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Grove at Wesley Chapel

Giving entrepreneurs tools they need to succeed

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When guests arrived at SMARTstart @ The Grove last month, they found a space that’s well-equipped to help entrepreneurs launch a new business, and to help existing businesses grow.

The business incubator is at 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., Suite 202, in the Grove at Wesley Chapel — a shopping, restaurant and entertainment complex that’s in the midst of a massive refresh.

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of Pasco Economic Development Inc., said all sorts of people will be making use of the new incubator — and who knows, one day a startup that began there could locate its corporate headquarters in Pasco. (B.C. Manion)

Bill Cronin, president and CEO of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., spoke enthusiastically about the center’s potential.

“These doors that you walked through today, there’s going to be so many different companies — people, families, all different types of things are going to be coming through those doors in the future,” Cronin said.

The economic development expert noted that Pasco County has a pro-business environment, and welcomes not only companies that are transplanting from overseas, but also startup companies that are getting off the ground.

“You look at those big cities all over the United States and they’ve got headquarters — a lot of those headquarters didn’t move there. A lot of them started there,” he said.

The Pasco EDC and Pasco County have programs aimed at helping businesses that are in every stage of development, Cronin added.

Dan Mitchell, the EDC’s program director for SMARTstart, shared some statistics from last year’s activities with Pasco’s incubators.

“This is our third entrepreneur center,” Mitchell said. “Last year, even though we had to deal with the pandemic, through SMARTstart, we were able to help over 645 business owners with counseling sessions to help them with financial assistance, technical assistance and guidance that they needed.

Dan Mitchell, SMARTstart program director, welcomed guests to a ribbon-cutting and tour of SMARTstart@The Grove in Wesley Chapel last week. The goal is to help entrepreneurs to launch, or grow, their businesses.

“We served over 24 businesses in our incubators, actually helping them with workspace and guidance they need to launch their businesses.

“We have over 156 events, many of them were virtual. But we had 1,960 event participants at our SMARTstart events.

“This center is going to allow us to magnify that impact, because right now our two centers are on the far reaches of the county. We’ve got a New Port Richey Center and we’ve got our Dade City Center.

“The New Port Richey Center has a professional services feel to it. The Dade City Center supports our food businesses and food entrepreneurs.

“This center will allow us to have that impact be countywide, and have that impact the entire region as a whole,” Mitchell added.

Tracy Ingram, an entrepreneur who has been involved with Pasco’s incubators for about 10 years, offered his perspective on the opportunities they create.

“I work all of the way down to Sarasota/Manatee, all of the way up to Citrus, all of the way over to Orlando. I haven’t been able to see that level of commitment to the actual starting of companies,” he said.

Pasco has made a decision to help entrepreneurs launch companies, and provides support to help them nurture their companies so they can grow strong, Ingram said.

“Maybe you want to start a lawn service business or a bakery or something like that, maybe you’re starting an app for a dotcom company,” he said.

Pasco’s approach has been: “Can I help you where you’re at — versus trying to fit you into a mold and say, ‘No, you have to be this way.’”

Staff and board members of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., joined officials and staff from Pasco County, and entrepreneurs to celebrate the opening of SMARTstart@The Grove, a new business incubator.

Pasco EDC has helped entrepreneurs connect with business mentors to help develop companies, and CEOs to connect with their peers, to learn from each other’s experiences, Ingram said.

Mentors can help entrepreneurs find out if they have a business model that can succeed.

“Maybe you have a great widget, but does anyone really want it?” he said.

Or, perhaps you have a great idea, but don’t have a clue about how to secure financing and get it to market.

Mentors can provide guidance: “How do we take your energy and your enthusiasm and help put some meat on the bones, or put some structure underneath it, to really help you be successful.”

Ingram said he has benefitted from business mentors, and is now giving back.

“Some of the best advice I ever got is that no one really cares about your company, they care about what your product is going to do for them.

“How can I help you? If my product or company can help you, then how do I do that? That becomes this magic, when you start really looking from the customer perspective.

“You start looking at, how do I build something that people want, how do I reach that customer?” he said.

“Pasco County was the county that stood behind us. So, when we started looking at where we wanted to land, Pasco County was where we decided to land because the county was behind us. You don’t get that in every other county. You don’t get the county really stepping in to make sure entrepreneurs are successful,” Ingram said.

“There is so much value here for people who are out on their own. As an entrepreneur, you feel like you have to do it alone. But you realize, the truth is, you can’t.

“The truth is you can’t be an expert in everything.

“But if you can lean on a SMARTstart, or you can lean on an agency like this, that has a mentor network, that can help you in the areas where you’re not an expert, and allow you to be the expert where you’re an expert,” he said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley assured those gathered: “The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners is very much committed to the entrepreneurship of our new businesses, and the fact that they can start their own business here in Pasco.”

Published March 03, 2021

Grove Theater now open in Wesley Chapel

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Streaming movies from the comfort of home has undoubtedly surged in recent years — and only ramped up more in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But, at least one local movie theater is trying to change this behavioral shift, by cultivating unique entertainment experiences not found from your sofa.

After a six-monthlong makeover totaling upwards of $6 million, Grove Theater, Bistro and Entertainment is ready for action — reopening with 50% capacity on Feb. 19, at 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The renovated Grove Theater, Bistro and Entertainment in Wesley Chapel is now open on weekends with limited capacity. The two-story, 85,000-square-foot complex is billed as a movie theater of the future — featuring 12 movie theaters with fully reclining seats, an upscale bistro restaurant and bar with in-movie dining, sushi bar, spin bike room, comedy club, acting studio, 40-plus game arcade and kid’s birthday party room. (Courtesy of MGoldProperties)

Billed as a movie theater of the future, the two-story, 85,000-square-foot complex takes a swiss army knife approach to amusement.

Formerly called the Cobb Grove 16 Theatre, the newly updated space has a little bit of everything.

Anchored by 12 movie theaters (some with fully reclining seats), the complex also features the following amenities:

  • Upscale bistro restaurant and bar with in-movie dining
  • Sushi bar
  • Spin bike room
  • Comedy club
  • Acting studio
  • 40-plus game arcade
  • Supervised children’s playroom
  • Birthday party room

Additional cinema add-ons include private movie theater rentals, where friends, families or corporate gatherings can reserve a room for $300. There’s also upper-deck level VIP sections for ages 21 and up at six theaters, for those seeking a more quiet, peaceful and luxurious atmosphere.

As part of the renovations, the building underwent a complete overhaul to allow for a modernized open-concept lobby, updated dining space, new color scheme, floors, carpet, décor and light fixtures.

Fully reclining seats and an in-theater dining service are just some of the many features at the renovated Grove Theater, Bistro and Entertainment in Wesley Chapel. Private theater rentals also are available. (Courtesy of MGoldProperties_

Various COVID-19-related safety precautions also were implemented as part of the new digs, including automatic temperature checks at entrance, UV light sanitation technology, fog machines to disinfect theaters between showings, hand sanitizer stations, required face coverings, and limited capacity with checkerboard and reserved seating.

The reimagined cinema is just one piece of the campus’ transformation.

An event stage, splash pad water park, 18-hole miniature golf course and shipping container park also are in the works just outside the building’s confines.

The wholesale renovation has come under the watch of Mishorim Gold Properties and developer and landlord Mark Gold, who originally purchased the entire 250-acre Grove at Wesley Chapel property in September 2019 for $64 million. The site also features existing traditional box stores and a quaint village shopping center.

With an array of activities, Grove Theater figures to be a family destination beyond a place to simply catch a movie then return home, Gold explained during a Feb. 17 media tour of the facility.

Rather, families can grab a bite to eat, play some games and watch a movie all in one place, however they see fit.

“It’s the solution for a family to go out today,” he said. “This is the future of the movie theater today, because people are not going to only stay two hours for a movie, people are going to stay four or five hours.”

In addition to seeing a movie, comedy show or play, Grove Theater offers a 40-plus game arcade space for children and adults, housed in the first-floor lobby. (Kevin Weiss)

At least one distinctive amenity generating quite a buzz is a spin bike studio — titled Cycle Cinema.

With exercise classes housed inside one of the former first-floor theater rooms, a surround sound, projector screen and stadium layout offers “a one-of-a-kind, fully immersive experience you won’t find anywhere else when it comes to cycling and indoor classes,” said Nick Walton, a managing partner in the Cycle Cinema venture.

The room normally would accommodate up to 45 spin bikes, but has been pared to 16 spaced out stations due to the coronavirus.

Scheduled classes range from live instructor-led to virtual reality options, taking fitness enthusiasts through the Swiss Alps and other digitally created places to the tune of upbeat music.

There’s even an option to spin while viewing a full-length feature film on the big screen “so if you’re up for it, if you want to spin for two hours, come on in,” Walton said.

The bike room is still undergoing test runs, with three-day free trials being offered to the public.

Grove Theater also partnered with Side Splitters Comedy Club and The Acting Studio to bring other added showbiz frills to the facility — each getting a dedicated first-floor auditorium room of their own. Side Splitters will host nationally recognized comedians, while The Acting Studio will host plays, shows and acting classes, for children and adults alike.

As questions linger about the survival and adaptability of cinemas across the country, the Grove Theater strives to stand out as a box office hit.

Spin bike classes take place in one of the former first-floor theaters, where exercisers get the benefit of surround sound, projector screen and stadium experience. There are options for a live instructor, virtual reality settings and even full-length feature films while spinning. (Courtesy of MGoldProperties)

“Watching a movie at home and watching a movie on the screen, it’s not the same, we all know this,” said Grove Theater vice president of operations Matheus Gold.

“We want to go out, we want to enjoy, we want to be able to have a movie session with our friends and not just sit at home, and here you feel even more comfortable with that. You can have a VIP dining experience, you have games, you have a comedy club, you can have different types of drinks, all sorts of stuff that you can’t find at your own home, and at the same time feel comfortable and feeling safe.”

And, while the pandemic remains a concern for many, Matheus feels the venue is opening at a time where people are eager to find something to do.

He observed: “I feel like people have been staying home for a long time, and they want to go out, they want to have fun, they want to enjoy, but I also know that a lot of people are scared to go out, so that’s why we’re taking so many precautions and why we invested so much money into making sure that this is a safe space for everyone; we’re trying to provide that comfort for everyone.”

Further underscoring the theater’s unique features, Matheus quipped: “Have you ever seen a sushi bar inside of a movie theater? I haven’t…”

Grove Theater, Bistro and Entertainment will be open Fridays through Sundays, from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Tickets can be reserved at GroveTheater.com.

Grove Theater, Bistro and Entertainment,  6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel:

  • 12 movie theaters (some with fully reclining seats and VIP access)
  • Upscale bistro restaurant, sushi restaurant and full bar with in-movie dining
  • Arcade with 40-plus games for children and adults
  • Cycle Cinema, a fitness experience where riders can take spin classes to the tune of an instructor, virtual reality settings, and full-length feature films
  • Side Splitters Comedy Club will host nationally touring comedians.
  • Kids Play Place, a supervised space for children to play that will feature slides and ball pits, to allow adults to catch a movie, comedy show or play
  • The Acting Studio will host plays, shows and acting classes, for children and adults alike.

Published February 24, 2021

The circus comes to town — with dazzling sights and sounds

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The Loomis Circus came to town, delighting hundreds of young and old spectators alike, under the big tent at the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

After all, it’s not a common sight to see an aerialist performing stunts high up in the air, or watch a unicorn — decked out in colorful lights — galloping around.

There were Polynesian ponies, too.

And, of course there were jugglers, a ringmaster, and clowns.

What would a circus be without them?

The circus made a three-day stop at the shopping, dining and entertainment complex, west of Interstate 75, north State Road 54.

Ringmaster Justin Loomis introduces jugglers and performers doing great feats at Loomis Circus, a three-day event that drew hundreds of spectators. (Fred Bellet)
Three-year old, Faith Kirstein, of Wesley Chapel, discovers a bouquet of balloons in front of the World Champion Karate Center’s booth, at the Grove. The center’s master instructor, Hyun, made balloon animals for awaiting kids. Faith was there with her mom, Lucy Martinez, and dad, Tommy Kingkiner.
A Unicorn makes a spectacular entrance — galloping around the center ring, decked out in colorful flashing lights.
Mexican aerialist Gloria Castillo performs stunts high above the crowd during the first night of the special event at the Grove at Wesley Chapel, off Oakley Boulevard and State Road 54.
Four-year-old Arden Beimfohr, left, 4-year-old Abel Rhule and 3-year-old Tristan Beimfohr pay rapt attention as performers delight the crowd at the Loomis Circus. Abel’s 3-year-old sister, Aria, was nearby with their moms.

Pasco is ushering in 2021 with more shops, restaurants

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Shopping centers along State Road 54 and State Road 56 are continuing to attract more new stores and restaurants.

The Cypress Creek Town Center, Tampa Premium Outlets, The Preserve Marketplace, the Shoppes at Crossings Boulevard, Starkey Ranch Town Square, Starkey Ranch Business Center, The Shops at Wiregrass and the Grove at Wesley Chapel are building and remodeling in anticipation of new openings.

New shops and restaurants are opening or coming soon at the Starkey Ranch Town Square, at Gunn Highway and State Road 54 in Odessa. (Kathy Steele)

Total Wine & More is moving into the Cypress Creek Town Center in space formerly occupied by the Earth Fare grocery store.

The building, at 25535 Sierra Center Blvd., will undergo “interior alteration” for a remodel, according to a permit filed with Pasco County.

The town center, at the juncture of Interstate 75 and state roads 54 and 56, soon also will have a grand opening for Floor & Décor, now under construction on Sierra Center Boulevard. And, a Good Feet Store is on tap for the boulevard, too, according to county records.

A Hooters restaurant is under construction at the Shoppes at Crossings Boulevard at State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway.

Across from the town center, construction is underway on an outparcel at Tampa Premium Outlets for a Tidal Wave Car Wash. A Zaxby’s restaurant also is anticipated. Recent arrivals at the outdoor mall include Main Event, Cigars International and Rock & Brew restaurant.

Along State Road 54, west of U.S. 41, online shopping will get a boost from an Amazon shipping center under construction at 17030 Mentmore Blvd. The facility is within the Bexley by Newland master-planned community, at the intersection with Bexley Village Drive.

E sushi & grill is open at the Starkey Ranch Town Square, at Gunn Highway and State Road 54 in Odessa.

The Shoppes at Crossings Boulevard, west of Bexley, is completing a makeover with a Hooters restaurant under construction. And, Pasco County just sealed a deal to bring Santander Consumer USA to occupy a portion of the former Target Superstore. The deal includes bringing 875 new jobs to the county.

Rasmussen College also previously submitted plans to the county, indicating it would occupy 44,000 square feet in the former big box retail store.

Further west, The Preserve Marketplace and two shopping centers by Starkey Ranch, off State Road 54, have construction work in progress. But, some shops and restaurants are open.

Amazon is building a shipping center at 17030 Mentmore Blvd., at the Bexley at Newland community, off State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway.

CVS Pharmacy is open at The Preserve, along with the anchor grocery store, Greenwise. Majik Touch Cleaners is open, and 100 % Chiropractic is coming soon. Other businesses coming are Heartland Dental,  Chipotle, Panera Bread and Papa John’s.

At Gunn Highway and State Road 54, Publix is the anchor of the Starkey Ranch Town Square. Other tenants include e sushi & grill, J. Joseph Salon, The UPS Store, Polish The Nail Bar, and Zampelli’s Pizza and Pasta restaurant.

At Heart Pine Avenue, the Starkey Ranch Business Center hosts shops and restaurants including The Wicked Pour, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Yoga Six and Hungry Greek restaurant.

Tidal Wave Car Wash is under construction on an outparcel at Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 54.

The Shops at Wiregrass, off State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs, and the Grove at Wesley Chapel, off State Road 54 west of Interstate 75, both are welcoming new stores and restaurants, too.

The Grove is in the midst of a major makeover, in progress, following the $64 million purchase of the shopping center by Mishorim Gold Properties in 2019.

The company is investing more than $110 million to renovate the Grove. Plans include a shipping container park – known as KRATE – with shops, offices and restaurants. A stage will feature daily live entertainment. A dog park and a playground will build on the overall design in promoting a community place in Wesley Chapel.

On its Facebook page, the Grove recently began teasing to future tenants at the container park with the “12 Days of KRATEmas.” Among the tenants are 365 Café Italiano; ATO, specializing in sushi and burritos; Provisions, with specialty coffees and an artisan café menu; and The Cake Girl.

Floor & Décor will open soon at Cypress Creek Town Center in a shopping center on Sierra Center Boulevard. Also, a Total Wine & More is slated to move into the Earth Fare space.

RAW, a workspace collaborative, held a grand opening Dec. 3.

In addition, Prime Barbershop and Brooklyn Water Bagels recently opened. King of the Coop, a Nashville hot chicken eatery, soon will open, too, according to the restaurant’s Facebook page. It will be the second location for King of the Coop, currently located in the restaurant-rich Seminole Heights neighborhood in Tampa.

County permits also show Best NY Pizza Worx is coming to 6027 Wesley Grove Blvd., in the Grove.

The Shops at Wiregrass has opened, or will soon open, 11 new shops, according to a news release from the mall.

New shops are Beauty In Abundance, a beauty, hair care and make-up shop; Crimson Chain Leatherworks, specializing in costumes and accessories for Renaissance fairs, fantasy and historical reenactments; and Arega NY, a swim and activewear boutique.

Additional stores include a lululemon Pop-Up, specializing in yoga-inspired and athletic clothes for women and men; Chuck Lager’s American Tavern, a family restaurant with a classic menu of pasta and burgers; GO! Calendars Games and Toys; Ornament Shoppe, with decorative and personalized ornament selections; Design Hut, a boutique with personalized gifts including custom shirts; Hickory Farms, featuring cured meats, cheeses, wine pairings and hand-picked fruits; and, Fit2Run, a superstore with brand name athletic footwear, running apparel and accessories.

Sephora, a makeup and accessories boutique, is slated to open in spring 2021.

By Kathy Steele

Published December 23, 2020

Pasco lifts restriction on Sunday morning alcohol sales

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The Pasco County Commission has removed the county’s ban on the Sunday morning sales of alcoholic beverages.

Now, alcohol sales on Sunday will be treated like alcohol sales on any other day of the week in the county, said County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder. Previously, the sales weren’t allowed on Sundays before 11 a.m.

No one spoke during the public hearing and commissioners voted 5-0 to amend the ordinance, during the board’s Dec. 8 meeting. The change will take effect within 10 days of the board’s action.

The change was prompted by Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who raised the issue at a board meeting in September.

“A lot of counties in the state and around the country have kind of moved away from this old-fashioned law,” Starkey said, at the time.

She said constituents had told her they’d like to get rid of the restriction, and said she’d previously witnessed people milling around in the grocery store, waiting so they could purchase alcohol to take with them when they were headed out to go boating, scalloping or to another activity.

She also said people who shop for groceries on Sunday morning shouldn’t be prevented from buying alcohol.

The board also approved the selection of Shawn Foster LLC, doing business as Sunrise Consulting Group, to serve as the board’s outside consultant for a maximum of $60,000 a year. The board listened to presentations by Foster and by a representative for Shumaker Advisers Florida LLC before selecting Sunrise.

At a board meeting in November, a panel of county staffers had recommended Corcoran and Associates, doing business as Corcoran Partners, be selected as the outside lobbyist.

But, commissioners rejected the process and requested presentations before making a selection. Corcoran Partners did not participate in the presentations.

In other action, commissioners:

  • Reorganized the board naming Ron Oakley as chairman and Starkey as vice chairwoman.
  • Approved numerous small changes to the county’s land development code, including a change in the process to approve permits to sell alcohol. Previously, those requests were heard by the Pasco County Planning Commission, which made a recommendation and then by Pasco County Commission, which had the final authority. Now, those requests will be considered administratively by county staff, unless some sort of exception is requested. The Pasco County Commission will decide on those cases, unless there’s an appeal.
  • Approved a unified sign plan for Krate, at the Grove at Wesley Chapel, to provide applicants with an opportunity to create attractive signage having uniform or cohesive design of color, texture, materials, or architectural features which contribute to place-making throughout the development. Krate, which is under development, is an open-air, urban-themed container park with retail shops, restaurants, outdoor seating areas, and live entertainment. The Grove is east of Oakley Boulevard and west of Interstate 75, about 650 feet north of Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

Published December 16, 2020

KRATE begins taking shape at the Grove

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An attraction that will offer a new and unique retail and restaurant experience is beginning to take shape — as crews set down shipping containers that will house the businesses at KRATE, in the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

This shipping container is being maneuvered into place at the Grove at Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of the Grove at Wesley Chapel)

While crews work at the site, the developers also are proceeding with a unified sign plan for the district, with the Pasco County Planning Commission reviewing those plans at its Nov. 19 meeting.

The county’s planning staff found that the signs detailed in the plan “are consistent with the urban industrial theme’s uniform and cohesive design based upon color, texture, materials, and architectural features.”

The first 17 containers at KRATE will be home to nine businesses, according to a news release from the Grove at Wesley Chapel. They will be occupied by tenants offering diverse dishes and items like Asian noodles, Puerto Rican fare, desserts, and charcuterie boards, according to the news release.

When completed, which is expected around the end of the year, KRATE will feature 94 containers and 55 units, comprised of 70% restaurants and 30% retail.

This is what KRATE, a container park planned in the Grove at Wesley Chapel, is expected to look like when it’s finished.

Other restaurants at KRATE will feature international foods, including cuisine from Colombia, Peru and Germany.

The retail shops will include a music store and a Lego product superstore.

The overall design includes plenty of outdoor seating, string lights, and speakers throughout the property – touches that contribute to a sense of community.

Many tenants moving into KRATE are entrepreneurs coming from cities such as Tampa, Miami and Chicago — looking to start businesses in an unique concept, the release says.

KRATE also will feature a stage with daily live entertainment, a dog park and a playground.

Local muralists have been commissioned to create Instagrammable wall art, the news release adds.

“There is nothing like this in the world,” Mark Gold, partner in Mishorim Gold Properties, said in the release.

Mishorim Gold Properties purchased the Grove for around $64 million in September 2019. Gold invested more than $110 million into the renovation of the property, which includes a movie theater of the future, a miniature golf course and a water park.

Published December 02, 2020

Dade City artist thrives — with a community of happy clients

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Mark Hannah is a busy guy. So busy, in fact, that he hasn’t used a business card in about 10 years. “I really should have one,’’ he said. “One of these days.’’

One of these days, when his work slows down … and that doesn’t appear to be anytime soon.

Hannah, a Dade City artist who specializes in handmade signs, logos and murals, has a lineup of Pasco County businesses that want his services. It’s all word of mouth — and the word is good.

Mark Hannah poses by his Elton John mural, which was produced for Wesley Chapel’s Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant. (Courtesy of Mark Hannah)

In a 2020 world where such art is driven by digitally created computer creations, Hannah remains hopelessly old-school. He hand-sketches everything, then paints it on a wall. He uses a grid system that produces an uncanny reproduction. And, it looks a lot better than a vinyl logo that was purchased online.

“Watching Mark work is the craziest thing you’ll ever see,’’ said Amber Langston, owner of Wesley Chapel’s Four Leaf Cross Fit. “Our logo has a circle in it. You can’t really mess with a circle. It would look terrible if it’s the slightest bit off. It’s so perfect.

“Everybody wants their picture in front of that mural so they can put it on social media. It’s amazing branding for us. That mural makes our gym pop. It embodies our brand and it means a ton to us. Outside of purchasing equipment, it was the best money we’ve spent.’’

With artist, quality is job one
Brian and Rebecca DeCook work out at Four Leaf Cross Fit. They loved Hannah’s mural. So when they opened Highland Axe Throwing at the Grove in Wesley Chapel, they knew who to call.

“I was stunned by that huge mural at Four Leaf,’’ Rebecca DeCook said. “It looks like professional street graffiti, something you’d see in Los Angeles or New York. I didn’t know the guy (Hannah), but I knew we had to use him.

“I have pretty high standards. People say, ‘Oh, I’d never do work for you.’ For him to meet my expectations would’ve been a challenge for him. He exceeded them. He had no idea what he was walking into, but he wowed me.’’

Mark Hannah uses his painting skills to help businesses convey what they have to offer.

DeCook said it’s all about Hannah’s personal touch. She was leery of anyone trying to replicate her company’s intricate Highland cow logo, but she said it turned out beautifully.

“When you hire him, you’re not hiring a company, you’re hiring Mark,’’ DeCook said. “You’re hiring an artist. You’re hiring the Van Gogh. It’s not like when you hire a company and they sent you someone that does just enough where you won’t complain and you settle. His prices are fair, but it’s not about the money. It’s about the pride he has in his work. I would never use anyone else. When you consider the price and craftsmanship, no one can come close.’’

Elsewhere in the Grove, Hannah’s work is displayed at Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar and Restaurant. He painted a mural of Billy Joel sitting at the piano. It was so good, he followed it with an Elton John mural, then one of Alicia Keys.

Mark Hannah’s artistry helps set a mood for many local businesses.

“Mark’s work gives our place a lot of personality,’’ Treble Makers owner Jamie Hess said. “It makes us unique. And, it’s a local artist, so it fits because we like to have local musicians.

“It was very entertaining for me to watch him at work. He showed me a drawing of what he was thinking for Billy Joel. He absolutely nailed it. He gets up on the ladder, free-hands the whole mural and does his thing. He has a gift like you see in so very few people.’’

Hannah said he always felt comfortable doing artwork — or any kind of work, really. He was a self-described “class clown and partier’’ who hated school and wound up getting his GED. He went to commercial art school and learned how his drawings could be used for consumers. He did layout for newspapers, then some screen painting.

Mark Hannah hand-paints signs and murals on the walls of local businesses.

But, around Dade City, he learned the craft of sign painting from some veteran artists and fell in love with the concept.

“Some business owners just like the hand-painted feel of a sign, especially in Dade City with the quaint antique stores and the old downtown,’’ said Hannah, 53.

Always a free spirit, Hannah worked at a number of jobs, including machinist, tree surgeon, landscaper and house painter before venturing into his own sign-painting business in 2003. He was moderately successful, but toward mid-2009, when the American economy had tanked due to the Great Recession, he was desperate.

Whether it’s a portrait of a widely known entertainer, or a detailed painting of a tree — Mark Hannah uses his artistic touch to help convey a message or add beauty to many Pasco County places.

“I had no work because everything had dried up,’’ Hannah said. “Oh, I had a safety net with family and friends that would’ve bailed me out. But, I had five bucks to my name. Literally. Five bucks. That’s how bad it was.’’

He walked into Francesco’s New York Style Pizza in Dade City.

He had just enough money for one slice and a soda.

“I was still wearing my work uniform, splattered with paint,’’ Hannah said. “The owner walked out and said, ‘Are you an artist? I want to do a mural on this wall. Can you do that?’

“I was like, ‘Yes sir, I can,’ and I was like Speedy Gonzalez getting my stuff together. That moment was really when it all started.’’

Mark Hannah is known widely in Dade City for creating murals that help businesses convey a theme.

Since then, Hannah has enjoyed a few side gigs, such as producing giant papier-mache replicas of political candidates, including one of Mitt Romney that was used at the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa and another of Donald Trump that wound up on MSNBC.com’s front page.

He’s also the lead guitarist in a rockabilly band (Skinny McGee and his Mayhem Makers), which has taken him to Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Europe (six times).

But, at his core, he’s a hometown artist.

He mostly does mural work, sign painting and lots of projects for the Pasco County Fair. He couldn’t imagine anything better.

“I think part of it is I’m from here and people know me,’’ said Hannah, whose business is known as Hannah Designs Artwork. “I really love my life and what I do. It’s so important to have good people skills. Every time you get a new job, it’s a new client and potentially a new referral.

“My goal is always to work with somebody, give them what they want, be fair, do a great job, make them extremely happy and have them tell somebody else. I’m extremely blue-collar — more that than artsy — so I understand the importance of work and being timely. It’s going well. I could do stuff on a computer, but that’s nothing like being on the ladder and swinging paint. I’m one of those fortunate guys who’s doing what he loves to do.’’

Hannah can be reached at  or (352) 467-0664.

By Joey Johnston

Published November 25, 2020

Aiming to create a place enticing to families

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When the movie theater at the Grove at Wesley Chapel reopens soon, it won’t be anything like the former Cobb Theatre where people used to go to watch movies.

The exterior of the building already looks completely different than it did before, and the interior is getting a massive makeover, too.

Mark Gold and his wife, Viviane, stand near a sign in the former Cobb Theatre. The theater complex is going through a makeover, inside and out, and will offer a broader array of entertainment choices and food options, when it reopens. (B.C. Manion)

In what is being billed as the movie theater of the future, the Cinema & Entertainment Complex will include such features as fully reclining seats in some theaters, a supervised kids’ playroom, a full arcade and a comedy club.

Mishorim Gold Properties and developer Mark Gold are investing millions of dollars into the renovation.

Features in the 85,000-square-foot complex will include a new color scheme, floors, décor and light fixtures.

Other details include:

  • Spin bikes, in a theater room, which is expected to include some form of virtual reality experiences
  • Assigned seating, with a socially distanced layout during the pandemic
  • An open theater that will serve as a performance hall for plays, concerts and productions
  • In-movie food service with contactless ordering within six of the 12 theaters
  • An upscale sit-down restaurant

Parents will be able to go to the movies and drop their children off in a supervised play area, where the children can play, while the adults go off to enjoy the movie, Gold said.

The arcade within the complex will feature games for people of all ages.

The idea is to give people a different type of experience, Gold said. Instead of going to the movie and then back home again, people of all ages who come here will be able to spend a few hours enjoying an array of activities, he said.

The construction equipment and disturbed earth offer evidence of future growth at the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

“The Grove is about family,” he said.

Great care also is being taken to ensure that the theater is safe for patrons, the developer added.

It will be equipped with sanitation technology that includes fogging machines and automated thermal temperature scan swing gates at the entrance.

Going there will be safer than going to a grocery store, Gold said.

The reimagined movie theater complex will be just one of the new offerings at the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

Once people step outside of the entertainment complex there will be a wide range of choices for places to eat, shop or have fun on other parts of the property.

A water park and an 18-hole miniature golf course are both planned near the theater, and both are expected to open this winter.

The water park plans call for it to be built on a 1.7-acre site. Proposed features include two large water slides, a lazy river, a splash pad for kids, and a pool for adults and kids.

The 18-hole mini-golf course will have a Hawaiian theme and will be handicapped accessible.

A look at the updated exterior of the former Cobb Theatre, at the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

Those projects represent just a fraction of the Grove at Wesley Chapel’s redevelopment plan.

An area, which Gold calls The Village, has a collection of storefronts with personal service businesses, a brewery and a restaurant.

There are traditional big box stores, too.

Plus, the Grove will be home to Krate — billed as one of the world’s largest collections of shipping containers used to house retail shops and restaurants.

Businesses at Krate will have indoor and outdoor seating, and there will be an outdoor stage nearby — which will be a focal point for community events.

A dog park and playground are also planned.

Gold plans to use frequently scheduled events to attract people to the shopping, dining and entertainment complex. He believes the combination of offerings will make the place so popular that people will be willing to drive up to two hours to get there.

Numerous storefronts in The Village area of the Grove at Wesley Chapel are plastered with ‘coming soon’ signs.

In addition to its mix of offerings, the development enjoys an excellent location, Gold said.

It’s in the middle of booming Wesley Chapel, which is characterized by its high incomes, highly rated schools and burgeoning residential growth, he said.

Plus, the property enjoys high visibility from Interstate 75 and also has frontage off State Road 54, near the interstate exit.

For anyone who hasn’t been to the property recently, the changes are obvious. There’s a new energy in The Village area, with businesses that have recently opened and “coming soon” signs plastered on many storefronts.

The common areas have been upgraded, too. Water fountains, decorative lamp posts, artistic metal flowers, banners and surround sound create a welcoming vibe.

There’s also evidence of future activity: Heavy equipment is parked on disturbed land on one edge of the property, and signs proclaiming future projects are planted into the ground in other areas.

One element that remains missing, though, is a grocery store, Gold said.

The developer said he’d like to bring one in, but doesn’t want a traditional grocery store. He’s interested in adding a specialty grocer.

To find out the latest, check Facebook.com/GroveAtWesleyChapel and Instagram: @groveatwesleychapel.

Grove at Wesley Chapel
Purchased by Mishorim Gold Properties, September 2019, for approximately $64 million

  • Site is about 250 acres; purchase included 604,000 square feet of existing shopping and dining space; plus, 1.3-million square feet to build out.
  • $110 million in renovations
  • Average household income within 5 miles, $91,150 (among highest in the United States)
  • Big Box: 15 stores including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Cost Plus World Market, Ross
  • The Village: 25 shops including coffee shop, paint-your-own pottery, axe throwing, dueling pianos, nail salon, real estate
  • Krate: One of the largest shopping centers in the world made up of containers. It will open in Winter 2020 and will feature 94 containers; 54 units; an outdoor stage, a dog park and playground. Seating will be indoors and outdoors.
  • Movie theater complex: Opening this fall, will have 12 theatres, including six which offer dining. There will an arcade, a children’s playroom, a sushi bar and upscale restaurant.

Some theaters will have fully reclining chairs.

  • Water Park: opening this winter on 1.7 acres. Proposed features include two large water slides, a lazy river, a splash pad for kids, and a pool for adults and kids.
  • Mini-golf: 18 holes. Hawaiian theme, handicap accessible. Opening winter 2020
  • 50 restaurants: Offer an array of cuisines, including Mediterranean, Vietnamese, Cajun, Peruvian and others
  • Quarterly and holiday events
  • Weekend fresh market
  • Lights and fountain features
  • Sound system reaches entire development; and alcohol sales permitted throughout the property

Source: The Grove at Wesley Chapel, updated Sept. 20, 2020

Published September 23, 2020