only reason I’ve never really ranked Noble Crust in my rankings as high as our readers do is because I always feel like the menu limits my options. Yes, I love items like the chicken fried chicen parm, the bucatini + meatballs, Southern fried chicken, the meatball smash sandwich shown here, the pizzas and even the lamb Bolognese cavatappi, but there’s only one steak and no fish other than salmon on the menu. And, while Jannah and I love the bar, the place is always so packed it’s hard to find a seat.

Neighborhood News Editor Gary Nager’s 2025 Other Favorites In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel

Gary’s

Favorite Pizza Places In NT & WC

My favorite pizza place in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel hasn’t changed over the past few years. NY NY’s Grandma’s (photo) and sausage & pepperoni pizzas still get my nod over Amici, but all five of these are solid NY-style places.

1. NY NY Pizza (photo)

2.Amici Pizza

3.Taste of NY Pizza

4.Fratelli’s

5.PizzaMania

Gary’s Favorite Steak Places In NT & WC

Even though RARE 1981 gets my vote as #1 this year, The Grill at Morris Bridge & Stonewood aren’t far behind. I also really enjoy the steaks at Tallo and Longhorn is my favorite of the chains, just ahead of Kobé.

1. RARE 1981 (photo)

2.The Grill at Morris Bridge

3.Stonewood Grill & Tavern

4. Tallo Restaurant

5.Longhorn Steakhouse

Gary’s Favorite Chinese Food In NT & WC

Here’s the bottom line for me:

I crave NY-style egg rolls (photo) & BBQ spareribs and Liang’s is the only place in NT or WC that has both, even though their other menu items aren’t NY style. Both Rain and Inchin’s are just a tad behind Liang’s.

1. Liang’s Bistro (photo)

2.Rain Bistro

3.Inchin’s Bamboo Garden

4.Hot Wok 88

5.Gonna China

Gary’s Favorite Japanese Food In NT & WC

I told you on page 36 why Zukku-San is my #2 Favorite Restaurant in WC, but while both Kobé & Yamato are solid Japanese steakhouses and there are at least five other really good sushi places in our area. Sushi Café & Sushi Time both just beat out Umu, Bonsai, Sushi Masa & Crazy Sushi.

1. Zukku-San (photo)

2.Kobé Japanese Steakhouse

3.Sushi Café

4. Sushi Time

5.Yamato Japanese Steakhouse

Gary’s Favorite Indian Food In NT & WC

I never thought there would even be five Indian restaurants I would like in our area, but I really enjoy all five on my list below, with Rudraksh just ahead of Persis, Inchin’s just an inch behind those two, the Nepalese Gorkhali & Nawabi. Love ‘em all!

1. Rudraksh (photo)

2.Persis Indian Grill

3.Inchin’s Bamboo Garden

4.Gorkhali Kitchen

5.Nawabi Hyderabad House

Gary’s Favorite Thai Food In NT & WC

Thai Ruby in Tampa Palms is close behind these five, but Arroy, Palm, Roong Aroon & Lanna are all a cut above Umu & Ruby for me. I don’t need Thai places to also have sushi, but that seems to be a thing these days.

1. Arroy Thai (photo)

2. Palm Thai

3.Roong Aroon Thai Café

4. Thai Lanna

5.Umu Japanese & Thai

Gary’s Favorite Italian Food (not pizza) In NT & WC

This category is so close for me. The top four all have great pasta, with Via just a hair ahead of Frammi & Falabella having the best weekly specials. For me, Noble Crust’s “Southern” Italian is just a smidge below the top 3 & all 3 pizza places at #5 are solid, too.

1. Via Italia (photo)

2.Frammi

3.Falabella Bistro

4.Noble Crust

5.(tie) Amici, Fratelli’s & NY NY

Gary’s Favorite Mexican Food In NT & WC

Another really tough category for me, as I couldn’t argue with anyone selecting any of the top-4 below as their favorite. Vallarta’s definitely isn’t as high-end as the others on this list, but Jannah & I have had good meals there, too.

1. Azteca D’Oro (photo)

2. Señor Tequila

3.Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant

4.Cantina Mexican Restaurant

5.Los Vallartas

We now have so many quality Latin restaurants that great places like Box of Cubans, Mojo Grill, Grilltopia, La Creacion Express, Tacos el Patron, Latin Twist and even CAO can’t crack my top-5.

1. Lima Peruvian Cuisine (photo)

2.Tallo Restaurant

3.Las Palmas Latin Grill

4.Pisco Express

5.Rice N Beans Puerto Rico

Gary’s Favorite Bars In NT & WC

Stonewood has the best bar crowd, but The Grill is just behind it, Tallo is the most beautiful bar and Fat Rabbit a touch behind those 3. Joe Whiskey’s is mine & Jannah’s favorite dive bar, Food+Beer is a great new place & I still also love Brass Tap, Noble Crust, Azteca, Grillsmith & Living Room for drinks.

1. Stonewood (photo)

2.The Grill at Morris Bridge

3. Tallo Restaurant

4.Fat Rabbit Pub

5.(tie) Joe Whiskey’s & Food+Beer

Gary’s Favorite Breakfast In NT & WC

This is another tough category, as EggTown & Brunchies both have excellent breakfast food, Happy Hangar has the cool airport atmosphere and Box of Cubans’ breakfast sandwiches on Cuban bread are just so good, too.

1. EggTown (photo)

Gary’s Favorite Ice Cream In NT & WC

The new OddFellows is the first place in our area to seriously challenge Ice Dreammm for my #1. Ice Ssscreamin’ and Bruster’s (my former long-time #1) both have the delicious banana and peanut butter flavors I crave, too. I still enjoy Coldstone & Astro, as well and I also love Twistee Treat and Culver’s.

1. Ice Dreammm Shop (photo)

Gary’s Favorite Bakeries In NT & WC

I never would have thought that we’d have five bakeries I’d love in our area, but these 5 kept Moschella’s, The Cake Shop and Cookie Plug & Crumbl outside and looking in. Try that quiche at Bakery X if you never have before. 1. Bakery X (photo)

Paris Baguette

Nothing Bundt Cakes

Le Macaron

Tous les Jours

Gary’s Favorite Coffee In NT & WC

I have to have good coffee and although I still have most of mine at home, I do sometimes go out for a cup of Joe, but Coffee Latitudes is my clear #1. Just missing this list are Bad Ass, Sorbo, Rice N Beans, Raining Berries and Provisions. EggTown has great coffee, too.

Neighborhood News Editor Gary Nager’s

The Grill At Morris Bridge Is Again

By Gary Nager

Photos by Charmaine George

The Grill at Morris Bridge, the amazing mom-and-pop restaurant owned and operated by Massachusetts native Frank Gouveia, has been my Favorite (or, at least, #2 Favorite) restaurant in New Tampa pretty much since the day it opened a little more than four years ago (in Dec. 2021).

But, the addition last year of Executive Chef Mike Touranjoe has made it even harder for me to really stray from The Grill as my #1 choice. After all, I’m the kind of guy who loves it when an upscale restaurant offers ever-changing specials to go with a standard menu of great steaks and fresh fish and Chef Mike is the kind of guy who readily admits that he gets a little bored making the same dishes over and over.

“Once I’ve been there, done that, it’s time to move on,” he says. “I always want to experiment with new menu items.”

Are we not a culinary match made in heaven? You don’t know the half of it yet.

Among the ongoing events Frank — who previously worked in the wine distribution business — and Chef Mike have collaborated on have been The Grill’s frequent wine dinners.

Frank brings in his friends who supply his restaurant with the top assortment of outstanding wines in New Tampa and Chef Mike pairs each selection with a perfectly complementary dish in a

four-course gourmet meal. The next such event, coming up on Wednesday, February 25, is a Duckhorn Vineyards wine dinner. The meal will include a Sonoma-Cutrer sauvignon blanc reception wine, a Florida citrus salad (paired with a Greenwing pinot noir from the Williamette Valley of Oregon), pork tenderloin & grits (paired with a Decoy red blend from Alexander Valley),

a

and

pears (paired with a Duckhorn Napa Cabernet Sauvignon). Call the restaurant ASAP (see phone number on next page) because these wine dinners do usually sell out at $99 per person (plus tax & gratuity).

“I appreciate that Frank allows me to get really creative with the pairings,” says Chef Mike.

“A lot of the dishes I create for these dinners end up on the menu — at least for a while.” In short, from some of mine and Jannah’s favorite steaks and fish entrées to unique pastas, the best local wine list and amazing craft cocktails — plus the locally famous South Shore bar pizza — there are so many reasons why The Grill is my #1 Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa.

Neighborhood News Editor Gary Nager’s 2025 Favorite Restaurants In New Tampa

1. The Grill at Morris Bridge

10920 Cross Creek Blvd., Cross Creek Commons (813) 388-5353 • TheGrillatMorrisBridge.com; or see the ad below

3. Lima Peruvian Cuisine

19062 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., New Tampa Center (813) 304-0205 • LimaTampa.com

As described on the previous page, there are plenty of reasons why The Grill at Morris Bridge is my #1 Favorite Restaurant in New Tampa. The pan-seared Florida grouper (right) is just one of many entrée favorites, and Jannah says no one makes a better sparkling French Martini (left) than The Grill. I also love The Grill’s grilled Caesar salad, 8-oz.

filet mignon, 14-oz. NY strip, braised beef short ribs and Italian faves like the meatball appetizer and baked rigatoni. All so good!

2. Stonewood Grill & Tavern

17050 Palm Pointe Dr., Shoppes at The Pointe, Tampa Palms (813) 978-0388 • StonewoodGrill.com

It’s sad that only one of these two restaurants can be #1 with yours truly, because there are few things Jannah and I love more than hanging at the #1 bar scene in New Tampa (she says very few places make a comparable Cosmo) and enjoying

I’m still stunned every time long-time locals tell me they’ve never eaten at — or even heard of — Lima. Owner/chef Oscar Escudero offers amazing takes on what much more respected experts than I am call the world’s top-rated Latin cuisine — Peruvian food. Lima has the best ceviché de pescado (fish) in town (right), the best Chinese-influenced lo mein-style tallarin saltado de pollo (sautéed noodles with chicken, tomatoes and onions in a soy-based sauce) & features its locally famous Peruvian rotisserie chicken & much more.

4. Las Palmas Latin Grill

6431 E. County Line Rd., #104 (813) 991-5500 • LasPalmasLatinGrill.com

Yes, owner/chef Ramses Garcia does have award-winning Cuban sandwiches, but the reason I rate his place so highly is because of his amazing Cuban/Latin entrées — like the vaca frita (crispy shredded beef) shown here, as well as mojo-roasted pork, grilled pork chops, fried pork bites, palomilla (grilled or breaded) steak, chimichurri skirt steak, golden seared chicken fillet and pan-seared fish fillet. I love his house salad with homemade creamy herbal dressing, and beef and chicken empanadas, too.

Neighborhood News Editor Gary Nager’s 2025 Favorite Restaurants In New Tampa

5.Via Italia

8644 Hunters Village Rd., The Village at Hunter’s Lake (813)475-4857 • EatViaItalia.com

I’ve said it almost every year since it opened, but I still wish that Via Italia would add a fresh fish special and grilled steaks and chops to go with the restaurant’s incredible array of pastas — from the penne pesto Genovese shown here to great linguine alla vongole (clams), cavatelli con salsiccia & broccoli rabe and so many more that Jannah and I sometimes forget that Via Italia has great pizza, too.

6.Fat Rabbit Pub

16029 Tampa Palms Blvd. W., City Plaza at Tampa Palms (813)252-3004 • FatRabbitPub.com

When Jannah and I are in New Tampa and we’re looking for American comfort food, the first place that comes to mind is Fat Rabbit. Forget about the craft cocktails and beer selection (if you can), and go to Fat Rabbit for some of the best wings (photo) with a large variety of available sauces (we get the sauces on the side), great burgers, the best tater tots and now, some outstanding bowls I’ve yet to try but can’t wait to sample — especially the new fresh catch bowl served on a “custom-created recipe of accompanying ingredients.” Thank you!

7.Frammi American Grille & Italian Food

17631 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. W., North Palms Village (813)523-5075 • Frammi.com

I think the reason that more of our readers don’t put Frammi in their top-10 restaurants in New Tampa is because they don’t realize that, in addition to the burgers and sandwiches that owner Luca Ammirati retained when he took over the former Oakley’s Grille, he has created a much more impressive menu of Italian pasta favorites, from the perfect linguine alla vongole shown here to a slightly spicy rigatoni amatriciana, the spicier arrabbiata, rigatoni with either a 100% beef or Italian sausage ragu, a legit penne alla pesto and many more. Just go try Frammi already!

8.Johnny C’s Italian Eatery

10970 Cross Creek Blvd. (813)278-8020 • JohnnyCsItalianEatery.com

Owner/chef Erik Ravenna’s “eatery” is a tribute to Italian comfort food — Italian meatballs, Momma’s lasagna, garlic knots, penne vodka, chicken Marsala and the chicken parmigiana show here — and also boasts the largest selection of shrimp and other seafood dishes (that I, sadly, can’t eat) in New Tampa. Jannah, photographer Charmaine George & I also love Johnny C’s NY-style pizzas, but our surprise favorite is the crispy cauliflower crust pizza. Mangia!

9.Kobé Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse

17641 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., North Palms Village (813)680-5800 • KobeSteakhouse.com

With all of the great Asian cuisine options in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, I’ll admit that Jannah and I don’t visit Kobé as often as we might because we tend to overeat every time we do go. We usually share a California roll and a filet mignon & teriyaki chicken teppanyaki combo (photo), which comes with Japanese clear onion soup, a crisp, green salad and seasonal mixed veggies (so far, so good), but also both grilled lo meinstyle noodles and fried rice — and we just can’t say no to either of them!

10.Liang’s Bistro Asian Cuisine

17515 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., North Palms Village (813)978-1225 • LiangsBistro.com

It was hard for me to choose a #10 New Tampa favorite — not because I don’t personally love Liang’s true NY-style BBQ spareribs and egg rolls, plus the sizzling Shanghai-style steak shown here or the sautéed green beans (medium-spicy) that we often bring to parties as a surprise side dish everyone raves about. We do. The problem is that 9 of the next 15 Favorites on my New Tampa list on pg. 35 also are Asian places — from 3 great sushi bars to Thai, Vietnamese, Indian & even a Nepalese option. It’s just so hard to choose!

Señor Tequila Keeps Upgrading Its Authentic Mexican Menu!

By Gary Nager

Photos by Charmaine George

If it’s been a while since you last ate at Señor Tequila, located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., in the Shoppes at New Tampa of Wesley Chapel plaza just south of S.R. 56, I suggest you try it again.

When I told assistant manager Samantha Lopez that Jannah and I noticed a definite increase in quality the last couple of times we ate at Señor Tequila, Samantha said, “The owner, Alvaro Mellado, brought in a new general manager, Norma Mellado (yes, they’re related) and a new chef and they have been working on the quality.”

It shows. Although I’ve never eaten at any of the other Señor Tequila locations (in Westchase, on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Carrollwood and in Winter Springs), I have been sampling the Wesley Chapel location since it first opened in 2021 and everything — from existing items like the sizzling chicken fajitas (top photo) and molcajete (bottom right) to new menu additions, like the esquites (spicy, creamy, “street” corn off the cob, right), tostones Mexicanos (below), birria tacos (top photo on next page) and the Señor Tequila’s Favorite skirt steak (middle photo on next page) — are all quality.

Samantha says the fajitas are still Señor Tequila’s top-sellers. Jannah and I often do a steak and chicken Fajitas Mexicanas combo (there’s also a Texas Fajitas combo

with beef, chicken and shrimp), but since we were sampling some other beef dishes, we opted for all chicken this time. The chicken came out tasty and tender and the sizzling onions, bell peppers and tomatoes were all spot-on.

Samantha says she prefers the new esquites to the restaurant’s still-available street corn on the cob — and we agreed the large order of it was delicious, with mayo, cotija cheese, lime, tajin and cilantro.

Although I can’t eat shrimp, Charmaine said the tostones with ceviche-style shrimp, topped with pico de gallo, queso fresco, homemade chipotle sauce and guacamole may have been her favorite dish of the day.

And, although we all found the molcajete — another popular sizzling dish served in a lava rock bowl “heaped with beef strips, chicken, pork, chorizo sausage and shrimp (which we had them serve on the side for Charmaine) and topped with cheese, grilled cactus, avocado, peppers and onions — was too many different flavors in one dish for our taste, Samantha says that traditional Mexican lovers say it’s among their favorites. Like the fajitas, the molcajete is served with rice, creamy refried beans, lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream and flour tortillas — so it’s more than a meal just by itself.

Jannah’s favorite new dish was the trio of birria tacos, which feature tender shredded beef, onions and cilantro in obviously

homemade corn tor tillas shells and served with a savory beef broth consommé.

Charmaine and I both preferred the Señor Tequila’s Favorite steak, which also was extremely tender and topped with a zesty housemade chimichurri sauce and served with a side of perfectly grilled mixed veggies and Mexican rice.

So good!

And of course, Señor Tequila also has a popular queso dip, fresh guacamole (not made tableside), a sampler appetizer with beef nachos, chick en quesadilla, chicken flautas and stuffed jalapeños, plus favorites like burritos, chi michangas, chiles rellenos and enchiladas, as well as steak Monterrey (served with a poblano pepper stuffed with shrimp, pep pers, onions and mushroom, topped with a creamy habanero pesto sauce), chicken & steak brochetas and much more.

What About Beverages?

If you check out the ad on page 2 lar

Thirsty Thursday, when a 28-oz. sangria or sangrita (which has a bottom layer of frozen lime margarita topped with a layer of homemade sangria) for only $9. There’s also a great Happy Hour every Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., with draft beers, house wines and house margaritas all 2-for-1.

In the photo below, the 16-oz. house mar garita is on the left, the 28-oz. sangrita is in the middle and the rosarita, with Three Olives rosé vodka, instead of tequila) is on the right. Jannah also sampled a “skinny” margarita, which may have been her favorite of all the drinks.

Señor Tequila also has a huge assortment of upscale tequilas, mezcals, Mexican and domestic beers on draught and in bottles, and a gorgeous, full premium liquor bar.

And yes, there’s also a $10.99 kids menu, with everything from one cheese quesadilla, taco, burrito or enchilada (with rice or rice and beans), or chicken fingers or a cheeseburger (with French fries). All kids’

Señor Tequila is located at 1640 Bruce B.Downs Blvd. It is open Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. & 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 428-5411, visit TheSenorTequila. com or see the ad on page 2.

O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Bahama Breeze Both Closing Local Locations

Anytime businesses — especially restaurants — go out of business in (or near) our distribution areas, I do feel their pain a little — although some more than others.

Case in point: Over the past couple of weeks, both the Bahama Breeze Island Grille (right) located at 25830 Sierra Center Blvd. (across S.R. 56 from the Tampa Premium Outlets) and the O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill at 5429 Village Market announced they were closing, albeit for different reasons.

Bahama Breeze, which is owned by Darden Restaurants, is closing all 28 of its remaining locations across the U.S., according to a Feb. 3 Darden news release, after previously shuttering a third of its locations in 2025.

Half of those remaining locations — including the one in Lutz/Wesley Chapel — will be converted to other Darden brands (see below), although it was not disclosed which locations would be converted into which brands.

The other 14 Bahama Breezes will close permanently on April 5. The 14 remaining open, including ten of the 14 in Florida, where the brand first opened in the 1990s, will remain open for the next 12-18 months, although there will likely be some temporary closures along the way, as needed for them to be converted.

The list of Darden brands still operating include a number of more upscale brands that many locals, after first reading about this news on social media, are hopeful will find a home at the location on S.R. 56. Here is that list of possible Darden brands our Bahama Breeze could become:

•Eddie V’s Prime Seafood

•Ruth’s Chris Steak House

• The Capital Grille

•Seasons 52

• Yard House

•Olive Garden Italian Kitchen

•Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen

•Longhorn Steakhouse

•Chuy’s

Of course, Cheddars, Longhorn and Chuy’s all already have locations on S.R. 56 and many of us saw announcements that an undeveloped parcel on Wesley Chapel Blvd. to the east of Chick’n Fun already is supposed to be an Olive Garden. At our press time, however, we were unable to get confirmation as to whether or not Olive Garden

is still coming to 27391 Centerline Dr., just west of Gateway Blvd., the plans for which were apparently submitted in Aug. 2025, or whether that location would preclude another Olive Garden being opened in the former Bahama Breeze spot. Obviously, the first four or five (as most people would probably also be OK with Yard House) Darden brands on the list would be the most desirable to locals, but we will keep you posted on any such announcements.

O’Brien’s To Close February 21!

Meanwhile, in a Facebook post released on Feb. 2, Randy and Mike Goodwin, the owners of the O’Brien’s location in the Village Market (below) for right about 10 years, said that they will be

hosting “An Irish Goodbye” party on Saturday, February 21, after which that O’Brien’s location would close permanently, “at the conclusion of our 10-year lease.”

The Facebook post said, “It is with full hearts, deep gratitude, and a touch of sadness that we share the news that O’Brien’s will be closing our doors [by] the end of February...At the end of 2024, the Village Market strip center was sold, and in early 2025, we began discussions with the new ownership (JBL Asset Management) in hopes of securing a renewed lease. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we were unable to reach an agreement that felt sustainable for both sides. After much consideration, we made the difficult decision not to renew.”

There has been a huge outpouring of support for O’Brien’s, which has been the only full-band live music venue in Wesley Chapel pretty much since the day it opened, so I’m hoping that hundreds of those supporters will come out to say goodbye to Mike, Randy and their wonderful staff.

The event will feature O’Brien’s “beloved corned beef & cabbage,” as well as bagpipe music from Emma Briggs, Irish music from Captain Kirk and DJ Aloha Kev closing out the event — and the restaurant. It’ s just a shame we couldn’t get one final O’Brien’s St. Patrick’s Day event this year.

For more info about the O’Brien’s “Irish Goodbye” party, see the ad on the next page.-GN

Wesley Chapel To Go From No CAVAs To Two?

I remember vividly the 2018 opening of the Wesley Chapel area’s MOD Pizza at 2227 Sun Vista Dr., in front of Costco and next to Aldi the Tampa Premium Outlets (photo below).

Mike Evans, the future Hall of Fame wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was on hand for the opening and the almost-identical Blaze Pizza hadn’t opened yet directly across S.R. 56 from MOD.

Well, while Evans may be nearing the end of his amazing career, MOD Pizza has already been closed for about a year and now, the interior dem olition of the former pizza place is nearly complete, and it has been announced that the location will be come a CAVA fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant.

Of course, we also previously told you that CAVA also is coming to the same under-construc tion plaza as Whole Foods and Lifetime Fitness on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. at Aronwood Blvd., less than four miles from the under-construction CAVA near the outlet mall.

Which CAVA location will open first? Considering that Whole Foods and Lifetime Fitness are supposed to open, hopefully by later this year, before the plaza with CAVA, Pop-Up Bagels and other eateries on the same property even begin building, it would seem that the former MOD location will be completed well before the CAVA on BBD.

But of course, that remains to be seen. And yes, we will keep you posted, both on our Facebook and Instagram pages and in our print editions. — GN

Expires 3/31/26

Expires 3/31/26

Eight Turn Crêpe Brings Unique Japanese Street Food To Wesley Chapel

If you’ve been wanting to try something truly different from the norm in our area — whether you want a delicious hand-held savory crêpe filled with crispy pork belly, chicken teriyaki or even smoked salmon and cream cheese or a sumptuous dessert crêpe with Dubai chocolate or lychee, raspberry and almonds, you probably should go check out the new Eight Turn Crêpe which celebrated its Grand Opening at 2653 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., Suite 116, on Jan. 31 (photo on next page).

This location was previously occupied by 35 Below ice cream, in the same plaza as Dick ey’s BBQ, Umu Japanese & Thai and Sorbo coffee — which is interesting because Eight Turn Crêpe is an homage to Japanese street food, but offers items that are completely different from anything served at either Umu or Sorbo.

Let’s start with the company itself, which began with a single location in New York City’s Soho district in 2013 and is now up to about a dozen locations in New York, California, Texas, Idaho, Washington state and Virginia. The BBD location is the first to open in Florida and the chain’s VP of franchising Steve Kogan was on hand (left in top left photo) for the opening of franchise owner Lien Nguyen’s (center in same photo) Wesley Chapel location.

The former ice cream shop is small but attractive, with only a few tables inside and a few more outside, but the stars of the show are the super-tasty naturally gluten-free, rice flour crêpes themselves. You can order them in either the classic Japanese cone shape (top right photo) or rolled and sliced sushi-style, like the crispy Tokyo pork belly crêpe

Charmaine and I shared (right). It was an amazing mix of flavors, with kimchi, avocado, lettuce, crispy shallots, sesame seeds and Japanese mayo.

In addition to the options I mentioned above, there’s also Thai chicken, bacon, egg & cheese and Philly cheesesteak savory options and all of the sweet crêpes are layered with different flavors of custard cream and most of them are stuffed with fresh fruits, including strawberries, bananas, raspberries, blueberries, mango and ly chee, with pistachios, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts, crunchy flakes, granola and more.

I incorrectly assumed that the sweet also would include gelato, but even though only two of the sweet crêpes on the menu include a scoop of vanilla gelato, there are a number of other flavors that you can add to any sweet crêpe on the menu. Best of all, you also can design your own sweet or savory crêpe, using any of the afore-

ies and creamy Japanese milk shakes. Charmaine and I loved the cherry blossom milkshake we shared — bursting with real cherry flavor.

EightTurnCrepe.com. — GN, all photos by

Twisted Rolls Brings Its Delicious Desserts &

We told you in our last issue that the third brick-&-mortar location of Twisted Rolls Chimney Cake was getting ready to open in the space at 5903 Goldview Pkwy., Unit #103, in the KRATE at The Grove container park that previously was home to both Urban Sweets and more recently, Mo Cookies

Well, the new Twisted Rolls, which has an original location on 56th St. in Temple Terrace and a newer location at 19406 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa, is now open (photo below left) and yes, everything photographer Charmaine George and I have sampled at the new location has been decadently delicious.

The local mini-chain, according to owner Ahd Hamdan, is named for the Eastern European dessert treat made of dough and sugar that is rolled around a stick and then specially baked in an oven (top left photo) until hot and semicrispy...then dipped in a variety of glazes and rolled in one of nine different toppings.

Like the other locations, the Twisted Rolls at the KRATEs also serves ice cream, crêpes, cheesecake, waffles, pancakes, coffee and smoothies. How they make all of that work in the one small shipping container is a wonder to behold.

On my first visit to the new location, my

new friend Sam made me a delicious Reese’s shake (top right), which is correctly billed as a “chocolate & peanut butter lover’s dream,” as it combines hand-spun vanilla ice cream and a full Reese’s cup, all layered in real peanut butter. Amazing.

Since we’ve both previously had — and really enjoyed — the store’s signature chimney cakes (bottom right is “The Classic”), I had Sam make us (below left) a Dubai Strawberry Cup” (below right), which layers big, fresh strawberries with Kunafa bisco cream, chocolate, some kind of pistachio crunchies and topped with a white chocolate-covered strawberry. I’ve never been the biggest pistachio lover and the “cup” is clearly loaded with sugar, but it is truly incredible — and hey, at least it has all those strawberries!

Twisted Rolls Chimney Cake has a crazy name, but everything sold there is crazy good!

Whataburger To Open Next Month

We’ve seen a lot of online chatter asking when the new Whataburger — which is getting ready to open in the space previously occupied by Aussie Grill at 25340 Sierra Center Blvd. (between Walk-On’s & Bonefish Grill), on the north side of S.R. 56 — is expected to actually open. Well, I now have it on pretty good authority, from a spokesperson for the $1.3-million renovation project’s general contractor, WH Bass, Inc., that the new Whataburger is expected to open by “about the second week (or so) in March.”

For those who have never visited a Whataburger (and it’s been more than a decade since I have), the Texas-based chain was founded more than 75 years ago and now has nearly 1,200 locations in 17 U.S. states.

In addition to burgers, the chain (which has many locations open 24 hours a day) also serves breakfast sandwiches and platters, a couple of salads and (of course) fried and grilled chicken

sandwiches and crispy strips, plus shakes and malts, cinnamon buns and hot apple pies.

We’ll keep you posted about Whataburger’s opening on our Facebook & Instagram pages and in our print editions. For more info, visit Whataburger.com. — GN, top photo by Charmaine George

EggBred Breakfast Sandwiches Opens At The Hub

Although we’re still waiting for the first restaurants to open at The Hub at Lexington in Wesley Chapel, The Hub at Bexley (near the Suncoast Pkwy., off S.R. 54) continues to add new eateries.

On Jan. 24, the most recent Grand Opening at Bexley was EggBred (16916 Focus Loop, Land O’Lakes), the unique California-based, fast-foodstyle (but still made-to-order) “craft breakfast sandwich” chain now nearing 20 locations in four states.

Photographer Charmaine George and I were on hand for the Grand Opening of the new EggBred and we did enjoy what we had.

The food isn’t cheap — most of the breakfast sandwiches are $10-$15 each, with lunch sandwiches starting at around $12 and going up to as much as $18 — but we liked our bacon, egg & cheese sandwich on a toasted Japanese milk bun ($9.79, top right photo)and its crispy bacon, and the crunchy Country Fried Chicken sandwich ($13.99, bottom right) with “county fair” dill pickles was as-large-as-advertised. Charmaine also enjoyed her avocado toast with heirloom cherry tomatoes on whole grain sourdough toast ($12.99).

We told franchise owner Diane Hartzel (at right in photo above)

We both agreed, however, that our favorite item that day were the crispy “beer battered” potatoes ($3.89, photo below). You can get them without the house seasoning, which I normally do, but I thought they were crispy and yummy with the seasoning.

EggBred’s menu includes build-a-biscuit and build-a-Benny options, all topped with country sausage gravy, a breakfast poutine, Nashville Hottie chicken and

“Break an egg!” For more info, visit EggBred.com. The Bexley location opens every day at 7 a.m. and stays open until 2 p.m. Mon.— GN, photos by Charmaine George

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