Chuy’s Tex-Mex opens in spring
Chuy’s Tex-Mex restaurant will open at the Cypress Creek Town Center this spring, at 25750 Sierra Center Blvd.
The Texas-based restaurant is known for its made-from-scratch dishes and eclectic dining experience. This will be Chuy’s ninth Florida location.
The Cypress Creek Town Center is off State Road 56, across from Tampa Premium Outlets.
Chuy’s menu prepares dishes made from hand-rolled tortillas cooked fresh on a smooth, flat griddle — known as a comal — right in the dining room. Also, featured are Chuy’s homemade sauces, including the mild Tomatillo and the spicy Hatch Green Chile.
Recipes are authentic to South Texas, New Mexico and Mexican border towns.
Helen Bowen is the local owner and operator of Chuy’s.
Menu items include the “Big As Yo’ Face” burritos, the hand-pulled chicken-stuffed “Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom” enchiladas and the “Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken.”
The approximately 8,500-square-foot restaurant includes an outdoor patio. There is an Elvis shrine, the La Chihuahua Bar featuring framed pictures of local dogs, a school of hand-carved wooden fish, metal palm trees and a hubcap-covered ceiling.
Chuy’s will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
On weekdays, there will be daily drink specials and a build-your-own nacho station from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
For information, visit Chuys.com or Facebook.com/ChuysTampa.
Carrabba’s Italian Grill delivers
Carrabba’s Italian Grill has launched delivery service from its Lutz location, at 16525 Pointe Village Drive.
Carrabba’s uniformed team members will deliver meals, not a third-party contractor.
Delivery for dinner begins at 4 p.m., daily. Selections include a variety of Carrabba’s signature dishes, such as Chicken Bryan, Pollo Rosa Maria, and Chicken Marsala. Also, there are 10 different “family bundles” that feature complete, made-from-scratch meals for up to five people. Menu items include spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, and Chicken Parmesan or Chicken Marsala. Warm bread and salad is included.
Prices for the family bundles start at $7 per person. Delivery fee is $4.
For information or to order delivery, visit Carrabbas.com.
No foam cups at Dunkin’ Brands
Dunkin’ Brands, owner of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin Robbins, plans to phase out its use of polystyrene foam beverage cups by 2020, according to a news release from As You Sow.
As You Sow is a nonprofit that promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility through advocacy, coalition building and innovative legal strategies.
Dunkin’ Brands previously announced plans to begin using a polypropylene plastic cup. Paper cups will be used instead. The decision will remove nearly one billion foam cups from the waste stream annually, the release states.
As You Sow also is encouraging Dunkin’ Brands to go further, and commit to paper cups with recycled fiber content.
Other restaurants also are phasing out foam products.
McDonald’s goal is to remove all foam from its global markets by the end of 2018. Starbuck’s has used 10 percent recycled fiber in its cups for many years.
Economic development briefing
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its monthly economic briefing for Feb. 22 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Hunter’s Green Country Club, 18101 Longwater Run Drive in Tampa.
Guest speaker will be Sandra Doran, the founder of North Tampa Christian Academy. The kindergarten through 12th-grade private school is under construction at 5619 County Line Road in Wesley Chapel. It is expected to open for the 2018-2019 school year.
The cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members.
For information, call the chamber at (813) 994-8534.
Crossfit Aero re-launch
Crossfit Aero will have a “re-launch” party and ribbon cutting Feb. 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 4450 Pet Lane, Building 102, in Lutz.
A ribbon cutting is planned for 7 p.m.
The event is free. Wear workout clothes and get some exercise.
For information, call Crossfit Aero at (813) 786-2610, or email owner Josh Willis at .
North Tampa charity bingo
North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host “Drag Queen Bingo” to benefit K-9 Heroes 4 Our Heroes Inc., Feb. 26 at 7 p.m., at Hamburger Mary’s, at 1600 Eighth Ave., in Ybor City.
Enjoy fun and games.
For a $10 donation, you can play 10 games of Bingo for 10 chances to win. There also will be a 50/50 drawing.
Half of all proceeds will be donated to K-9 Heroes 4 Our Heroes Inc.
Anyone wishing to donate a prize, as a way to advertise your business, should email .
Please RSVP for a head count.
To register, visit NorthTampaChamber.com.
For information, call the chamber at (813) 563-0180, or email .
Central Pasco mixer/grand opening
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its new location with a mixer and grand opening Feb. 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 16, in Land O’ Lakes.
The event is free.
For information, call the chamber at (813) 909-2722, or email .
East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet Feb. 27 at 7:30 a.m., at the IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City.
Guest speaker will be Gary Joiner, Pasco County’s property appraiser.
For information, contact Nils Lenz at or (813) 782-9491; or Vice Chairwoman Vicky Jones at or (813) 431-1149.
