KRATE Balls Of Fire, It Finally Opens (June 4)! By JOHN C. COTEY
Gold also promises that a separate KRATE parking lot is coming to the south end of the container park (north of the Outback Steak House) that should be done “soon.”
john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com
The KRATE Container Park at The Grove has opened in bits and pieces over the past few months, but this Saturday, June 4, the park will finally celebrate its Grand Opening. More than 70 percent of the 94 repurposed shipping containers will be “officially” open for business — although many have been open for months — and the celebration will be marked by live music at a new bandshell, family events and plenty of food and shopping. The Grand Opening celebration on the 4th is scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., with nighttime entertainment from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. “Opening KRATE was mission impossible,” Grove developer Mark Gold of Mishorim-Gold Properties says. “We did not expect a pandemic, supply chain shortages, and a backlog in permitting. But, we did it and everything we promised we would do has become reality. We are proud of the sense of community we have built here at the Grove at Wesley Chapel and our KRATE park and look forward to providing even more opportunities to bring together friends, families, and neighbors.” KRATE is just one part, but perhaps the crown jewel, of The Grove’s transformation, which began when MishorimGold Properties, a partnership between Gold and Mishorim Real Estate, bought the 200+ acres for $62.7 million in 2019. Gold has since poured more than $100 million into renovations, including $20 million or so for a container park he promised would be one-of-a-kind. KRATE faced a number of obstacles to opening, primarily due to Covid-19 and permitting snags. But little by little, the containers were transformed inside and outside — thanks in large part to artist Whitney Holbourn, whose handpainted, business-themed murals adorn the exterior of each shop — into an attractive, outdoor shopping park featuring 70%
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Also Coming Soon...
In addition to KRATE, Gold continues to fill the rest of The Grove property. New businesses slated to open in the near future include: Woodie’s Wash Shack, Five Below, Bealls Outlet/Home Centric, Starbucks, a national If you have never visited the KRATE Container Park at The Grove at Wesley Chapel, or you haven’t been in a while, rental car chain, a namany more of the repurposed shipping containers are now open. You can check out everything that is open at KRATE’s tional grocery store and Grand Opening event on Saturday, June 4. (Drone photo by Charmaine George) a miniature golf course. “We are the ultimate of inventory, a sign that the public is eager restaurants and 30% retail businesses. shopping and entertainment destination, for the KRATE, despite the fact that the Nickole Davis, who opened All not just for Wesley Chapel, but for the parking areas around the shipping containGood Things Gifts in February, says she ers themselves have been closed to vehicular region and around the world,” Gold says. is excited to see KRATE take another step traffic, due to the fact that toward reality. Davis sells a variety of personalized items, like her popular Wesley the area has still very much Chapel-branded home decorations, and been a construction zone. Portions of the parksays local consumers will be pleased by ing area between the varithe variety of different kinds of shops in ous KRATEs have opened, the KRATE, which include a children’s including by the Bacon boutique, a Budget Blinds showroom (see Boss HQ (nearest the stage story on pgs. 18-19) and a huge variety at the north end of the of different cuisines from around the park) and other interior world, including Puerto Rican, French, parking areas around the Hawaiian, Mediterranean, Venezuelan and other KRATEs, but that Japanese influences and so many more. parking will be closed “The park is still in its infancy and for the Grand Opening there’s a lot of room for growth, so I event on June 4, due to think as more people know that it’s open, the amount of foot traffic it can become something special,” says expected in the area. Davis, who added that her business has There will be plenty been hitting sales goals and doing very of KRATE parking in the well since opening. She is not alone. Some of the restaulot in front of the big box rants, like the Bacon Boss HQ, TJ’s Hot stores at The Grove, including World Market and This salted caramel martini, like all of the alcoholic beverages at the Dogs and Mojo Grill Latin Fusion, have Blush Wine Room are wine-based & delicious! (Photo: Lauren Cione) Dick’s Sporting Goods. been regularly selling out and running out
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