New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 31, Issue 3, February 7, 2023

(Photo: Charmaine George)

A Fond Look Back At The Last 30 Years Of Saddlebrook Resort

By GARY NAGER Editorial

When I first moved to Florida in June of 1993, my family actually rented an attached townhome for two years in the community around Saddlebrook Resort.

After having previously lived virtually all of my life in Long Island, Manhattan and Westchester County, NY, Saddlebrook was an absolute jewel to behold, with our small townhome development standing out as the least expensive place to live in the entire community.

Majestic million-dollar homes lined virtually all sides of Saddlebrook Way, the treelined main road connecting the Saddlebrook community to Tom Dempsey’s magnificent golf and tennis resort (photo). My sons, then five and less than two years old, begged every weekend to go spend time around the resort’s gigantic “Superpool,” the huge precursor to the Metro Lagoon at Epperson nearly 25 years before that community even began building.

I fondly remember the delicious grilled hamburgers and hot dogs served at the Superpool’s outdoor pool bar. Even Dempsey’s Steak House, which would become my favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel a few years after we moved to Hunter’s Green in New Tampa, didn’t exist at the time. Instead, the building that would become Dempsey’s, near the starter’s tee at the Arnold Palmerdesigned Saddlebrook golf course, was home to a much less impressive restaurant known as the Little Club.

The first time I met Mr. Dempsey, who finally sold the resort last year, it was at the opening of Dempsey’s after I had moved out of the community. He said then, as he has many times since, that he opened Saddlebrook where he did not just because the land was available but because it was located within 25-30 minutes of Tampa International Airport, even though entering the gates of Saddlebrook was like entering an entirely different world from anything in or closer to the City of Tampa. And, the community where I lived was so idyllic, those gates might as well have been the gates of heaven — even with the gigantic alligators eyeballing you at every pond and, often, on the 18th hole of that Saddlebrook course.

I also remember the first time I drove from Saddlebrook to Ybor City — the closest thing in Tampa to Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, where I had previously dined at delicious restaurants and had a choice of places to catch some live music. There was only one blinking yellow traffic signal at the intersection of S.R. 54 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., which was then only known as C.R. 581 in Pasco County. If you can believe it, there were no other traffic signals along the full length of BBD from 54 until you reached the I-75 interchange in what was not yet even being called New Tampa. At that time, it literally would take you only 25 minutes to reach 7th Ave. in Ybor from the gates of Saddlebrook. Today, you can’t even make it to the BBD exit of I-75 from Saddlebrook in the same 25 minutes.

I can’t remember exactly when the Palmer Course, also designed by the golf legend, opened, but it was somewhere around the time that Dempsey’s did. Not long after that came the opening of the truly beautiful European-style spa at Saddlebrook.

A little less than 20 years later, I had the opportunity to stay in one of the hotel suites at Saddlebrook. It was huge, bigger than most apartments I’ve rented, but was already dated. And, even though celebrities like Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf and Jennifer Capriati still lived in the community’s spectacular homes, I could feel the grandeur that Saddlebrook once was slipping away.

Even my beloved Dempsey’s Steak House

itself fell into disrepair, so much so that it was closed before Mast Capital (see story on pg. 16) purchased the resort.

In other words, even though it’s important to me that Saddlebrook should be redeveloped responsibly, it needs a major infusion of capital to return it to the splendor I remember back in 1993. I have high hopes, but also share the concerns of the community’s residents. After all, the night I proposed to my beautiful wife, we stayed over at the resort.

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We Are Family, Say Teachers & Principals Celebrating Benito’s 25th!

By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Lewis Brinson had no idea where “New Tampa” was, but when he was handed the keys to Louis Benito Middle School 25 years ago, he couldn’t wait to find out. So, he decided to leave his West Tampa home and take a drive.

“I was driving and driving…and driving,” Brinson said, smiling. “When I got here, I said “Where’s the school?” All that was here was a trailer.”

Brinson, Benito’s first principal, shared the story in the school’s media center, at a celebration of Benito’s 25th anniversary, drawing plenty of head nods and laughter.

Every one of the school’s past principals attended — Barbara Hancock, Scott Fritz, Bobby Smith (who slipped in a “Benito Pride, Hard to Hide” slogan at the end of his speech) and John Sanders, who held the job the longest before retiring last year after 14 years at the school. Current principal Brent Williams, a host of teachers past and current, some Hillsborough County Schools administrators and three current School Board members joined in to mark the occasion in a small but upbeat ceremony.

Included in the crowd and honored by Williams were Michelle Nolan, Charmaine Jones, Barbara Lind and bookkeeper Phyllis Thurman, all of whom have been at the school since Day One.

Nolan, a 6th grade math teacher, gave a heartfelt and tear-filled speech as she looked back at her 25 years.

“It’s been a joy to come to work,” Nolan said. “I’ve put my heart and soul into Benito. Tim (her husband) and I couldn’t have kids, so this became my baby.”

Jones, a 7th grade civics teacher, has worked in education for 40 years and Benito was her third job.

“I never felt the need to leave this place,” she said.

Lind, who followed Brinson from Eisenhower Middle School to Benito, said when she started, the principal gave her one piece of advice that may have saved her a few bucks: when you get to Cross Creek Blvd., set your cruise control for 30 mph or you will get a ticket (although, technically, the speed limit on Cross Creek Blvd. was, and still is, 45 mph).

Williams promised Thurman, the school’s forever bookkeeper, she wouldn’t have to give a speech, so he gave one for her, telling the crowd, “One thing I learned as an administrator is if you don’t have a good bookkeeper, you’re going to jail…well, I’m not going to jail.”

What’s In A Name?

Benito opened in August 1997 for the 1997-98 school year, as New Tampa

was beginning to explode. Although many locals had petitioned to have the new school be named New Tampa Middle School, it ended up being named after well-known Tampa advertising executive Louis Benito, who played a big role in establishing the University of South Florida (USF).

Brinson’s first year was a tough one, with problems still familiar to New Tampa residents. There were major traffic issues, an abundance of construction trucks on the roads and an overflowing student population. In fact, making use of some of its 29 portables, Benito actually housed the 5th graders from the adjacent Hunter’s Green Elementary due to that school’s overcrowding issues.

Benito was a blend of teachers from all over the county, neighborhood kids and those who took buses in from the USF area.

“It was just a matter of putting everyone together, and making them feel welcome,” Brinson said. “We tried to build a culture where everybody felt appreciated and, once we did that, everything fell into place.”

As for traffic, it was predictably a mess.

According to a St. Petersburg Times story, one parent stood at the corner of Kinnan St. and Cross Creek Blvd. for 25 minutes one morning and counted 79 heavy construction vehicles — like dump trucks, concrete mixers and semitrailer trucks — as well as 26 school buses, along with all of the cars that were dropping kids off.

Because there were no crossing guards provided for secondary schools, Brinson took on the job himself. Eventually, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s

Office, as a temporary measure and until the construction in the area was completed, supplied a guard.

The wildlife in the area also turned out to be a big surprise to Brinson and his staff, which included then-assistant principal and future principal Scott Fritz.

“When I interviewed, Mr. Brinson went through a list of things (asking if I could handle) lockers, schedules, working with parents,” Fritz said. “What he didn’t tell me was that I was going to catch two alligators on campus. He didn’t tell me I’d have to catch a host of walking catfish. He didn’t tell me about all the snakes…but I will tell you what, it was absolutely the defining leadership experience I had working here at Benito.”

A slide show at the 25th anniversary celebration highlighted some of the

school’s notable graduates, like 1999 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Nupur Lala, all-Ivy League volleyball player and Yale graduate Kathryn Attar, former University of Pennsylvania running back and current Team USA bobsledder Kyle Wilcox, Canadian Football League quarterback Chase Litton (who also has spent time on NFL team practice squads) and Michael O’Rourke, the founder and CEO of Tampa blockchain services startup Pocket Network, now valued at $1.5 billion.

However, those who spoke at the Benito gathering were quick to credit the teachers and administrators for creating a family-type atmosphere and making the middle school one of the best in Hillsborough County. This year was the 21st straight year

All five of Benito Middle School’s principals since it opened were on hand for the celebration. (L.-r.) Lewis Brinson, Barbara Hancock, Scott Fritz, Bobby Smith and John Sanders.

(Above) Current Benito Middle School Principal Brent Williams (far left) with (l.-r.) bookkeeper Phyllis Thurman and teachers Michelle Nolan, Charmaine Jones and Barbara Lind, the staffers who have all been at the school all 25+ years it has been open, and assistant principal Kathleen LeClaire at the celebration of the school’s opening for the 1997-98 school year. (Photos by Charmaine George)

Benito received an “A” grade from the Florida Department of Education.

That’s a big part of the reason Williams calls Benito a “destination” for county educators.

“You can definitely feel the sense of school community and it’s evident in the way they carry themselves in their conversations,” he said of his teachers. “They love being here and they love the kids. You can definitely feel the family vibe.”

After the speeches, folks mingled and shared stories and hugs while eating cake. Laughter filled the room. Fritz said it was like a family, and that made the celebration feel more like a family reunion.

“I knew that this community

wouldn’t let this school fail,” Brinson said. “It felt good knowing that, and being able to come back and see that it is (still) thriving makes you feel proud. Sometimes you go to a place and you don’t want people to know that you used to be there. That’s not the case here.”

(Above) Lewis Brinson, Benito’s first principal, says he was happy to be able to return to the school he helped open and is still proud of today.

John Sanders, who retired last year after 14 years as Benito’s principal, received a rousing ovation...and lots of hugs.

New School Boundaries Could Bring Big Changes

By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The long process of finalizing controversial school boundary changes proposed by the Hillsborough County School District is going to take just a little bit longer.

In an email to parents on Jan. 25, Superintendent of Schools Addison Davis wrote that his recommendations, after weeks of community meetings, would not be presented to the School Board on Jan. 31, as expected, and would instead be provided to the parents and the Board at a workshop now scheduled for Monday, February 13 at 10 a.m.

Please note that no public comment is permitted at School Board workshops.

The Board also will hold special meetings on Tuesday, February 28, and Thursday, March 9.

The email also said that between the workshop and the special meetings, five new community meetings would be held. The closest to New Tampa, which isn’t impacted as much as other parts of the District, would be held on Monday, February 20, 6 p.m., at King High on N. 56th St.

The School District, which paid New York architectural firm WXY Studio $567,000 to help with the new boundaries, has developed three scenarios, and as many as 24,000 students throughout Hillsborough County could be shifted to new schools. More than 100 of the District’s 303 schools could be affected by a process designed to save millions of dollars by

improving efficiency, addressing imbalances in enrollment — some schools are overcrowded while others are so far below capacity that they may have to be repurposed — and reducing travel.

“When we look at schools that are being overutilized, those are (schools) operating at 110% (of their capacities) or greater,” Davis said. “Underutilized is 60% or under, and we have 24 schools that must be addressed.”

Many schools in New Tampa could be affected, although none are in danger of being repurposed.

In all three scenarios proposed by the District,

for example, 133 students at Heritage Elementary and 49 students at Pride Elementary would be moved to Hunter’s Green Elementary.

Pride is currently at 124 percent utilization, though losing 49 students would still keep it over capacity, at 119 percent. Heritage currently is at 111 percent, but after losing students to Hunter’s Green, would be at a more desirable 95 percent.

Hunter’s Green is currently at 84%, and the influx of new students would put it at 101% of its capacity.

Each scenario means different things for different schools. The only New Tampa public schools not affected in some way are Clark and Tampa Palms Elementary schools.

In Scenario 1, Heritage, Pride, Hunter’s Green, Chiles Elementary and Liberty Middle School would be affected by losing or gaining students.

In Scenario 2, Wharton, Liberty, Benito Middle School, Turner/Bartels K-8 School, Heritage, Hunter’s Green, Chiles and Pride elementaries are affected.

In Scenario 3, the most aggressive of the three proposals, nearly 1,000 students combined at Pride, Hunter’s Green, Heritage, Wharton, Freedom, Chiles and Liberty would be affected.

On paper, it looks as if many students that are bused into New Tampa schools would remain closer to their

No matter which scenario proposed by the School District is adopted, Liberty Middle School is expected to lose hundreds of it current students to other schools for the 2023-24 school year. (Photo: John C. Cotey)

neighborhood schools instead, saving on travel costs during a time when the district has a bus driver shortage. Changes like Wharton losing 423 students to King (Scenario 2), Chiles losing 112 to Mort (all three scenarios) and Liberty losing 329 to Buchanan (Scenario 1) or 329 to Adams (Scenario 2) middle schools appears to point towards a reduction in bused students, as opposed to moving New Tampa residents.

All of the numbers presented so far can change, as Davis takes into account all of the public feedback — 15,000 people have attended community meetings (including the one held at Wharton on Jan. 13), and the district’s website (HCPS-boundary.org/home) has had more than 335,000 page views, 126,000 address searches and 15,500 comments on the interactive map.

“The School Board will make the final decision, and they could take any recommendations (by Davis) and make changes to those,” said Hillsborough Schools spokesperson Erin Maloney. “There’s still a lot of stuff to work out, and none of the numbers you are looking at are final.”

The delay means parents like Dawn Eagle will have to wait a little longer to find out the fate of their children for the 2023-24 school year. She was one of roughly 100 parents to attend the Jan. 13 community meeting at Whar-

ton, hoping to learn her options.

Scenario 2 would move 163 kids from Benito, including Eagle’s daughter, 6th grader Jessica, to Turner-Bartels.

Eagle already has put her sons, who are now at Wharton, through Heritage Elementary and Benito, and would like Jessica to follow the same path.

“It’s closer to our home and all we’ve ever known,” she said. “We know the administration, we know the teachers. We’ve had a great experience and we don’t want to disrupt that.”

But Eagle’s concerns go further than that. Jessica is in the orchestra at Benito, and Turner-Bartels doesn’t offer orchestra. Also, driving from their home in K-Bar Ranch to Turner-Bartels in Live Oak Preserve would be far more inconvenient.

The Eagles have options, like school choice or magnet schools, and Dawn hopes if Scenario 2 or some version of it is chosen, she would be able to use school choice so her daughter could stay at Benito.

“I do appreciate trying to set up these scenarios and having discussions so the community can be heard,” Eagle says. “I appreciate the effort being made. I understand they’re trying to do a job and everything comes down to money. That’s unfortunate but I get the reality. But logistically, this restructuring for our neighborhood doesn’t make sense.”

County To Submit Plan To Spend Traffic Money

By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Hillsborough County and City of Tampa residents could finally start seeing some much-needed road and sidewalk improvements, as well as other transportation fixes, if the wishes of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) are granted by the Florida State Legislature.

At a workshop on Jan. 25, the BOCC discussed how to spend the nearly $570 million raised from the 1-percent transportation sales tax that was approved by voters in 2018, but was eventually ruled unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court in 2021. Former commissioner Stacy White claimed the tax wasn’t legal because a committee, and not elected officials, were in charge of the disbursement of the funds collected.

That $569,782,845, including interest, collected from 2019-21 has been in limbo, or escrow, ever since. In July 2022, the total was remitted to the State Department of Revenue, and the state directed the county to come up with a proposal for spending the money before the 2023 legislative session begins in March.

The BOCC agreed, under the State Shared Half-Cent Sales Tax Formula, to share the money between the county and its three cities whose residents also paid the tax — Tampa (which will receive $124 million), Plant City ($12.7 million) and Temple Terrace ($8.6 million).

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor says the city will work with the county on how it hopes to spend its share of the money. District 7 City Council member Luis Viera said he expected New Tampa Blvd. to be repaved, as well having as some other intersection enhancements completed.

That leaves $424 million for the county’s plan, which includes $130

This sidewalk in Magnolia Trace has been in need of repair for at least five years, perhaps longer. (Photo: John C. Cotey)

million for repaving 680 lane miles (the county has 7,400 total lane miles, enough to drive from Tampa to Seattle, WA, and back), $40 million for 300,000 linear feet of sidewalk repairs and $20 million to repair and rehabilitate some of the county’s 279 bridges.

There also is $116 million for congestion relief, $81 million for intersection projects, and $37 million for safety and mobility projects, like safer walking routes at schools.

BOCC Chairman Ken Hagan, who represents the District 2 area that includes unincorporated New Tampa, where some neighborhoods in Cross Creek and nearby Pebble Creek are in need of long-ago requested sidewalk repairs, said he would like to see the most pressing needs get addressed first. He said there are more than 2,400 open sidewalk repair requests countywide.

“I think we should prioritize projects that are, number one, shovel ready, and that can have an immediate impact and the biggest impact on improving our residents’ quality of life,” Hagan said at the workshop. “And, I can tell you from experience, the two areas that meet all that criteria, and that my office has always heard the most from our citizens about, are resurfacing and

sidewalks. We hear about it on a daily basis.”

Hagan said sidewalk repairs have been on the unfunded list since 2013, “to put it into unfortunate perspective.”

The BOCC’s original plan totaled $589 million, but to get it down to $424 million, county administrator Bonnie Wise suggested roughly $100 million in cuts at the outset of the workshop, as well as removing $66 million targeted for pedestrian and bike trails, with which most of the commissioners agreed.

“That’s a luxury item, we really don’t need that,” District 3 commissioner Gwen Myers said.

Hagan said he’d like to see some money directed towards trails, particularly the Tampa Bay Trail. District 4 commissioner Michael Owen made a case for widening Lithia Pinecrest Rd. and countywide District 6 commissioner Pat Kemp would like to see funding for an operations and maintenance center for HART.

The final list to be sent to the state legislature will be voted on Feb. 15.

No one at the workshop seemed to have any idea what happens after that. The legislature could pick and choose some of the county’s requests, refund a lump sum or do something different altogether. There is no guarantee the county will receive any of the money.

“I sure would want them to take what we send them seriously and not just throw it out the window,” Comm. Owen said, “which is a possibility.”

County Selling ‘Surplus Land’ Near Live Oak

If you thought New Tampa was pretty much 100-percent developed, you’d be about 99-percent correct.

While the land to build more homes and commercial developments is certainly more scarce than, say, in Wesley Chapel, a new parcel of “surplus land” has been listed for sale since December by Hillsborough County.

The 61.89 acres for sale (see map) — about 38.25 acres of which is uplands — is located at Kinnan St. and Oak Preserve Blvd., and sits between Live Oak Preserve, which has 1,200 homes, and K-Bar Ranch, which has 1,400 homes with more on the way.

The county, which usually uses a private broker and doesn’t list or advertise property via press releases, is selling the surplus land via a sealed bid sale. The county is requiring a $3.63-million minimum bid for the property, which is already zoned for planned development and is able to accommodate up to 143 dwelling units, which could be homes or apartments.

District 2 Hillsborough County

Commissioner Ken Hagan says the property was zoned in 2006, when he began championing selling it off.

Surplus land is defined as property that serves no future use for the county.

The deadline for bids is Monday, February 27, at 9 a.m.

A smaller parcel of land immediately to the southwest of the 61.89-acre site that also is adjacent to Live Oak Preserve will be retained and could be developed by the county as part of a trails network in the area or used for connectivity purposes, according to Hagan.

New Tampa Resident Belinda Noah Is A Write-In Challenger To Castor

Although Tampa Mayor Jane Castor earned more than 73% of the vote against runoff opponent David Straz in the City of Tampa Municipal runoff election in April 2019 (after garnering nearly 48 percent of the vote vs. six candidates on the ballot and a write-in opponent in the first vote for mayor in March 2019), long-time New Tampa resident Dr. Belinda Noah says she believes she can defeat Castor in this year’s Municipal Election on Tuesday, March 7.

Considering that her name won’t even appear on the ballot — Noah qualified only as a write-in candidate — she believes she can defeat Castor in part because she received more than 88,000 votes in August of last year, despite losing to Wesley Tibbals in the Hillsborough County-wide race for judge serving in Florida’s 13th Judicial Circuit Court.

“I still received almost 42% of that vote and I am confident that people will remember my name from that race and write my name in the write-in space on the March 7 ballot,” Dr. Noah (with mic in photo) says. “I will be the people’s choice for Mayor of Tampa.”

“I would not be the first write-in candidate to win a major race,” she says. “U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (from Alaska), (former) Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams, and (former) Camas, WA Mayor Barry McDonell all won as write-in candidates.”

‘Hagan said the county would use the proceeds from the sale and apply it to other projects, including a recreation center with indoor basketball courts at Cross Creek Park located just south of the available land.

““That money has been earmarked,” he said. “Hopefully we can get as big an amount as possible, and that will go towards the recreation center.”

The sale of the land could come close to covering the cost of the proposed rec center.

“We’re already going through the design, not waiting on that stuff, so that’s going on internally,” Hagan said.

“It would probably leave us $1 million short, but it would be enough to go to next phase, and I’d work on securing the rest in this year’s budget.” — JCC

Noah, who earned her undergraduate degree from USF, has lived in Arbor Greene for more than 20 years. She earned both her Juris Doctor and Ph.D. degrees outside of the state, but says she understands the needs of the people of Tampa and will surprise Castor come March 7.

She adds, “I will deliver positive results for all the citizens of Tampa and will be a good steward of the taxpayers’ money to ensure no increase in taxes because of waste, fraud or abuse. I will work tirelessly to stop the exploitation of children and protect health and parental rights. In addition, I will work to decrease unemployment, decrease homelessness, increase affordable housing, protect the people’s constitutional rights, and promote income-generating projects, economic development, and transportation and infrastructure enhancement.”

The Early Voting period for the Mar. 7 election is from Feb. 27-Mar. 5. For more info, visit VoteHillsborough.gov. — GN

Mayor Castor Talks Tampa At Local Coffee Shop

The night before Tampa Mayor Jane Castor had to fight off a band of pirates looking to take over the city during the annual Gasparilla invasion, she decided to relax at a New Tampa coffee shop.

At the appropriately named Coffee Speaks & Tea Talks coffee shop in the Pebble Creek Collection, Castor told a standing-roomonly crowd of 50-60 people that despite the impending invasion, all was well in Tampa.

She touted some of her achievements during her nearly four years in office, and assured the crowd that she was charging forward on improving two of the city’s most pressing issues — transportation woes and the lack of affordable housing in the city.

“We aren’t going to stop,” Castor said. “We are going to find a solution.”

The Jan. 27 appearance wasn’t as New Tampa-centric as some of her other appearances in the area, but the audience did touch on some HART busing issues, and Castor did say the repaving of Tampa Palms Blvd. is set to begin in the next week or so.

The event lasted just over an hour. Along the way, Castor even committed to helping clean up New Tampa, thanks to the youngest questioner at the event.

Makenna Reel, a 4th grader at Clark Elementary, asked Castor — who told the audience that litter is one of her pet peeves –— that she had started a club at her school dedicated to picking up trash in the local neighborhoods.

Reel asked if Castor would like to join her later this month when her club gets together to pick up trash along Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. — and the mayor agreed.

The New Tampa stop was part of the “Coffee With Castor” tour, with the mayor dropping in on small local

businesses for some good old campaigning, even though the event was held in the unincorporated part of New Tampa (which doesn’t vote in the city’s upcoming election, which will be held on Tuesday, March 7).

Castor is running for a second term against long-time New Tampa resident and write-in candidate Dr. Belinda Noah (see story on previous page).

Noah, 68, most recently ran in Aug. 2022 for a seat on Florida’s 13th Circuit Court, losing to Wesley Tibbals, despite garnering nearly 88,000 votes countywide.

Speaking Of Elections...

In other city election news, Hunter’s Green resident and District 7 City Council member Luis Viera has already secured a third term after no one stepped up to run against him.

Viera was one of seven Council members up for re-election this year, but was the only incumbent who didn’t draw an opponent. He originally won the District 7 seat by just 65 votes (out of 5,120

over fellow New Tampa resident Dr. Jim Davison in 2016, but beat Quentin Robinson 76%-24% in 2019.

Districts 3 and 6 each have five candidates running for the seats, Districts 1 and 2 have four, District 5 has three and District 4 has two. Districts 1-3 are elected citywide.

“Citywide, about two dozen candidates qualified for Tampa City Council in a very politically acute time,” Viera said. “The fact that I was re-elected without an opponent in this environment is something I am proud of. I thank my constituents for the opportunity to serve.” — JCC

(Left) Tampa Mayor Jane Castor speaks to a packed house at Coffee Speaks & Tea Talks on Jan. 27. The crowd included Clark Elementary 4th grader Makenna Reel (with microphone) who asked the mayor if she’d join her club at school and help pick up trash in the local neighborhoods. (Photos: Charmaine George) cast)

By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC) finally has someone to run it, as well as its first scheduled performances, as it nears its Grand Opening tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 3.

Keith Arsenault (inset photo), a longtime renowned theater consultant and arts administrator – as well as the theatre manager at Hillsborough Community College’s Ybor City campus since 2007 — is the NTPAC’s first general manager.

A University of Tampa grad, Arsenault has a long and impressive resumé in every form of theatre production, including time with the Joffrey Ballet in New York City, Tokyo Ballet Group, the Opera Company of Boston and he also was the GM for the long-running, record-setting San Francisco production of the Off-Broadway hit “Cloud 9.”

The New Tampa Players (NTP), fittingly, is the first group on the schedule.

NTP founder Doug Wall spent years trying to find a home for his acting troupe, and although he passed away in 2017, his dream will become a reality April 14-16, when the troupe holds its first-ever show, “Beauty and the Beast Jr.: A Penguin Project Production,” at the new facility.

The group also is expected to perform at the grand opening. No formal date has been announced, although city

New Tampa Performing Arts Center Set To Raise The Curtains In March!

officials are leaning towards Mar. 3.

The rest of NTP’s 2023 schedule will include “Grease” (July 21-30), “Shrek” (Oct. 20-29) and “Dreamgirls” (Feb. 2-11, 2024).

NTP producing artistic director Nora Paine says the group started with a list of roughly 150 plays to perform, and narrowed it down based on a number of criteria, including availability.

“We look to see what has done well in similar areas, what we can get the rights to, and what everyone else in the area is doing,” Paine says, “so we don’t end up with five productions of ‘The Fantasticks’ at the same time.”

She adds that now that the NTP has a home and the schedule can be set earlier because they had the first choice of dates, it leaves more time for securing the rights to perform each of the plays.

“There is definitely a lot of excitement about it being at the NTPAC, because it is a brand-new facility and it’s gorgeous,” Paine says.

The NTPAC is a 350-seat venue with four dance studios. The seats in the auditorium will be retractable, allowing the space to be converted into a multipurpose room for event receptions. The 20,000-sq.-ft. building is adaptable to accommodate various needs when it comes to space, and expects to be expanded to a 30,000-sq.-ft. facility in the future to accommodate additional dance studios and community spaces.

Keith Arsenault

USF Unveils New Indoor Performance Facility; Donation From The Porter Family

By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter says that athletics have always been important to his family, so when the chance came to play a significant role in helping the University of South Florida add a state-of-the-art training facility, Porter said it was impossible for him to resist.

On Jan. 10, Porter and his family were on hand to celebrate the opening of the Porter Family Indoor Performance Facility on USF’s Tampa campus. The 88,000-sq.-ft. facility features a 100-yard turf field, an observation deck, scoreboards, locker rooms, a reception lobby and more.

“We think it’s going to be a difference maker,” said Porter, echoing the sentiment of everyone involved.

For decades, USF’s lack of quality on-campus facilities has been a deterrent to recruiting, particularly for football, which also has been saddled by the lack of an on-campus stadium.

But, the Porter family’s $5.1-million donation is the first step towards correcting those deficiencies, and a new on-campus football stadium is right around the corner, perhaps as soon as fall 2026.

At the event on Jan. 10, new USF football coach Alex Golesh said that not having

this type of training facility is a huge disadvantage, “but I think a facility like this puts you on a level playing field.”

The Porter family has steadfastly supported USF. The James H. and Martha M. Porter Endowment for Alzheimer’s Research was established to benefit the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine’s pursuit of collaborative Alzheimer’s research with the USF Health Byrd Alzheimer’s Institute. In addition, the Porter family started the James H. & Martha M. Porter Alzheimer’s Research Equipment Operating Fund to support equipment purchases for use in that collaborative research.

Porter also said that his family, which founded a branch campus of Pasco-Hernando State College in Wiregrass Ranch and donated the land for the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, was happy to help, and applauded the team that helped make it happen, which included Wesley Chapel resident (and former Speaker of the Florida House) Will Weatherford, who currently is the chairman of the USF Board of Trustees.

“It was a natural fit,” Porter said. “Athletics and education have always been important to our family, and this was just a great opportunity. Knowing that the right team was at the helm to actually execute the plan made it a fairly easy decision for us.”

Local dignitaries and members of the Porter family were on hand on Jan. 10 for the unveiling of the new Porter Family Indoor Performance Facility on the USF Tampa campus.

Grocery Mystery Solved? Signs Point To Target

By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

More than 18 months after The Grove teased a new grocery store in an online post, the mystery about which one would be moving into the development may be over.

It appears Super Target is, well, targeting the parcel of land on The Grove’s main property, right across Pink Flamingo Ln. from Cost Plus World Market (see map).

While nothing had been officially announced prior to our deadline (but probably will be shortly, perhaps even before you receive this issue), Target Wesley Chapel-The Grove has applied to the Southwest Florida Management District (aka Swiftmud) for an environmental resource permit (ERP), which is required before any construction can begin. Detailed plans for the construction also have been submitted.

Representatives from The Grove said nothing has been signed with Target, only that it is one of a number of companies with which it has been negotiating and it expects to make an announcement soon.

While it may be disappointing to those hoping for a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s to open a store in the space, it’s not that surprising that Super Target, a popular retail-grocery hybrid, was the choice. A pre-application meeting was held with

Pasco County planners on Oct. 18, where plans for a 147,000-sq.-ft. retail building, with nearly 500 parking spots, was presented by an unnamed party (most likely Target or The Grove).

Due to the size of the proposed building, it was clear it would not be any of the trendy grocery stores desired by locals, and likely would be a Super Target or Walmart.

There already is, of course, another Super Target in Wesley Chapel, located at

the corner of County Line Rd. and Bruce B. Downs Blvd., although proximity to their other stores doesn’t stop big names like Publix, Walmart or Starbucks. And, considering the future growth planned in the S.R. 54 corridor, it’s not like the area can’t handle a second Target store. Traffic on Oakley Blvd., however, should be interesting, considering that new apartments and townhomes will soon be completed in the area, and will be add-

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The Super Target is the second new grocery store planned for Wesley Chapel. Just a few miles east on S.R. 54, plans have been filed with the county by Publix for a new 60,548-sq.-ft. center, which would be anchored by a 48,848-sq.ft. grocery store that also will include a 2,100-sq.-ft. liquor store and 9,600 square feet of retail space.

As we’ve previously reported, the new Publix will be located behind the Bank of America, Advance Auto Parts and Starbucksanchored Pleasant Plaza on S.R. 54.

The map shows the planned location of the new Super Target store that is expected to be built in The Grove at Wesley Chapel development. (NN Map: Charmaine George)

Saddlebrook Redevelopment Plans Move Forward

By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Most Saddlebrook residents are aware the onceprime development they live in is showing signs of age, and has been badly in need of a refresh for years.

However, what new owners Mast Capital have planned for the resort and surrounding community isn’t quite clear, residents argued on Jan. 5 at a Pasco County Planning Commission meeting in New Port Richey.

While Mast Capital’s plans to redevelop Saddlebrook by changing the county’s comprehensive plan and producing a new Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) managed to pass the county’s Planning Commission by a 5-2 vote and will eventually require approval by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC), most of the 100 or so opponents that showed up to the nearly four-and-a-half hour meeting left scratching their heads.

The issue for most of them was clarity.

What the plans were clear about was adding apartments, townhomes and more than 100,000 sq. ft. of retail and commercial space outside the gates of the resort, on the undeveloped land along S.R. 54. However, the details were murkier regarding what is actually going to happen inside the gates of Saddlebrook, particularly with the renowned golf courses, tennis courts and the resort itself.

“We were very disappointed,” said JoAnn Barbetta, who along with husband Larry formed the Save Saddlebrook Coalition last month. “I was really surprised that they (the Planning Commission) could

move forward to recommend something that seems so lacking in detail.”

Eran Landry, the managing director of Mast Capital, told the Planning Commission members that the resort would receive a significant upgrade “and be much more upscale than what it’s been.”

Plans include 5,000 sq. ft. of retail, a new 12,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse, renovated restaurants, new outdoor amenities, improved dorms and additional parking.

Landry mentioned ice cream shops, splash pads and a more family-friendly environment, upgrading the “underwhelming” pool and improving resort rooms “that just aren’t competitive” in today’s market.

But, the plans for the two Arnold Palmerdesigned golf courses and driving range (which is currently located near the entrance of the resort and serves as the training center for Saddlebrook’s golf academy) riled opponents.

While Mast’s original plan to add 60 singlefamily homes and 100 townhomes over one of the golf courses was scrapped, Landry said the 36 total golf holes would be reconfigured to 27 holes, and the driving range would be relocated.

He did not say who was going to redesign the newly configured golf course, saying Mast was in talks with the late Arnold Palmer’s design company and another golf course designer, and did not say where the driving range would be moved.

Also, there were questions over what would fill any space remaining in the aftermath of reducing the number of holes, and how that would affect home owners who bought their homes for the golf course views.

Jacqueline May, a teacher at Pasco-Hernando State College, held back tears as she told the Planning Commission members that her and her husband’s home was their retirement nest egg, and that they purchased it because of the view and the natural beauty surrounding it.

“We love nature and it hurts my heart when developers come in and mow down every tree to get every dollar out of every inch of land,” she said. “That’s

The entrance to Saddlebrook Resort is one of many areas that will be getting a major facelift if the plans of new owner Mast Capital are approved by Pasco’s Board of County Commissioners.

“We love nature and it hurts my heart when developers come in and mow down every tree to get every dollar out of every inch of land,” resident Jacqueline May said at the Pasco Planning Commission meeting on Jan. 5. “That’s why we bought in Saddlebrook.”

why we bought in Saddlebrook.”

There also was no mention by Landry about whether or not there were any plans for the tennis courts in the same area. Saddlebrook has notably been the training ground for professional tennis stars like Martina Hingis, John Isner, Jennifer Capriati, Jim Courier and many others.

Changes Along S.R. 54

Plans for the two outer parcels were clearer.

Mostly west of the main entrance at Saddlebrook Way on S.R. 54, a 35-acre parcel will include 75,000 sq. ft. of commercial, 465 apartments and 35 townhomes. An additional road, the long-rumored Vision Rd. which is eventually supposed to connect to both Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs Blvd., will be built to accommodate additional traffic in and out of the new development.

Justina Gale of Florida Design Consultants told the Planning Commission this area would become a true mixed-use integrated and multi-story project, with retail on the bottom and offices above it, with the apartments further back off S.R. 54. It will include trails, neighborhood parks, plazas and will “create a sense of place.”

An additional 19-acre parcel further west will include another 25,000 sq. ft. of commercial as well as 120 townhomes.

Opponents cited traffic as a concern — there is only one way in and out of Saddlebrook, which they say will create traffic jams. They also said replacing the green space along the resort’s entrance with apartments and restaurants was incompatible with the nature theme the resort has cultivated for more than 40 years.

“Saddlebrook is a gem and needs to be treated that way,” JoAnn Bar-

betta said. “Growth and development is a part of our life and I understand that. But, there comes a time when we need to take a pause, step back and ask whether we want to completely alter the character of a beloved, historic community like Saddlebrook.”

The Planning Commission had concerns with the lack of detail in the plans, as well as a few errors and omissions. Chief assistant county attorney David Goldstein, who did not have a vote, questioned whether that lack of detail “would put the Board in a bad spot.”

Planning Commission member Jon Moody was the most outspoken against approving the plans. He had originally flagged them when they hadn’t been seen by residents and somehow ended up on a consent agenda, which recommends approval without debate, leading to the Jan. 5 meeting where residents could hear about and finally see the plans and voice their concerns.

“I will tell you I would not feel comfortable today denying this application,” Moody said. “But I would feel more comfortable if it were brought back to us with more detail at a later date.”

Planning Commission chair Charles Grey sympathized with the concerned residents, especially those who fear losing the golf course views they paid a premium for decades ago, but also told them they needed to understand that, “if you don’t do something, your beautiful development is going to die.”

He voted against forwarding the plans to the BCC, but urged the residents to work with Mast.

After some consternation, the Planning Commission moved the plans forward, with a hopeful request that more details are provided will be by Mast Capital in the proposed MPUD before the BCC has its say next month.

Here’s How You Can Win FREE Dining In Our ‘Big Game’ Squares Contest!

Now that we know that the Kansas City Chiefs, who won Super Bowl LIV in 2020 but lost to the Bucs in Super Bowl LV in 2021, will square off against the Philadelphia Eagles, who won Super Bowl LII in 2018, next Sunday, February 12, here’s how you can win FREE dining in our ‘Big Game’ Squares Contest. Simply email us the entry form at the bottom right of this page or enter on our website (NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net) by Friday, February 10. Please note that mailed-in entries are not allowed for this contest!

On Saturday, February 11, I will first assign random squares for each entrant on the grid below. Then, I will randomly assign numbers 0-9 along the top row under the Eagles and in the far left column next to the Chiefs. Then, when the game is played, whoever’s name is in the box that matches up with the last digit of the score for each team (e.g., if the score is Chiefs 10, Eagles 7 at the end of the first quarter and your name is in the box that corresponds to both KC 0 & Phi 7, you would win a $25 gift card to the restaurant of your choice as the first quarter winner. If the score is 13-13 at the end of the first half and your name is in the box that corresponds to KC 3, Phi 3, you would win a $50 gift card. We also will offer a $25 gift card to whoever has the correct box at the end of the third quarter & a $100 gift card for the correct score at the end of the game, whether at the end of the 4th quarter or overtime. See our official contest rules in the far left column below. — GN

Official Contest Rules!

1. No purchase of any kind is necessary to enter or to win.

2. To enter, completely fill out the entry form in the bottom right corner of this page & email it to Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com. Or, enter at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net. No entries sent by U.S. mail will be accepted.

3 Only one entry per person, whether online or by email, not both.

4. All entries must be received by Friday, February 10, to be eligible.

5. Do NOT email us any part of the grid when you enter. You will NOT get to choose your square.

6. The first 100 properly filled out entries we receive will receive one of the 100 available squares.

7. The publisher will assign squares at random on Saturday, February 10.

8. If we receive fewer than 100 entries, those spaces will have no name entered in them and no one will be eligible to win a prize for any of those spaces.

9. After all eligible names have been entered, the publisher will assign numbers 0-9 at random in both the top row and the far left column of the grid.

10. The contest will be posted at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net as of Tues., Jan. 31. The filled-out grid will be posted before kickoff on Feb. 12.

11. Prizes to be awarded: 1Q-$25; Half-$50; 3Q-$25; 4Q or OT-$100. All prizes will be gift cards to the restaurant of each winner’s choice.

12. Contest results will be posted at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net by Feb. 15 & in our Feb. 21 Wesley Chapel & March 7 New Tampa issues.

Eagles Kansas City Chiefs

Presenting My 2022 Favorite New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Restaurants!

Gary’s TOP 10 Favorite New Tampa Restaurants

Not as many new restaurants opened in New Tampa as in Wesley Chapel in 2022, but many of the existing restaurants upgraded their offerings — including The Grill at Morris Bridge on Cross Creek Blvd. If you haven’t sampled the new tomahawk ribeye for two (photo) or bacon & parmesan-crusted mahi-mahi at The Grill, I urge you to give them both a try.

If The Grill is my #1A this year, our perennial reader favorite Stonewood Grill

& Tavern could be #1B (instead of #2), especially after adding its unique & tasty Manhattan Strip steak we showed you last issue to its regular menu.

Frammi & Via Italia also are neckand-neck for me for Italian food (both have great pasta!), but I give Frammi the slight edge overall for its larger non-pizza variety, including an entire American food menu.

Fat Rabbit, which brought back

3.

6.

7. Ha Long Bay

8. Bayscape Bistro

4.

5.

its own fresh fish option to go along with the best wings in town, rounds out my top-5.

The only new restaurant to make my top-10 this year is Ha Long Bay, the mostly Vietnamese Asian fusion place which opened after the Reader Survey

9. Cantina (CC Blvd.)

10. Liang’s Bistro

voting ended. Also in my top-10 in New Tampa for the first time is Cantina, which also ascended to the top spot as my new Favorite Mexican Restaurant in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel.

Despite What The Trolls May Say, These Were My 2022 Restaurant Faves!

Despite what some online trolls post on our Facebook page, the results of our 2022 Reader Dining Survey & Contest that we posted in our last issue of 2022 were an absolutely accurate accounting of the 400 or so total votes we received on our website and from the mail-in ballots of our readers in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

And, despite what some of those people may think — and have proclaimed so loudly on our Facebook page — those results were not “fudged” in any way by yours truly. There actually were fewer than a dozen disqualified ballots this year for those who didn’t put their names on their surveys and very few other reasons, so virtually every vote we received was counted and accurately tabulated.

What I won’t claim, however, is that the Reader Survey results are an accurate depiction of what the majority of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa residents truly think are the best restaurants in our two distribution areas. There’s no doubt that 400 votes out of more than 60,000 households that we reach by mail (plus 14,000 people who follow us on Facebook) doesn’t tell the full story, even though it does tell a story.

In part because I’ve never been happy with the number of chain restaurants that usually dominate the results with our readers, I will guarantee, however, that the places to eat and drink in and adjacent to our two distribution areas that I’ve named on this page and the nine pages that follow absolutely are my favorites in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, no matter what those trolls will try to convince you of otherwise. Here are the two most common complaints:

1) “Gary only writes about & votes for

the restaurants that advertise with him.” — Whether anyone believes it or not, part of the reason I try to sell certain restaurant owners on advertising in these pages is because I already like their restaurants. My wife will tell you that I make pretty good fish at home, but love it when a restaurant has truly fresh fish prepared in delicious ways. And, I’ve loved the fresh fish at both Treble Makers and The Grill at Morris Bridge since the days both opened. The only place in Wesley Chapel that, in my opinion, comes close to Treble Makers’ coconut curry grouper or wahoo (the latter of which, sadly, was recently taken off the Treble Makers menu) is Grillsmith, and I don’t like the rest of Grillsmith’s menu as much as I do the options at our area’s only dueling piano bar.

But, if you’re not someone who eats or cares about fresh fish, while you may disagree with my choices — especially if you don’t like your favorite dishes at any of my favorite places — I still stand behind my selections with not only my words on these pages but also with my money when I go out to eat.

And, while I do promise every one of our dining advertisers that I will write a full-length Dining Feature story about them when they become advertisers, I do also write about every new restaurant that opens in either of our distribution areas, whether they ever spend a dollar with us or not. The reason I save the fulllength features for our advertisers is because we have more than 70 ads in every issue (more than 80 in this issue) and almost every advertiser wants a story — because it gets so many of them the best results of any local advertising they do, including online. With only 26 issues per year and 3-4 Business & Dining Feature

stories in most issues, that simply doesn’t leave much room for full-length non-advertiser stories, so a Nibbles column item is all I can offer those other eateries (and businesses).

2) “Gary only writes about & votes for the restaurants that agree to give him free food.” — This is the claim that actually makes me angry. Yes, some restaurant owners insist on buying dinner for me and Jannah from time to time, especially after my reviews hit print, but I have never insisted that they — nor have I ever even asked them to — do so. In fact, I always have told any place that has bought more than one meal for us (or even just me) that they shouldn’t do that and I always leave an even more substantial tip than I normally do when they insist.

Anyone who is making either of these claims (yes, especially you, Troll Jeffrey Brown) is not only lying, they’ve never seen the amount of money I spend locally to go out to eat. I guarantee that there is no one who lives in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel who spends more to dine out for two in our two distribution areas than I do — especially as a percentage of their annual income — and I will be happy to share an accounting of all the meals I didn’t get for free from last year if any of my accuser(s) are willing to do the same. If they’re within even $500 of what I spent, I’ll be shocked. So, bring it, Mr. Brown (as in, rhymes with “clown”).

I love to cook, but my skills are extremely limited, and there’s nothing Jannah and I love to do more than go out, sit at the bar and have a cocktail and a delicious meal at our favorite places — especially when there are a number of items on the menu we enjoy.

But, the one thing I can assure everyone

of is that whether or not a place has ever spent a dollar on advertising in these pages or ever bought me even a single breakfast, lunch or dinner, neither of these two claims is accurate.

With trolls always hiding behind their anonymity, I can’t control what they say, think or write, nor would I even try. What I can assure all of you is that none of those (Jack Zhort, Rick Carroll, etc.) who claim they know for fact what we, and especially I, do with regards to our content have never met me, never had a meal or a beverage with me or actually ever discussed with me why they feel the way they do. I may be a “pompous a--” (right, Mr. Carroll?), but at least I’m not afraid to stand behind my words, in print or online.

Anyway, as for my the lists on these pages, with all of the new places to eat in our distribution areas, especially Wesley Chapel, it is getting much harder for me to pick not just a top-10 list of favorites, but even a top-25 or top-50, or to feel confident that every one of my selections is in its perfect place on each list.

For those who voted for Noble Crust to repeat as #1 in this year’s survey in Wesley Chapel, I assure you that Jannah and I also love the place, or it wouldn’t make my top-10 (see next page). But, despite its changing-by-season menu, the only fish that stays on Noble Crust’s menu is salmon, and neither of us likes salmon. We also usually only take out pizza, no matter how good it may be. But, you’ll still find us at Noble Crust from time to time, enjoying the meatball appetizer and a delicious cocktail at the bar. If you do find us there, feel free to say hi, as so many people do year after year — many of whom tell us the only reason they tried a place was because of this publication. — GN

2. Stonewood Grill & Tavern

Frammi

Via Italia

Fat Rabbit

Acropolis Greek Taverna

1. The Grill at Morris Bridge

Gary’s TOP 10 Favorite Wesley Chapel Restaurants

With all of the new restaurants that opened in Wesley Chapel in 2022, this was the hardest year ever for me to compile this list. I know some people disagree, but if you haven’t had the always-fresh coconut curry grouper or seared tuna (photo) at Treble Makers, haven’t sampled the chicken, spinach & riccotta cannelloni at Falabella Family Bistro, haven’t tried the filet at Dempsey’s Too since the new ownership at Saddlebrook revamped the menu a couple of months ago, or any of the amazing appetizers at Zukku-San, try ‘em and tell me you still don’t think this is a legitimate top-10 list. Oh, and I am also partial to the always-fresh Short-Trip fish at Grillsmith, too.

2. Falabella Family Bistro

3. Dempsey’s Too

4. Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill

5. Grillsmith

6. The Living Room

7. Noble Crust

8. Top Shelf Sports Lounge

9. Longhorn Steakhouse

10. Bluefin Japanese Restaurant

(L.-r.) Treble Makers co-owner Jamie Hess, Neighborhood News editor Gary Nager, Treble Makers chef Kevin Maggard and co-owner Lee Bevan. (Photo by Charmaine George)

1. Treble Makers Dueling Piano Restaurant & Bar

GARY’S 2022 FOOD FAVORITES IN NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL

Gary’s

Blush Wine Room

Although some of the locals I’ve talked to about the KRATE at The Grove Container Park complain that most of the restaurants are too expensive for what you get, Jannah and I absolutely love so many of them I had to make a top-10 (actually, top-11) Favorite KRATE list, instead of just a top-5.

That being said, while there may be a dish or two at other KRATEs that we like as much as, say, the chicken parmigiana meatballs (photo) or the penne ala vodka pasta or chicken ala vodka flatbread at the Blush Wine Room, there is no other KRATE that has a better vibe or better food overall than Blush. We wish they were able to serve hard liquor there, but the rotating frozen wine-based cocktails are delish and you won’t find most of the available wines at Blush anywhere else.

Pisco Express, which too many locals tell me they haven’t tried yet, offers authentic Peruvian Chinese fusion cuisine and lives up to the billing of Peruvian food being the best of the Latin cuisines. Try the ceviche!

In addition to the top-10 shown here, we also enjoy Tacos El Patron, Rhythm Pon de Grille, Shake-A-Salad, El Prince, La Creacion Xpress, Cafe 365, Tasty Ramen, The Fry Room and SubZero ice cream, so in my opinion, the KRATEs are doing just fine, thank you!

Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill

Even without a great, true New York-style Chinese place in either of our two markets, and even with Kobe Japanese Steakhouse not yet reopened, I believe we still have a tremendous variety of truly delicious Asian places in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

Whether you prefer tasty Japanese, Thai, Indian, Korean or even Vietnamese cuisine, there is something for literally almost everyone to enjoy on the list below.

In fact, there are so many Asian eateries I love in our two markets, I had to expand my list to a Sweet 16 in this category. Yes, the incredible appetizers (like the tenderloin steak yakitori shown above), fresh sushi and unique entrées at Zukku-San make it my #1 favorite, the sushi, chicken teriyaki and not-tableside hibachi offerings at Bluefin make it a strong #2. And, while Yamato isn’t quite as good, in my opinion, as Kobe was when it was open, its tableside hibachi options are still excellent and plentiful. Newcomers Ha Long Bay, Tessa’s Sweet Café and the Nepalese Gorkhali Kitchen, as well as Liang’s Bistro, Sushi Café, Thai Lanna, Michi Ramen, Thai Ruby, Oishi Express and Sake House, are quality options in New Tampa, as are Umu, Arroy Thai and Ato here in the Chap. Try ‘em all!

Pisco Express Peruvian Chinese

This choice even surprised me, but the more Jannah and I eat at (or take out from) Pisco Express Peruvian Chinese Fusion, the more we love it.

The ceviche de pescado (fish), whether it’s snapper, basa or whatever fresh fish they have each day, is as good as you’ll find anywhere, and the tallarin saltado (shown above with chicken) is amazing. And, there are still at least a dozen other options on Pisco Express’ extensive menu I plan to try. Pisco has, in my opinion, surpassed Lima in New Tampa for the best Peruvian cuisine, but Lima still came in as my #4 on this list.

My #2 favorite Latin restaurant could ascend to #1 if Las Palmas Latin Grill ever reopens its brick-and-mortar location just south of County Line Rd. Even with the Las Palmas food truck’s reduced number of menu options, what is available is top-quality, from award-winning Cuban sandwiches to the roast pork and grilled chicken entrées.

Rice-n-Beans, our readers’ favorite this year, comes in at #3 on my list for its delicious Puerto Rican options (my favorites are the chicken or pork chicharrons) and great bar vibe. Other KRATEs on this list include Chamo Bites, Mojo Grill and La Creacion Xpress. Latin Twist Café, a favorite with our readers since it opened, Arepa Mia and the new Macondo round out a very strong Latin top-10.

1. Blush Wine Room

2. Pisco Express

3. Ato

4. Bacon Boss

5. Café Zorba

6. Bakery X

7. Chamo Bites

8. Urban Sweets

9. TJ’s Hot Dogs 10. Mojo Grill

1. Zukku-San

2. Bluefin Sushi

3. Yamato

4. Ha Long Bay

5. Liang’s Bistro

6. Umu

7. Sushi Café

8. Arroy Thai

9. Ato

10. Thai Lanna 11. Tessa’s Sweet Kafé 12. Michi Ramen 13. Thai Ruby 14. Oishi Express 15. Gorkhali Kitchen 16. Sake House

Gary’s Favorite KRATEs

Gary’s Favorite Asian Restaurants In NT & WC

Favorite (Not-Mexican) Latin Restaurants In NT & WC

1. Pisco Express

2. Las Palmas

3. Rice-n-Beans

4. Lima

5. Chamo Bites

6. Mojo Grill

7. Latin Twist Café

8. La Creacion Xpress

9. Arepa Mia 10. Macondo

GARY’S 2022 FOOD FAVORITES IN NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL

Gary’s Favorite Pizza Places

Gary’s Favorite Ice Cream/Gelato/ Frozen Yogurt In NT & WC

Gary’s Favorite Bars & Taverns In NT & WC

New York New York Pizza

F or those who have never heard this story before, I performed at a stand-up comedy show at The Improv in Ybor City at least ten years ago and all of the comics who performed met after the show at this little pizza place around the corner called New York New York Pizza. As a native New Yawka and avowed NY-style pizza fanatic, I was shocked at how good it was. I was even more surprised to find out that NY NY was in the process of opening on BBD Blvd. in Wesley Chapel! It instantly became one of my favorite pizza places in either of our distribution areas (gotta love the sausage & pepperoni shown above) and has continued to be at or near #1 ever since — despite the fact there are several other really good NY pizza places in our area — and on the list below.

In fact, there are so many good ones that it’s really hard for anything other than a true NY-style place to finish very high on my list and there are even a few that didn’t make the list again this year. In addition to the ten places shown below, if I was expanding the list, I could include Best NY Pizza, Capri Pizza-n-More, Caprese House, Pomodoro, Cappy’s, Cali, Bubba’s 33, Rock & Brews, Main Event, Bosco’s and even places that serve flatbread-style pizza on my list. I just felt that this is a really yummy top-10.

Ice Dreammm Shop

Those of you who love the Ice Dreammm Shop as much as I do were probably stunned that this favorite, with locations at The Grove and off S.R. 54 in Lutz, didn’t dominate this category with our readers again this year, as it did in 2021.

There’s no doubt in my mind, however, that owner Joe Schembri’s Ice Dreammm Shops serve the best ice cream in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel, whether you’re looking for alcohol-infused cones, cups or sundaes served on homemade cookies, brownies and bars or the most delicious array of toppings — although I love a lot of other local places, too.

Before I get into my other favorites, I also want it known up front that I prefer hard-packed ice cream to gelato, frozen yogurt or soft-serve. That’s just me. It doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy or ever indulge in any of the others, it just means that when I’m not dieting and want a delicious frozen treat, I’ll almost always choose real ice cream.

I’ve always loved the different peanut butter and banana flavors at Bruster’s and Ice Screammmin is another New Tampa favorite of mine for those options. I also crave the decadent brownies from Mike’s Pies with the locally made ice cream at the new Astro, but a cone or cup from any of the places shown below also will make me smile.

Treble Makers

J annah and I have very different reasons why we love one bar or another — she wants her cosmopolitans light pink (not red) and wants a place with a list of other sweet cocktail options made with premium vodka. As the guy who pays, on the other hand, I just want my Jameson and other Irish, Scotch and bourbon whiskeys to be reasonably priced, full rocks pours with lots of ice instead of that hoity-toity single ice cube.

Treble Makers isn’t the only place we both love to enjoy a cocktail or two, but it is the place we both prefer, especially for dinner on a Friday night, when most of the places near either of our local malls are total zoos. As a New Yawka, I refuse to wait 45 minutes to an hour to get to sit down (or to find parking), so places like Treble Makers, The Grill at Morris Bridge and Bayscape Bistro (at Heritage Isles Golf Club off Cross Creek Blvd.) will get the nod from us every time on busy nights.

We also appreciate friendly bartenders who make Jannah’s drinks properly and can find me on crowded nights, so Joe Whiskey’s, Brass Tap, Fat Rabbit, Bubba’s 33, the Top Shelf Sports Lounge and Noble Crust also make my list. Neither of us are beer drinkers, so beer-only bars will never be among our faves, but karaoke & live music places often will.

1. TrebleMakers

2. Grill at MB

3. Bayscape Bistro

4. Joe Whiskey’s

5. Brass Tap

7. Noble Crust

8. Bubba’s 33

9. Via Italia

10. Living Room

1. NY NY

2. Amici’s

3. 900º Woodfired

4. 900º New York

5. Fratelli’s

6. Taste of NY

7. PizzaMania

8. Via Italia

9. Woodfired (Bearss)

10. Noble Crust

1. Ice Dreammm Shop

2. Bruster’s

3. Ice Screammmin’

4. Astro Ice Cream

5. Twistee Treat

6. Subzero

7. Coldstone

8. Culver’s

9. Hello Sweetness

10. 35 Below

6. Fat Rabbit

11. Top Shelf

12. Florida Ave.

GARY’S 2022 FOOD FAVORITES IN NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL

Gary’s Favorite Places For Breakfast In NT & WC

Gary’s Favorite Bakeries & Baked Dessert Places In NT & WC

Gary’s Favorite Places For Coffee In NT & WC

EggTown (formerly The Brunchery)

For anyone who wondered on line whether or not EggTown was yet another new owner of the restaurant on S.R. 56 that originally was called Wolf’s Den, fear not: EggTown/Brunchin’ is under the same ownership and has the same delicious menu as The Brunchery, which opened last year in the former Wolf’s Den location. For more info about the name change, see pg. 44 of this issue.

A breakfast place by any other name, with the same menu, tastes just as sweet for EggTown’s customers, but there’s no doubt that the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area has quite a few really good local breakfast places, as well as a few popular chain eateries to enjoy that first meal of the day.

Please note that I am not including brunch places on this list. Although I enjoy a lot of the brunch items at places like Noble Crust, Stonewood and others, I’m the type of person who eats a full breakfast every day, so Jannah and I don’t often go out to have eggs on the weekends in order to drink as many mimosas as possible.

EggTown and Brunchies on S.R. 54 are both really good, but I also love the bacon, egg & cheese and bagel & lox sandwiches at Brooklyn Water Bagel, the home cooking at Happy Hangar Café and the fried egg and fried chicken & waffle sandwiches at the Bean Bar Co.

Urban Sweets

Unfortunately, because I’m such a bread lover, it’s hard for me to pick a great bakery based on what they make for dessert alone.

To that end, while Urban Sweets at the KRATEs is definitely my favorite bakery for dessert, it was still hard to put Urban’s delicious chocolate chip cookie sandwiches with a variety of cream fillings, cupcakes and cake parfaits ahead of Bakery X, another KRATE that serves the only truly authentic croissants, brioches and varieties of French bread in either of our distribution areas. If there was another bread-oriented bakery in our area that could compete (do not say Panera, Publix or even Sprouts to me), I would give Bakery X its own category.

And, while a number of local restaurants and dessert places offer some delicious brownies and homemade cookies (including Astro Ice Cream, Ice Dreammm Shop and Hello Sweetness), the only restaurant with an actual dessert case is Falabella Bistro, where everything from the tiramisu to the chocolate mousse cheesecake is provided by 7 Layers Bakery.

And, while I do enjoy the local editions of our area’s three chain dessert places — Nothing Bundt Cakes, Crumbl Cookie and Smallcakes Cupcakery, I believe my top three are all still in a league of their own.

The Bean Bar Co.

Few people I know enjoy a great cup of coffee as much as I do and I am sorry, but I personally only drink Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts coffee when there are no other choices available.

There are a few locally owned coffee places in our area, but the top three on the list below are the only ones I really love. Numbers 4 and 5 on my list are great Italian restaurants that serve amazing cappuccinos, lattes and other coffee drinks.

But, considering that I can’t get enough of the coffee I make at home and drink at least two cups of it every day, I really have to love a place to become a regular consumer of its coffee. And, the Bean Bar Co. in Tampa Palms is the place I love best, especially the café con leches and caramel macchiatos there. I can say the same thing about Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.’s Brooklyn Infusion (Kahlua, caramel and sweet vanilla) small-batch regular coffee, as well as BWB’s Winter Wonderland blend of white chocolate, caramel and coconut.

The newest addition to the local coffee scene — Macondo Coffee Roasters — has the full gamut of coffee drinks, including being the first place where I really enjoyed a flat white (similar to a latte but with a higher volume of coffee to milk). Yum!

1. EggTown (formerly The Brunchery)

2. Brunchies

3. Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.

4. Happy Hangar Café

5. Bean Bar Co.

1. Urban Sweets

2. Bakery X

3. Falabella Family Bistro

4. Nothing Bundt Cakes

5. (tie) Crumbl Cookie & Smallcakes

1. The Bean Bar Co.

2. Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.

3. Macondo Coffee Roasters

4. Falabella Family Bistro

5. Via Italia

GARY’S 2022 FOOD FAVORITES IN NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL

Gary’s Favorite Italian Restaurants In NT

Gary’s Favorite Places For Sushi

Gary’s Favorite Mexican Restaurants In NT & WC

Falabella Family Bistro

Although I’ve always loved the pasta and other Italian specialties at owner Steve Falabella’s 900º Woodfired Pizza in the Shops at Wiregrass, there’s no doubt that Steve has gone himself one better with his Falabella Family Bistro at The Grove.

And, while the Bistro already had me hooked on favorites like lasagna (above), chicken parmigiana and the Sam’s meatballs appetizer, the addition in 2022 of weekly dinner specials, his expanded regular menu and the addition of full liquor at the bar has made it even tougher for me to pick any place other than Falabella when Jannah and I feel like enjoying some Italian comfort food. And, the Bistro also features an incredible display with 7 Layers Bakery dessert items.

Meanwhile, in New Tampa, both Frammi and Via Italia — located less than a mile from each other off BBD Blvd. — are both just a shade below Falabella. I love the linguine with clams at both locations and the two different pasta pesto options (traditional Genovese and Siciliano) at Via Italia and the lightly spicy pasta Amatriciano and eggplant parmigiana at Frammi. So close.

I do also enjoy the chicken fried chicken parm at Noble Crust, the zucchini noodles at Pasta di Guy, the penne ala vodka at Blush and the mezzaluna ravioli at Carrabba’s.

Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill

Even though I probably tried every type of legal sushi when I lived in New York City, when Jannah and I go out to Zukku-San, or any Japanese restaurant, we generally eat everything other than sushi because she really only likes California roll.

However, Jannah’s daughter Lauren loves the Mexican roll and other rolls with shrimp (which I can’t eat because I’m allergic) at Zukku-San, and I am still partial to everything from the tuna tataki to any type of white meat fish sashimi to the bluefin tuna akami crudo shown above at Zukku-San.

And, while I don’t think any other local Japanese place can touch Zukku-San’s non-sushi appetizers (see pg. 28) or entrées, I do enjoy the fresh sushi at all of the places on my list below. I think Bluefin in The Grove has the most creative assortment of rolls, Sushi Café on BBD Blvd. in New Tampa and Umu on BBD in Wesley Chapel have the best variety of white meat fish (snapper, grouper, wahoo, etc.) and Sake House (a little-known gem in Tampa Palms) also is consistently good. I also have been pleasantly surprised at the quality of the large variety of rolls at Yamato. This list also could have included Ha Long Bay, Thai Lanna, Sushi Avenue and Oishi Express.

Cantina (Cross Creek Blvd.)

Many Mexican restaurants have come and gone in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, but new ones keep opening in both of our areas. The problem, in one man’s opinion, is that most of them simply aren’t as good as places we’ve loved in other parts of the country or even the Tampa Bay area. For many years, Vallarta’s has been the only consistent winner with our readers among the Mexican restaurants in our distribution areas.

But now, even though the Vallarta’s in Wesley Chapel is still around, the shuttered location in Tampa Palms has become the second New Tampa location (the other is on E. Bearss Ave.) of Don Julio’s. Señor Tequila (#6 on my list) has been open in the original location of Bonefish Grill on BBD since May 2021. And now, Cantina Laredo in The Shops at Wiregrass will be replaced by Azteca D’Oro (see story on pg. 44).

But, my favorite of the restaurants that have survived the Mexican shakeout is now Cantina Mexican Grill & Bar, for not only its fajitas (photo), but also its variety of tasty steak and chicken dishes, enchiladas, burritos and more. Tacos el Patron at the KRATEs has really good burritos and tacos, Chuy’s fajitas have improved since it first opened and I enjoy Capital Tacos’ flavorful bowls.

1. Falabella Family Bistro

2. Frammi

3. Via Italia

4. Noble Crust

5. Pasta di Guy

6. Blush Wine Room & Carrabba’s

1. Zukku-San

2. Bluefin Japanese Restaurant

3. Sushi Café

4. Umu Japanese & Thai

5. Sake House

6. Yamato Japanese restaurant

1. Cantina (CC Blvd.)

2. Vallarta’s

3. Tacos el Patron

4. Chuy’s Tex-Mex

5. Capital Tacos

6. Señor Tequila

GARY’S 2022 FOOD FAVORITES IN NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL

Gary’s Favorite New Restaurants In

Gary’s Favorite Appetizers In NT & WC

Gary’s Favorite Entrées In NT & WC

The Living Room

Among the few categories where our readers who voted in this year’s Dining Survey & Contest and I agree is that this year’s most anticipated new restaurant is now also the best of the many outstanding newcomers in our two distribution areas

The Living Room, although it doesn’t yet have the same variety as the restaurant’s original location on Main St. in Dunedin, has a number of great appetizers, entrées and craft cocktails that definitely have people talking.

Among my favorite dishes at The Living Room are the flash-fried pork dumplings, the brown butter scallops, the molasses-braised pork osso bucco, the “you bet churrasco” and the spicy chargrilled pork chop shown above. The Living Room is still working out some of its service issues, but the place has a great vibe and tasty food.

Three KRATEs finish 2nd, 3rd and 5th on my list below — Blush Wine Room, Pisco Express and Ato (see pg. 14 for details). And, three new Asian additions to the New Tampa dining scene — Ha Long Bay, Tessa’s Sweet Kafe and Oishi Express (see how these finished among my Asian favorites in both of our markets on pg. 22) — all also made my top-six favorite new eateries. With more newcomers on the way, next year’s newby list should be interesting, too.

Pork Gyoza At Zukku-San

The two categories we got rid of when we tabulated the results of our 2022 Reader Dining Survey were Favorite Appetizer and Favorite Dish, because so many of you didn’t tell us the restaurants where you enjoyed your favorites.

Well, one reason we originally included the category was because I have so many favorites of my own that I wanted to hear yours.

But, while it didn’t work out for all of you, I still wanted to tell you mine and there’s no doubt that Jannah and I are most addicted to Zukku-San’s fried pork gyoza dumplings. They’re so crispy, so flavorful, with a ponzustyle dipping sauce that also is served with Zukku-San’s a la carte tempura appetizers, which just missed making this list — as did the restaurant’s crispy veggie spring rolls — although I did also have to include Zukku’s unique beef tenderloin yakitori at #5 on this list.

I also chose the true NY-style Chinese egg rolls at Liang’s (but didn’t include Liang’s excellent BBQ spare ribs), the seared ahi tuna at Stonewood (which just topped Treble Makers’ ahi), the perfect Sam’s meatballs at Falabella Bistro (beating out Noble Crust’s) and my new fave fish ceviche at Pisco Express, which just beats out Lima’s.

Coconut Curry Grouper At Treble Makers

As someone who always believed they hated curry, I was shocked at how much I loved it after Treble Makers chef Kevin Maggard told me that if I didn’t like his coconut curry grouper, he would buy it from me and bring it home to eat it himself. And now, the Treble Makers dish is both mine and Jannah’s favorite single entrée anywhere in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

When Treble Makers had both the grouper and their unique wahoo bianco on the menu, we used to switch back and forth between the two, but even though Kevin says the wahoo will make a comeback this summer, for now, his grouper is our go-to fresh fish dish in our two areas.

Stonewood narrowly grabbed the #2 spot with its new Manhattan strip, a unique take on the traditional NY strip which barely beat out the tasty new tomahawk ribeye at The Grill at Morris Bridge, which just missed having a 2nd top-6 entrée with its parmesan-and-bacon-crusted mahi. My #4 favorite is the super-crispy Korean-style fried chicken at Tessa’s Sweet Kafe. And, although I also love the linguine with clams at Falabella’s, I think it falls just short of the same dish at both Via Italia and Frammi. Also just missing the list was the tender filet at the revamped Dempsey’s Too.

1. The Living Room

2. Blush Wine Room

3. Pisco Express

4. Ha Long Bay

5. Ato

6. Tessa’s Sweet Kafe & Oishi Express

1. Pork Gyoza @ Zukku-San

2. Chinese Egg Rolls @ Liang’s Bistro

3. Seared Ahi Tuna @ Stonewood

4. Sam’s Meatballs @ Falabella Bistro

5. Beef Tenderloin Yakitori @ Zukku-San

6. Fish Ceviche @ Pisco Express

1. Coconut Curry Grouper & TrebleMakers

2. Manhattan Strip @ Stonewood

3. Tomahawk Ribeye @ Grill at MB

4. Korean Fried Chicken @ Tessa’s Kafe

5. Linguine alla Vongole at Via Italia

6. Vongole Linguine @ Frammi

Gary’s Most Underrated Restaurants In NT & WC

Top Shelf Sports Lounge

M anaging editor John Cotey wanted to come up with some other unique categories for me to list on these pages, but the only one other than Favorite Appetizer and Favorite Entrée that appealed to me was Most Underrated Restaurant.

By underrated, I’m talking about by our readers, based on the results of our annual Reader Dining Survey not only this year, but over the past few years.

The local eatery that topped the list — because I see rave reviews for it online but very few votes by our readers every year since it opened at what is now called the AdventHealth Center Ice skating complex — is the Top Shelf Sports Lounge. But, not only does Top Shelf have outstanding wings (photo), but also great burgers, poutines (a Canadian favorite skillet dish) and even some of our area’s best sautéed veggies.

Four newcomers made this list, including two KRATEs — Pisco Express and Chamo Bites — along with Ha Long Bay and Tessa’s Sweet Kafe in New Tampa.

And, even though the menu is now much more of a golf course sports bar, the chef-created items still on the menu at Omari’s Grill at Lexington Oaks Golf Club are all still excellent, too — especially the grilled chicken and croque monsieur

sandwiches. I also think Bluefin, located next to Treble Makers at The Grove, hasn’t attracted enough attention and that more of you should check out the recently revamped menu at Dempsey’s Too at Saddlebrook.

1. Top Shelf Sports Lounge

2. Ha Long Bay

3. Tessa’s Sweet Kafe

4. Pisco Express

5. Omari’s Grill

6. Bluefin Japanese Restaurant

7. Chamo Bites

8. Dempsey’s Too

Sana Dental Studio & Spa Provides The Best Of Both Worlds

By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Juan Contin wasn’t necessarily looking for a new dentist when his wife Valerie suggested he give Sana Dental Studio and Spa a try. In fact, he was content traveling from his Land O’Lakes home to his dentist in Brooksville for his dental work.

But, when he stepped into the office of Dr. Sana Yusuf, D.M.D., in the Promenade at Lexington Oaks plaza (just off Wesley Chapel Blvd. at Old Pasco Rd.), that all changed.

“My wife went first, and now we both go there,” Juan says. “It was a totally different experience. We love it.”

Juan says the dental care at Sana Dental & Spa has been excellent, the modern atmosphere is unlike what you might imagine for a dentist’s office, the staff is friendly and outgoing and the office is vibrant.

And, of course, that is all due to Dr. Yusuf, who is working hard to give all of her patients the same kind of experience that has made the Contins happy patients.

She uses the latest technologies and has enjoyed a surprisingly long history in the profession (considering her young age) to provide what she calls top-notch dental care.

“We are going to give you quality above all,” says Dr. Yusuf, a Wesley Chapel resident. “When you do that, you

Dr.

and the rest of her staff at

Blvd. aim to make going to the dentist as pleasurable and relaxing as going to a spa....which you also can do at Sana.

make it a great experience. We’re not a corporate dentist. We’re not rushing you in and out with a different dentist every time. We’re going to do it right and

you’re going to leave happy.”

Dentistry isn’t just a job for Dr. Yusuf, it’s a long-time love. She is only 31 years old, but is a 15-year veteran in the business,

having started working in the field when she was just 16 and has been everything from a receptionist to insurance coordinator to dental assistant and now, doctor.

Dr. Yusuf graduated Summa Cum Laude — in only three years and at the age of 20 — with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from the University of Detroit Mercy. She earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree four years later from Midwestern University College of Dental Medicine in Downers Grove, IL.

After earning her D.M.D. degree, Dr. Yusuf joined the U.S. Army as an Active Duty Captain and worked as a general dentist. She is an honored recipient of the Army Commendation Medal.

In 2020, she was leaving the Army just as the Covid-19 pandemic was starting, and she and her husband and two children decided to move to Wesley Chapel.

That set off a series of logistical events that made Dr. Yusuf wonder if she should have stayed in the safe confines of the army. But, despite a number of obstacles, including losing her dental associate job in Tampa due to the pandemic before even making the move here, she was able to find another associate job, which she worked at for roughly two years.

But eventually, her entrepreneurial spirit took over, and she decided it was time to do her own thing.

Sana Yusuf (in the pink pants)

Sana Dental Studio & Spa off Old Pasco Rd. and Wesley Chapel

“I was working my tail end off to build someone else’s practice, someone else’s business,” she says. “I asked myself, ‘Why not do it for me?’ I was a captain in the military, I’m a natural leader, I’m an oldest sibling and I had a lot of great ideas. I just realized I wasn’t getting out what I was putting into my job and I should do it myself.”

Since opening Sana Dental in July 2022, Dr. Yusuf has built her practice not only into a unique space, but one offering high-quality dentistry that runs the gamut from regular cleanings to veneers and crowns to dental surgeries, like extractions and bone grafts

In fact, Dr. Yusuf says, “I was literally going to go into residency to be an oral surgeon. Surgery is my absolute favorite.”

If there is a dental procedure Dr. Yusuf can’t do herself, she says she has a talented network of local specialists to whom she can refer you.

Sana Dental Studio & Spa also offers Invisalign smile makeovers and same-day emergency appointments.

The latest technology, like 3D imaging that takes color pictures of every tooth, is employed for the most thorough care.

What About The Spa Side?

Dr. Yusuf started Sana Dental Studio & Spa by marrying the two concepts, in the hope of transforming a trip to the dentist into a comfortable and relaxing experience, like visiting a spa.

“Everyone loves the spa but hates going to the dentist, right?,” she asks.

But, things didn’t exactly turn out that way. People got excited and started asking about facials and massage therapists, “and I was like, no, that’s not what that’s supposed to be, but then it turned into that,” she says, chuckling.

Office manager Diana is a licensed esthetician, so Dr. Yusuf went out and hired another licensed esthetician, a medical assistant and an aesthetic nurse practitioner. She bought a laser, microneedling machine and other needed equipment.

While Dr. Yusuf has kept the spa offerings to things above the neck — “That is our anatomical area of expertise” — Sana

Dental Studio & Spa also offers radiofrequency microneedling with Morpheus8, Lumecca Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Photofacials, Laser Hair Removal, HydraFacials, CoolPeel skin resurfacing, and a variety of injectables, such as Botox and filler.

While dentistry is still 80 percent of the business, the spa also has been successful. In fact, when Sana Dental Studio & Spa expands into an adjacent space in the same plaza over the next few weeks, the spa-related equipment will be relocated to its own space, freeing up more rooms for dental care, accommodating growth in both areas.

All in all, it’s been a whirlwind for Dr. Yusuf, who had her third child in Spring 2022 as she was preparing her new practice for opening. She says her schedule is crazy, but she loves her job and her patients.

And she loves Wesley Chapel, where she also has found time to serve as the president of the Board of Directors at Sunrise of Pasco County, a center for victims of domestic and sexual abuse. She raised $1,700 for the center in November and for every new patient she sees, she donates an additional $5.

She also says she enjoys holding fundraisers every couple of months, in order to give back to her community. On Jan. 20, her office was raising money for a local Little League baseball team.

Being involved in the community is one of the perks of being a local business owner and entrepreneur, and Dr. Yusuf says she is happy to have made the decision to move her family, and open her practice, in Wesley Chapel.

“I live five minutes away from my office,” She says. “I tell my patients, that they’ll probably see me at Target buying diapers for my kids. And, I don’t want to run into them and then have to run in the other direction because I disappointed someone.”

Sana Dental Studio & Spa is located at 5728 Post Oak Blvd. The office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., and Friday by appointment only. For more information, call (813) 694-2278, visit SanaDentalStudio.com or see the ad on page 22 of this issue.

Dr. Yusuf says her family (above) and her practice keep her busy and happy. (Right) Sana dental hygienist Darrilyn Coffee.

Florida Heritage Insurance Takes The Confusion Out Of Insurance

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Neighborhood News correspondent

In the mid-nineties, Linda Nelson was working as a service manager at a Tampa car dealership.

She remembers it was August 21 — her best friend’s birthday — when they went out together to celebrate.

A drunk driver ran a red light, killing her friend.

That driver didn’t have insurance, so the medical bills from Linda’s injuries began piling up. Three years of litigation resulted in a payout from her friend’s insurance company that covered just a fraction of her bills.

“Consequently,” Linda says, “I became fascinated with insurance.”

Several years later, in 2004, Linda decided to make a career change and get her insurance license. She completed extensive training through the Allstate exclusive agent training program, but the company pulled out of Florida after that historic year of hurricanes, when Charley and three other hurricanes made landfall in the state.

That’s when Linda went to MetLife, where she worked as an agent for more than five years.

In 2009, Linda opened Florida Heritage Insurance in a small office off

of Collier Pkwy. and Livingston Ave., although it was called First Heritage Insurance at that time. As her business grew, she needed a larger space, and moved to Seven Oaks in 2015.

Now, Florida Heritage Insurance has moved into a permanent location — purchased by Linda and her husband Paul — on Argerian Dr. in the Canterbury Professional Park, which is located north of S.R. 54, across from Saddlebrook Resort. That move happened this past summer, after many long months of

construction and Covid-related delays.

A Consultative Approach

Florida Heritage Insurance’s growing business includes three licensed insurance agents in addition to Linda. Whenever you call, email or come in for an appointment at the agency, everyone you speak with is a licensed agent.

Linda’s team includes Veronica Galante, Deedee Pisoni and Shelly Sims. Due to another agent’s recent retirement, Linda says she is looking to add

one more licensed agent to the team.

The team helps people buy insurance for their home, automobile and business, as well as umbrella and personal liability policies, workers compensation insurance, general liability, professional liability, flood insurance, renters insurance and more. The agents can even help those who are on Medicare or aging into the program to select a plan. However, the office doesn’t currently focus on individual health insurance plans.

Linda says the way Florida Heritage Insurance helps its customers is completely different than what you’ll get if you call a 1-800 number to talk with someone at a big company.

“There’s a difference between a transaction and having a consultative approach to helping you buy insurance,” she explains, “If you call ‘1-800-buy-insurance,’ you get a person whose job it is to sell you a policy right then and there. They don’t know you, they aren’t going to get to know you, and if you have a problem and call back, you won’t get to talk with the same person.”

She says the transaction is typically to get you the lowest cost, no matter what — maybe by convincing you not to buy uninsured motorist coverage or to lower your limits or raise your deductible.

“That’s fine for the pocketbook,”

(L.-r.) Principal agent Linda Nelson, agent Veronica Galante and customer service rep Deedee Pisoni of Florida Heritage Insurance off S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel help take the confusion out of insurance for their clients. (Photo by Charmaine George)

she says, “until you actually have to use it. The time to find out what is and is not covered is not when you’re in the middle of a claim.”

Linda and her team take the time to ask a lot of questions and give people a variety of options for coverage, ranging from good to better to best. And, she says she can often find you as good or better coverage at a comparable price to the big-name companies.

“It’s one thing to make a decision to not buy coverage,” she explains. “It’s another thing to not know you don’t have it.”

While everyone has a budget, the goal at Florida Heritage Insurance is to be sure you understand what you’re buying and, if you need a lower cost, they help you find the best ways to do that. Some people may choose not to pay for insurance to replace the contents of their home, or maybe they don’t need comprehensive and collision insurance for an old car, for example.

“We’re here to help and to give you solutions to your insurance problems,” she says. “What you buy is completely up to you. The point is to understand really, truly what you’re buying.”

Giving Back

One hallmark of Florida Heritage Insurance is its commitment to giving back to the community. Linda and Paul are long-time Tampa residents who

moved to Wesley Chapel in 2001. They are part of the community and pleased to help their neighbors as much as possible.

The company supports Metropolitan Ministries, Feeding Tampa Bay, Shriners Hospital, the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, Oasis Pregnancy Center, Cornerstone Campus Ministry, and just recently added Project Dynamo to its list of charities. Project Dynamo is headquartered locally and run by retired special forces personnel who rescue people out of Ukraine, Afghanistan, and other dangerous locations. Linda says the organization also sent some of the first people using boats to rescue people out of Charlotte County after Hurricane Ian hit a few months ago.

Linda also volunteers at First Baptist Church of Wesley Chapel, singing and teaching children.

“We’re a local agency,” Linda says. “We’re your neighbors here in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, so we support charities that help people in our community.”

Florida Heritage Insurance is located at 5841 Argerian Dr., Suite 101. For more information, visit flhins.com, call (813) 803-7767, or see the ad on page 25. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. To meet with an agent in person, Linda says to please make an appointment by calling the office or using the contact page on the website.

Compton & Smith, P.A., For Family, Criminal & Personal Insury Law

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Neighborhood News correspondent

Attorneys RaeAnn Compton and Todd Smith first met two decades ago when both were new lawyers working as assistant state attorneys in Pasco County.

After going their separate ways, the pair teamed up again in 2017, knowing their skills, abilities, and personalities worked well together. They officially formed Compton & Smith, P.A., located in the New Tampa Professional Park off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Pebble Creek, representing clients in the areas of family, criminal and personal injury law.

RaeAnn has been in private practice since 2003, when she first opened Compton Law in Pebble Creek. Todd has been in private practice a similar amount of time. Both have worked with other partners and associates, and have hit their stride in the current partnership of the past five+ years.

“I love being partnered with RaeAnn,” says Todd. “I know her strengths and she knows mine.”

While one of them takes the lead on each case they handle, Todd estimates they work together on 99 percent of the cases in the firm, so they are able

to share ideas and get a second expert opinion to benefit their clients.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” he says.

“It’s great to have someone you trust to bounce things off of, someone who can cover for you for a day if you’re in court,” he says, “I think it’s worked out

well for both of us and for our clients.”

Both are accessible to the firm’s clients and hands-on with their cases, but they’re just part of a team that RaeAnn calls, “small but strong.”

“We’re a small firm, and we always give 110% to each client,” she says.

“Each case is important to us.”

To be sure every client gets great communication and always has someone who can get them answers to their questions, RaeAnn explains that her firm assigns a specific paralegal to each client. That way, if the attorneys are tied up in court, deposition, or a mediation, the firm’s clients always have a “go-to person” available to help them.

One paralegal is RaeAnn’s daughter, Jessica, who joined the practice 15 years ago. The other is Joan, who has been with the firm for eight years.

“They are both very loyal and dedicated, and both are extremely hardworking,” says RaeAnn. “I would say they’re better than a lot of attorneys I deal with because they truly care about our clients.”

Pedro Rodriguez is a Wesley Chapel dad who retained Compton & Smith, and he agrees with RaeAnn’s claim. Not only was he thrilled with his representation by RaeAnn, but also the fantastic help he received from Joan, as well.

He retained Compton & Smith for what he thought would be a fairly simple divorce, but it ended up getting complicated and even going to trial.

“RaeAnn was phenomenal,” Pedro says. “She’s very knowledgeable in the

Attorneys RaeAnn Compton (left) and Todd Smith teamed up to create Compton & Smith, P.A., in 2017. The firm, located in the New Tampa Professional Park in Pebble Creek, handles family, criminal and personal injury cases. (Photos: Charmaine George)

law and in case studies, and she made sure that if I ever had an issue, she was available to me. I would call her personal phone to ask her what to do in a specific situation and she was very responsive and always pointed me in the right direction.”

At the end of the trial, Pedro ended up with his house and cars, no alimony payments, and sole custody of his son.

“I would definitely refer her to anyone going through a divorce,” he says.

RaeAnn understands how significant it is to help someone through such a momentous and difficult time.

“People are putting a very important part of their lives in our hands and trusting us,” she says, “and I don’t take that lightly. This is not just a paper file, it’s a person’s life. It could be (their) children’s lives.”

In addition to representing people during divorce, Compton & Smith handles other areas of family law, such as child support modifications, custody, visitation and paternity. The firm also represents clients who find themselves in legal trouble for criminal misdemeanors, felonies or DUIs, and also can help with personal injury and auto accident cases.

RaeAnn earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in political science from St. Leo University in Dade City, then earned her Juris Doctor degree from Stetson Law School in Deland. She passed the Florida bar exam in 2000, became an assistant state attorney for three years, then opened her private practice in Pebble Creek. She stepped away from that for a few years to partner with an attorney in Dade City, and when that attorney decided to run for judge in 2007, she returned to solo practice in Pebble Creek.

RaeAnn lives in Wesley Chapel with her husband, Jeff. The pair were high school sweethearts who grew up in Dade City and moved around while he was in the military. When Jessica

was born, they returned back home to Pasco County and, when Jessica was 18, their son Hunter was born. Hunter is now a senior in high school and wants to follow in his mom’s footsteps and attend St. Leo University and become an attorney.

Todd is from a family of attorneys. His grandfather was a lawyer and his dad and two sisters are all attorneys in the Tampa Bay area. He graduated from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history, then received his Juris Doctor degree from the Florida Coastal School of Law, also located in Jacksonville, in 2000. He then began working as an assistant state attorney, then opened a satellite office of his father’s practice, which is based out of St. Petersburg. After a few years, he went into private practice on his own.

He and his wife, Lisa, moved to New River in Wesley Chapel after he graduated and lived there until they recently moved to Dade City. They have three children — daughters Avery and Kendall, who are in high school, and son Colton, who is in middle school.

Because the attorneys are both deeply rooted in the community, they consider it a privilege to serve their neighbors in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. They are licensed statewide, so they can help in other counties outside of Hillsborough and Pasco, as well.

RaeAnn says it’s never a nine-to-five job for them.

“We make sure that everything that can be done for you, is done for you,” she says.

Compton & Smith, P.A., is located at 8905 Regents Park Dr., Suite 210, in the New Tampa Professional Park in Pebble Creek. For more information, visit ComptonandSmith.com, see the ad on pg. 42 or, to schedule a free consultation, call (813) 994-2026.

For Tax Help & Much More, Trust Murtha & Murtha

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Neighborhood News correspondent

As tax season heads into full swing, Patrick Murtha, the managing partner of the accounting firm of Murtha & Murtha, LLC, says that even if you’ve always done your taxes yourself, now is the time to reconsider.

“It’s a tough landscape this year,” Murtha says, “and there has never been a more important time to work with a tax professional who really knows what they’re doing and can find deductions and credits that you’ll never identify if you’re just using software to file your taxes — especially if you are self-employed or any kind of small business owner.”

Patrick, his father Tom, and Kyle Flischel run Murtha & Murtha in the Seven Oaks Professional Park off S.R. 56 (near Sam’s Club) in Wesley Chapel. All three are Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Patrick and Kyle are managing partners, while Tom serves as senior partner for the firm, which handles accounting, bookkeeping, taxes, mergers and acquisitions and related services for its clients.

Together, the trio has more than 60 years of combined experience. Their expertise stretches well beyond tax season,

but it is the busiest time of year for the firm.

“We’re anticipating that this year will be a pretty harsh turn back to reality from the last couple of years,” Patrick explains.

After two years of generous credits from the federal government because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Patrick says it’s all coming to a halt for the 2022 tax year.

While all the changes may cause confusion — and people may not get as large a refund as they are used to, or may end up owing money — Murtha & Murtha promises that if you have the firm prepare your taxes, you will always understand the issues and exactly why you owe what you owe.

Patrick says communication is the top priority at Murtha & Murtha.

“A lot of clients who come to us from another practice say they liked who they were working with, but that they

didn’t return calls or answer emails,” he says. “So, our primary goal is to communicate well with our clients.”

And, he says, while some tax firms have a strategy where CPAs meet with

clients face-to-face but hire temporary seasonal employees who do the actual paperwork but never communicate with the client, that’s not how Murtha & Murtha does things.

Patrick Murtha (center left), Kyle Flischel and the rest of the staff at the accounting firm of Murtha & Murtha, LLC, located off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel are ready to help you through another busy tax season. (Photos by Charmaine George)

“Whoever you meet with is who is going to actually be doing your tax return,” he explains, whether that’s one of the firm’s three partners, or one of two long-term employees who are taking on their own clients this year.

Those two employees are Kaitlyn Kociba and Kaitlyn Little, who have both been part of the Murtha & Murtha team for the past several years and have finished the education and experience requirements on the track to becoming CPAs.

Of course, they won’t be studying for the CPA exam during tax season, but fully expect to take the exam and be accredited as CPAs sometime in the near future. Meanwhile, they have been carefully trained and have the expertise to manage tax returns to the high standards Murtha & Murtha expects.

Other Services

Although tax season is Murtha & Murtha’s busiest time of year, it’s just part of the services the firm provides.

Patrick says Murtha & Murtha’s “CFO retainer package” continues to attract new clients. With this package, the firm helps businesses and people who are self-employed do monthly accounting and bookkeeping, but also helps with budgeting, and provides an expert for advice when clients have questions about tax planning, mitigating tax bills, or about offering health insurance or retirement plans, for example.

Patrick understands that most business owners are too busy worrying about their primary business to really step back and look at the big picture, so Murtha & Murtha provides its clients with an extra layer of financial planning and analysis for their businesses.

Kurt Dimeler of Tampa Bay Pest Management is a client who says he appreciates what the CFO retainer package has done for him and his business.

“Basically, they run everything for me, from budgeting to forecasting, and just keep me updated every couple of weeks, so it’s easy-peasy,” Kurt says. “It frees me up to really focus on what I’m best at.”

He says he used to have to do his own payroll and budget and figure out if financial transactions have any tax liability or benefit, but now, Kyle and Patrick handle that for him.

“It takes so much weight off my shoulders,” he says. “Kyle and Patrick and their staff are just fantastic to work with, and I would recommend them to anybody.”

As of January 1, Murtha & Murtha doubled the size of its Wesley Chapel office, which now occupies a full building in the Seven Oaks Professional Park.

“We’ve expanded and added five offices,” Patrick says, adding that, for the time being, because they don’t quite need that much space for themselves, they have hand-picked a couple of professionals to share offices that also will benefit their clients.

“Starting February 1, we’re sharing space with an estate planning attorney and a financial advisor,” he explains. “These are people we know well and trust, so if a client tells us they need to get their will put together or need a financial advisor to plan for retirement, I can walk them over to the office and know they’ll be in good hands.”

Tom Murtha, CPA, earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Management from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY, in 1976, and his M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration) degree in Accounting from St. John’s University in Queens, NY, in 1981. He has been doing mergers, acquisitions and business valuations since the 1990s.

Patrick, who grew up around tax codes at his father’s business, graduated from the University of South Florida in 2009 with B.S. degrees in both Finance and Accounting. He joined his father in opening a firm in Tampa in 2010, focusing on mergers and acquisitions.

Meanwhile, Kyle Flischel, CPA, is practically family, having gone to school with Patrick at USF.

The firm operates a second office in Zephyrhills, as well, located at 5315 8th Ave., and known as Henson & Murtha.

Murtha & Murtha, LLC, is located at 2236 Ashley Oaks Cir., Suite 101. For more information, visit TampaTaxFirm.com or see the ad on pg. 24. Or, to schedule a free consultation, call (813) 991-1120.

New Tampa Teen Is Area’s First Stars & Stripes Award Recipient

By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Jenna McLaughlin recently became the first girl in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area to earn the highest award that can be achieved from American Heritage Girls (AHG), a faith-based, scouting type organization.

Jenna is an 18-year-old senior who will graduate from Wharton High this spring. She also attends dual enrollment classes full time at Hillsborough Community College.

She is just the 43rd recipient in the state of Florida, and the 980th recipient in the 27-year history of the organization, to win the Stars & Stripes award. To qualify for the award, girls are required to earn 16 specific life skills badges in categories such as outdoor skills, science and technology and personal well being. They also must hold a leadership position in their troop for a minimum of six months, write a resume and essay about their personal spiritual journey, present at least three letters of reference, pass a Board of Review, and plan, develop and lead others in a service project that requires a minimum of 100 hours and makes a lasting impact on the community.

For Jenna’s project, she built a large stone fire pit (see photo) at St. James

Jenna McLaughlin, a senior at Wharton High, is the 43rd recipient of the Stars & Stripes award in the state of Florida, and the 980th overall recipient in the 27-year history of the American Heritage Girls organization. (Photo: Karl Greeson)

United Methodist Church in Tampa Palms, which hosts her AHG troop. The fire pit was completed last fall and has already been used by different ministries both in and outside of the church for outdoor gatherings.

“I’m so grateful for all the support I received from my troop members, leaders and other volunteers,” says Jenna. “It was really rewarding to see it go from an idea in my head to an actual fire pit people can enjoy.”

While the project represents one of the final steps to earn the award, Stars & Stripes is about much more than just the project. It is the pinnacle of the journey that aims to teach girls life skills, leadership, and a heart for service.

“I have had so many experiences that I wouldn’t have had if it wasn’t for AHG,” Jenna says. She recalls going on a trip to earn the snow skiing badge, and spending a week living on a sailboat off the coast of

Maine, learning about sailing and helping with many of the on-board tasks, from steering the boat to pulling up the anchor and preparing meals.

American Heritage Girls was founded in 1995 by parents looking for an organization that would embrace Christian values and encourage family involvement.

Founder Patti Garibay today serves as the executive director of the organization, which currently has troops in all 50 states and more than 50,000 girl members.

“Jenna, you joined AHG in 2013 as a Tenderheart and now you have achieved the highest accomplishment in this program, the Stars & Stripes Award,” said Garibay in a congratulatory video that was shared with the audience at Jenna’s award ceremony on Jan. 23. “All of us at American Heritage Girls — the staff, the board, and the volunteers — are so very proud of you.”

Jenna is one of 40 girls in her troop, which was founded five years ago by a leadership team that includes her mom Celeste, who is a writer for the Neighborhood News Girls range in age from six to 18.

For more information about American Heritage Girls, go to AmericanHeritageGirls.org. To connect with the New Tampa or Wesley Chapel AHG troops, use the “Find A Troop” button on that website.

Cafe Zorba — The Newest Dining KRATE Serves Delicious Greek Cuisine!

By GARY NAGER

Photos by Charmaine George

The last of the 29 restaurants to open at the KRATE Container Park at The Grove in Wesley Chapel is Cafe Zorba, which serves delicious Greek and Mediterranean cuisine from the former owners of Acropolis Greek Taverna in New Tampa.

Cafe Zorba owners Stacy Esposito and her husband Eddie Nasr are proud to bring you authentic recipes with unique flavor touches that Eddie says are mainly his recipes from his childhood in the Republic of Cyprus, which is an independent nation on the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea between Greece, Turkey and Syria. Although his parents were Lebanese, Eddie says his Cypriot recipes have been strongly influenced by the cuisine of Greece. Delicious Starters & Entrées!

On these pages, you’ll find some of our favorite dishes at Cafe Zorba, a name inspired by the novel Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis that earned Anthony Quinn an Oscar nomination for the 1964 movie of the same name.

The top left photo, of course, is the delicious Greek-style calamari, which is delicately crispy and served with a side of marinara sauce and kalamata olives.

“If you visit Greece and you don’t have the calamari,” Eddie says, “it’s like you never visited Greece. There is tons of calamari in the Mediterranean.”

Other starters at Cafe Zorba include tzatziki (Greek yogurt with freshly grated cucumbers, garlic and herbs with olive oil, served with pita), hummus (fresh chickpea spread with garlic and tahini, topped with virgin olive oil and tomatoes),

dolmades (grapevine leaves stuffed with rice, lemon juice, olive oil and herbs, topped with crumbled feta) and the crispy and delicious Greek fries with aioli, feta and a side of tzatziki.

The top right photo on this page is the traditional Cypriot fried halloumi cheese, which is made from a semi-soft brined cheese with a high melting point, so it’s perfect for deep-frying. The halloumi rectangles are served with pita bread, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers.

The bottom photo on this page is, of course, the crispy spanakopita, or light and flaky phyllo pastry dough, stuffed with spinach and feta, served with a side Greek salad. Speaking of Cafe Zorba’s Greek salad, it is served with a similarly zesty, creamy Greek dressing to what you might remember from Acropolis.

My favorite entrees at Cafe Zorba are the lamb

gyro wrap (also available with chicken — and the daily lunch special from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. gives you a gyro, fries and drink for only $15) and the chicken, pork or beef souvlaki platters, which are served with what may be the best, most savory orzo rice I’ve had in this area (or those crispy fries), as well as a Greek salad. The photo above is the chicken souvlaki platter.

Other entrées include the Zeus burger (topped with sautéed mushrooms, onions and feta); the tasty fish sliders (lightly breaded, pan-fried fish filet, topped with vegetable slaw, garlic aioli, onion and tomato on slider buns), the fried kibbeh platter (kibbeh are cracked wheat dough shells stuffed with seasoned beef, sautéed onions and pine nuts, served with fries, hummus and pita), and shrimp skewers. The shrimp are sauteed in lemon, garlic and butter sauce and served with pita.

All of the entrées are just $12-$18 and Stacy says, “We’re proud to be the only dining KRATE with all five-star reviews on Google. The reviews say our food is delicious and our portions are huge!”

Dessert, Beverages & More

Save room for dessert, as the options (many of which are shown in the middle picture) include regular baklava, baklava cheesecake, chocolate-covered baklava, tiramisu, Eddie’s homemade rice pudding and my favorite — the Zorba chocolate bombe filled with creamy milk and white chocolate mousse.

Cafe Zorba also sells a variety of beers, including Mythos from Greece, Almaza from Lebanon and many other imported and domestic options, as well as Greek and other delicious wines, plus coffee, soft drinks and Frazil shaved ice beverages.

And, the fun doesn’t end when you walk outside of Cafe Zorba, as there are nearly 50 flavors to enjoy with hookah pipes. Gypsi (photo, right), an exotic belly dancer, performs on Friday evenings, beginning at 7 p.m.

Even though it was only open for a couple of weeks when the voting ended, our readers named Cafe Zorba their fourth favorite Greek or Mediterranean Restaurant in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel and I placed it in my top-5 Favorite KRATEs.

issue, which includes two moneysaving coupons — $5 off your purchase of $25 or more or $10 off your $50 purchase.

Cafe Zorba is located at 5804 Grand Oro Lane, at the southern end of the KRATE container park. It is open Mon.Thur., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri. and Sat.; and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 388-5987, visit Cafe-Zorba.com or see the ad on pg. 44 of this

Macaw Latin Provision Won’t Open On Cross Creek Blvd.

We told you last issue that we hoped that the new Macaw Latin Provision on Cross Creek Blvd. would be open before we went to press with our last New Tampa issue in Jan. However, we’ve now been told by co-owner Daniel Beatrite of New Tampa Auto Repair in the same plaza that the former location of three previous restaurants — Hawkeye’s NYS Pizza, Deano’s Pizza and Fish Fiesta — was now not going to open at all and the restaurant space behind the Mobil station was available again. Apparently, a number of potential restaurant owners have looked into the space, but no announcement of a replacement for Macaw was imminent at our press time.— GN

Azteca D’Oro To Replace Cantina Laredo & Other News From The Shops At Wiregrass

We know a lot of people were saddened (while others were ecstatic) when they heard that Cantina Laredo in the Shops at Wiregrass had closed. But, the owners of the new Mexican restaurant that will replace it in the mall say that no one will miss their predecessor when they sample the delicious food (photo) from the new Azteca D’Oro.

Co-owners Victor and Armando Ramos say that there are seven family-owned Azteca D’Oro locations in Florida, with most near Orlando and the closest to us in Lakeland.

“Fresh, delicious Mexican food” is what Victor says they will bring to the Wiregrass Azteca (rendering below), which they hope to open by May or June of this year (barring any unforeseen permitting issues), after the partners spend about $2 million on renovations.

Meanwhile, The Shops’ specialty leasing manager Steve Domonkos says that Bosporous Mediterranean Restaurant will open in a corner breezeway space sometime in the fall, and Crazy Sushi also expects a fall opening in the two spaces where Teriyaki Madness and Creativity Unpinned had been located.

Domonkos also says that a new Volvo showroom (but not a full-

service dealership) will open in the former KidZone space and that Signature Workspace is under construction in the former Forever 21 location.

SignatureWorkspace.com says its two-stories and 28,000-sq.ft. of space in The Shops will provide “remote and hybrid workers a workplace that fosters community and a better work-life balance without long commutes.” — GN

After Judge Rules That The Name Brunchin’ Can’t Be Used, Brunchery Becomes EggTown

For anyone who hasn’t yet seen the signs changing on The Brunchery locations at 27606 S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel and 17507 Preserve Walk Ln. (off BBD Blvd.) in New Tampa, the sign at the S.R. 56 restaurant at first was changed to Brunchin’ but now, all four of co-owner Al Marku’s breakfast & lunch eateries (the others are in Lithia & Riverview) are changing their names to EggTown. Here’s why:

“Sadly, the Judge made a decision to stop us from using the name Brunchin,

which is very shocking to us, as the name is not owned by anyone, and the word Brunch is used by hundreds of restaurants around the world. This is very disappointing, but regardless of the name, we will keep going and growing. We know we aren’t in the business of selling a name, just great food and great service; however, we owe an explanation to our guests for any changes made.

In the meantime, our guests, our restaurants, our employees, our service, and our great food remain our priority. We love and

enjoy what we do, and no one can take that away from us. Our growth comes from hard work, love, and dedication for what we do. Our new name will be EggTown, which we have owned for so long but have never put it in use as we had invested so much in our previous business name. A few days ago, we announced that we opened a new location in Riverview. We will just keep growing and despite the setbacks, we will never stop.”

All four EggTown locations are open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. every day. — GN

N ew T ampa & w esley C hapel

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TUTORING. Prof’l private tutoring avail. in home or online. Retired teacher w/25+ years of exp. & a proven record of student success. Exp’d in multiple subjects across all grade levels. Specializing in MS and HS Math, ACT/SAT prep and Social Sciences. Scheduling before- or afterschool times for new clients now. Call (813) 415- 8158 or email gstutor2022@gmail.com.

AUTOS WANTED! Autos/trucks/small campers/small boats wanted! We pay top dollar! Any condition, Free Removal 24/7. For more info, call (813) 461-0062.

ELITE RIDES. Private rides in a sanitized 2020 Tesla, plus concierge services. Airport, schools, medical appointments, shopping, etc. Courteous, reliable professional. New Tampa to Tampa Int’l Airport - $40 (one way). Driver vaccinated w/two shots. Cory Lake Isles resident. Call/text 813.765.2037.

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Holland Lop-Eared Dwarf Baby Bunny Rabbits! Full grown will be in the 3- or 4-pound range. Call 813-407-1990 or visit PattysPetsLLC.com or facebook.com/PattysPetsLLC.

POOL SERVICES _

ALLSTARPOOLSOFTAMPABAY.COM. Pool cleanups & acid washing of old pool finishes. Marcite, quartz & pebble finishes from $3K. We offer cool decking, Eurocrete & paver decking options. Paver, river rock sealing, leak detection & in-ground vinyl liner replacements avail. Quality salt & ozone generators, pumps, motors & filters. Serving NT & WC since 1990. Call/text 813-244-7077 or visit AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com.

TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing w/outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! Call or Text Chris today @ 813-857-5400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE!

POOL SERVICES (Cont.) _ NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS. Wesley Chapel owned & operated since 1999. Weekly service. No long term contracts. Mention this AD for one-month Free service. Call 813-907-7322 for details or text Joe at 813-758-7608.

REAL ESTATE

HOME SELLING GROUP OF FLORIDAElevate Brokers. Special Promotion: $500 towards closing costs when you mention this ad and promo code #GaryRules. Restrictions Apply. Call us at (813) 609-0966. Follow us on FB & IG: @homesellinggroup We are home buyring & selling experts in the Central Florida region. TBBA Agent of the Year: Geri Sanchez

Neighborhood News Classified

Ads are the only local Classified ads your neighbors actually R E A D !

All Neighborhood News Classified ads appear in consecutive issues of both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, as follows:

7 Issues (3 months) — $120

13 Issues (6 months) — $200

26 Issues (one year) — $300

To order yours, visit NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net/ ClassifiedListings