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The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

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Sierra Center Boulevard

Pasco is ushering in 2021 with more shops, restaurants

December 22, 2020 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

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

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: 365 Cafe Italiano, Amazon, Arega NY, ATO, Beauty in Abundance, Best NY Pizza Worx, Bexley by Newland, Bexley Village Drive, Brooklyn Water Bagels, Chipotle, Chuck Lager's American Tavern, Cigars International, Crimson Chain Leatherworks, CVS Pharmacy, Cypress Creek Town Center, Design Hut, E sushi & Grill, Fit2Run, Floor & Decor, GO! Calendar Games and Toys, Good Feet Store, Greenwise, Grove at Wesley Chapel, Gunn Highway, Heart Pine Avenue, Heartland Dental, Hickory Farms, Hooters, Hungry Greek, Interstate 75, J. Joseph Salon, King of the Coop, KRATE, lululemon, Main Event, Majik Touch Cleaners, MEntmore Boulevard, Mishorim Gold Properties, Ornament Shoppe, Panera Bread, Papa John's, Polish The Nail Bar, Prime Barbershop, Provisions, Rasmussen College, Rock & Brew, Santander Consumer USA, Shoppes at Crossings Boulevard, Sierra Center Boulevard, Starkey Ranch, Starkey Ranch Business Center, Starkey Ranch Town Square, State Road 54, State Road 56, Tampa Premium Outlets, Target Superstore, The Cake Girl, The Preserve Marketplace, The Shops at Wiregrass, The UPS Store, The Wicked Pour, Tidal Wave Car Wash, Total Wine & More, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Wesley Grove Boulevard, Yoga Six, Zampelli's Pizza and Pasta, Zaxby's

Dining and shopping options expand, near Wesley Chapel

October 20, 2020 By B.C. Manion

Impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic have forced businesses to shutter, and others to regroup — but activity continues to hum along at the Cypress Creek Town Center, near Wesley Chapel.

Crews are busy working on this massive store that offers a wide assortment of hard-surface flooring materials. A nearby sign says it’s coming soon. (B.C. Manion)

Located at Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56, the outdoor mall features a broad array of shops, restaurants, stores and a hotel on the north side of State Road 56.

Meanwhile, across the way, on the south side of State Road 56, Tampa Premium Outlets occupies a large chunk of real estate, but is surrounded by free-standing restaurants, big box stores, an entertainment venue and other things.

The assortment of places to eat, drink, shop and have fun continues to grow.

The newest development is a massive Floor & Décor, now under construction at 25737 Sierra Center Blvd.

Crews were busy painting an exterior wall recently, and a sign hung on a chain-link fence made this promise: Coming soon.

Floor & Décor, headquartered in Atlanta, offers a wide assortment of in-stock, hard-surface flooring, including tile, wood, laminate/luxury vinyl plank, and natural stone, along with decorative and installation accessories.

Hockey enthusiasts can get their gear at Pure Hockey, a sporting goods store that specializes in that sport.

A number of other new businesses have opened nearby, or are expected to open soon.

They include:

  • Pure Hockey, 25629 Sierra Center Blvd., sporting goods store that specializes in hockey gear
  • La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Decor, a 13,560-square-foot store at 25960 Sierra Center Blvd.
  • Five Guys, a restaurant specializing in handcrafted burgers and fresh fries, at 25598 Sierra Center Blvd.
  • Crumbl Cookies, a dessert shop offering specialty cookies, at 25922 Sierra Center Blvd.
  • European Wax Center, at 25914 Sierra Center Blvd., provides a range of waxing services for the entire body.
  • Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming, a specialty shop for pet grooming, pet food and supplies, at 25912 Sierra Center Blvd.
  • Charles Schwab, at 25926 Sierra Center Blvd., which provides a range of brokerage, banking and financial advisory services
  • IVX Health, at 25930 Sierra Center Blvd., offers biologic injections and infusions for patients with health care issues, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus and multiple sclerosis.
  • Zukku Sushi, at 25916 Sierra Center Blvd., is opening soon, according to its Facebook page. It offers a menu of sushi burritos, curated pig bowls and curated sushi bowls, sashimi and nigiri.

Meanwhile, at the western end of Sierra Center Boulevard, Bloomin’ Brands plans to open a trio of restaurants.

Bonefish Grill, which is part of the Bloomin’ Brands family of restaurants, is expected to open soon, near Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56.

The first of those, Aussie Grill, opened in May, at 25340 Sierra Center Blvd. It is the first stand-alone restaurant in this brand that the chain has opened anywhere.

A Bonefish Grill is expected to open this fall, and a Carrabba’s Italian Grill is expected to open early next year, according to the company website.

The three restaurants will be clustered together with a shared parking lot.

On the southern side of State Road 56, Rock & Brews is in the process of hiring, in anticipation of opening soon.

Rock and Brews has been busy filling positions, in anticipation of opening soon.

The restaurant, at 26000 State Road 56, will have décor that features rock n’ roll posters. Televisions will play music videos, and diners will be able to play shuffleboard, corn hole and foosball.

The restaurant’s menu includes burgers, pizzas and salads — made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients. Plus, there’s a large selection of craft beers and an outdoor patio.

Nearby, Cigars International, at 2691 Creek Grass Way, recently opened — offering a selection of 1,300 cigar brands, a full-service lounge, an outdoor lounge and other amenities.

This sushi restaurant, in the Cypress Creek Town Center, is expected to open soon, according to its Facebook page.

Another recently opened attraction, Main Event, at 2839 Creek Grass Way, is a 49,000-square-foot venue offering 22 bowling lanes, billiards, laser tag, gravity ropes, shuffleboard, games, banquet rooms and various food options.

Future plans in the development call for a 70-seat Zaxby’s restaurant and a 3,120-square-foot  Tidal Wave car wash, in the general vicinity of the Aldi grocery store, which opened earlier this year, at 2215 Sun Vista Drive.

Beyond what’s already been developed, there’s also room available for future growth, according to a marketing brochure prepared by Colliers International.

The brochure reports an estimated population of 112,600 within a 5-mile radius of the center, with an average age of 37.8 years old and an average household income of $99,937.

Those statistics may explain why the area has fared so well, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published October 21, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Aussie Grill, Bloomin' Brands, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Charles Schwab, Cigars International, Colliers International, Creek Grass Way, Crumbl Cookies, Cypress Creek Town Center, European Wax Center, Five Guys, Floor & Decor, IVX Health, La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Decor, Main Event, Pure Hockey, Rock & Brews, Sierra Center Boulevard, State Road 56, Sun Vista Drive, Tampa Premium Outlets, Tidal Wave, Wesley Chapel Boulevard, Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming, Zaxby's, Zukku Sushi

New retail coming soon to Cypress Creek Town Center

June 30, 2020 By Kathy Steele

Cypress Creek Town Center is adding new retail to its commercial roster.

Several new tenants, including Crumbl Cookies and Zukku Sushi, will soon occupy storefronts along Sierra Center Boulevard at Cypress Creek Town Center. (Kathy Steele)

Though COVID-19 hit a pause button for the Pasco County community, construction workers are still building out new space for shops, restaurants and offices at the town center. Located across from Tampa Premium Outlets on State Road 56, the outdoor mall is at the epicenter of new development in the Wesley Chapel and Lutz areas of the county.

Anticipated tenants in a new strip center along Sierra Center Boulevard include Crumbl Cookies, Zukku Sushi, Charles Schwab, and IVX Health, according to county records.

Construction is underway on a stand-a-lone La-Z-Boy.

European Wax Center, and Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming already are open.

European Wax Center provides a range of waxing services for the entire body.

Two previously announced restaurants, Bonefish Grill and Carrabba’s Italian Grill, will have delayed openings, due to “construction timelines,” according to an email from Bloomin’ Brands, which owns the restaurants.

One other Bloomin’ Brand restaurant, Aussie Grill, opened in May, but is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Outback Steakhouse-inspired eatery accommodates some seating with social distancing, drive-thru, and Uber Eats and DoorDash delivery services.

Aussie Grill, near the town center entrance at Grand Cypress Drive, is the first stand-alone restaurant for the brand in Lutz.

The three Bloomin’ Brands’ restaurants eventually will be clustered together with a shared parking lot along Sierra Center.

Aussie Grill, a Bloomin’ Brand restaurant, opened in May with limited dine-in and drive-thru service.

Tenant details:

Crumbl Cookies is a dessert shop for specialty cookies and Crumbl Cream, a concoction of cookies and ice cream flavors. Menus rotate weekly to give customers four specialty choices. However, warm milk chocolate chip and chilled sugar cookies are always available, according to the company’s website.

Crumbl Cream flavors include Churro, Buckeye Brownie and Muddy Buddy.

Zukku Sushi offers a menu of sushi burritos, curated pig bowls and curated sushi bowls, sashimi and nigiri. Currently the restaurant dishes its bowls at the Heights Public Market, at Armature Works in Tampa.

Charles Schwab provides a range of brokerage, banking and financial advisory services.

La-Z-Boy is a home and office furniture store that includes accessories and home decor.

IVX Health offers biologic injections and infusions for patients with health care issues, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus and multiple sclerosis. The clinic provides private suites with leather recliners, flexible scheduling and personal service from its clinical staff, according to its website.

European Wax Center provides a range of waxing services for the entire body.

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is a specialty shop for pet food and supplies and pet grooming.

La-Z-Boy is a home and office furniture store that includes accessories and home decor.

Published July 1, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Aussie Grill, Bloomin' Brands, Bonefish Grill, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Charles Schwab, COVID-19, Cumbl Cookies, Cypress Creek Town Center, DoorDash, European Wax Center, Grand Cypress Drive, IVX Health, La-Z-Boy, Outback Steahouse, Sierra Center Boulevard, State Road 56, Tampa Premium Outlets, Uber Eats, Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming, Zukku Sushi

Malls open slowly, cautiously

May 12, 2020 By Kathy Steele

Rose Rich sipped a cool drink as she shared a bench out of the sun at The Shops at Wiregrass.

Her 19-year-old grandson, Chandler Estes, and Estes’ girlfriend, 18-year-old Jayda Warchesik, were on a visit from Texas.

“We’re out for an adventure,” Rich said.

Chandler Estes, 19, his girlfriend, Jayda Warchesik, and Estes’ grandmother, Rose Rich, enjoyed a trip to The Shops at Wiregrass on the first day it reopened. (Kathy Steele)

Estes and Warchesik hoped to find bathing suits for a trip to the beach, but were out of luck. They found few shops open.

The trio was among the first customers to explore Pasco County malls after weeks of homebound isolation and shuttered shops.

Effective May 4, Gov. Ron DeSantis gave the all-clear to at least some commercial activity to get the economy reopened amid the ongoing coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Mall operators, business owners and customers moved cautiously into uncharted territory. Many stores remained closed during the first days of lifted restrictions. Crowds of shoppers didn’t materialize.

But, as additional stores open, and with a weekend approaching, more shoppers were anticipated.

“We expected to have a slow opening, said Greg Lenners, general manager for The Shops at Wiregrass. “Various stores have their own protocols for ramping up. We’re off to a good start with the number of stores open.”

He estimated about one-quarter of Wiregrass shops had opened, evenly split among restaurants and retail.

Even during the shutdown, restaurants stayed open for takeout orders, with curbside pickup, Lenners said.

Wiregrass is following safety guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)  to protect customers and employees. The guidance includes extra sanitizing stations and closed-off play areas.

Tampa Premium Outlets and Cypress Creek Town Center also slowly opened a few previously closed shops. They also followed CDC guidelines.

Cypress Creek Town Center even has a new tenant, Aussie Grill, a free-standing restaurant on Sierra Center Boulevard.

A press release announced that the restaurant would offer limited indoor seating, drive-through, pickup and delivery.

Meanwhile, just outside AtHome at Tampa Premium Outlets, Jerry Cugno struggled to move a cache of large wall art from a shopping cart into the back seat and trunk of his car.

He wore a face mask and carried sanitizer in his pocket.

He picked up the art trove for his Lakeland-based spas. Cugno owns a chain of spas with more than 30 locations in Florida, and one in Denver, Colorado.

“I’m so happy, I can’t believe it,” Cugno said.

Many, but not all, of the services at his spas still remain off-limits during the first phase of Florida’s reopening.

But, people are ready to go back to work, he said.

He agrees with that sentiment: “Let them do their jobs,” he said.

Jerry Cugno, owner of a chain of spas, is happy with his purchase from AtHome, at Tampa Premium Outlets.

Clusters of cars filled the outlet mall’s parking lots. And, a few families and young couples strolled down pathways looking for open stores.

Shelly Stecklow successfully returned an item she bought before shops closed.

She enjoyed the chance to visit stores other than Walmart and Sam’s Clubs, which had stayed open.

“It’s just being out and about,” she said.

“I think as long as people are aware of their environment and abide by what they are told to do, it’s OK,” she said.

Most stores remained closed, but a few doors were open, including Haagen Dazs, Pop Cult, Finish Line and Elite Home Room Games.

An employee posted a notice on the door at Express Men listing a May 8 opening.

Representatives for the outlet mall and its owner, Simon Property Group, could not be reached for comment.

In a news release, Simon President John Rulli said, “We look forward to serving the needs of our communities, and (to) do so in a safe and responsible manner.”

Owner Jennifer Morales opened her shop, Sparks Jewelers, on the first day allowed.

She hadn’t seen many customers by midday and many who walked in said they were just looking for an open shop.

Morales and an employee wore face masks. A sign taped to the door gave notice that customers also should wear masks.

The shutdown has been hard.

“We’re a small business,” said Morales, who has been at the outlet mall about two years. “If we don’t open, we don’t generate sales. We depend on foot traffic.”

She is hopeful, though, that business will pick up — safely, and soon.

Published May 13, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: AtHome, Aussie Grill, CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chandler Estes, COVID-19, Cypress Creek Town Center, Elite Home Room Games, Express Men, Finish Line, Greg Lenners, Haagen Dazs, Jayda Warchesik, Jennifer Morales, Jerry Cugno, John Rulli, Pop Cult, Ron DeSantis, Rose Rich, Sam's Club, Shelly Stecklow, Sierra Center Boulevard, Simon Property Group, Sparks Jewelers, Tampa Premium Outlets, The Shops at Wiregrass, Walmart

Under Construction 02/19/2020

February 19, 2020 By Brian Fernandes

Wesley Chapel will soon offer more furniture options for comfort and style with the coming La-Z-Boy Furniture gallery. (Brian Fernandes)

Furniture store in Wesley Chapel
A La-Z-Boy Furniture gallery will be another outlet for those looking for the right home décor. The building is at 25960 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz, and is 13,650 square feet. As part of the Cypress Creek Town Center, the structure is near the intersection of State Road 56 and Interstate 75. No completion or open date has been announced yet.

 

 

 

Electric station emerging
Land O’ Lakes will soon have a new electrical substation at the intersection of Morgan Road and U.S. 41. The substation will help distribute electricity as a result of a growing regional population. The new Morgan Road Substation will connect with the current substation on State Road 54 by way of a transmission line. The new substation also will have a transmission line that will run approximately 2.5 miles south to the intersection of North Dale Mabry Highway and County Line Road in Lutz. The substation is scheduled to be operational in November 2021.

Cigar shop to come
Cigar enthusiasts will enjoy the soon-to-come Cigars International shop. This store will offer cigars of all shapes, sizes and name brands. Located at 2691 Creek Grass Way in Lutz, the establishment will stand at 12,922 square feet. The building will be a part of the Cypress Creek Town Center, within walking distance of the coming Main Event and Rock N’ Brews establishments. It will be the third branch in the U.S., and the first of its kind in Florida. The completion and opening dates have not been announced.

Lutz to get office site
The Northwood Office and Warehouse building will soon be erected at 1040 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz. As its name implies, the inside will be comprised of both office and warehouse space, ranging over 10,000 square feet. The construction site is on the east side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, next to E&W Carpets Inc. Construction completion or opening date have not yet been announced.

Curious about something new that’s popping up in your community? Please send us the location — along with the address, if possible — and we’ll see what we can find out. Send your email to .

Published February 19, 2020

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Cigars International, County Line Road, Creek Grass Way, Cypress Creek Town Center, E&W Carpets, Interstate 75, La-Z-Boy Furniture, Land O' Lakes Boulevard, Lutz, Main Event, Morgan Road, Morgan Road Substation, North Dale Mabry Highway, Northwood Office and Warehouse, Rock N'Brews, Sierra Center Boulevard, State Road 56, U.S. 41

Under Construction 02/05/2020

February 5, 2020 By Brian Fernandes

Bonefish Grill emerging in Lutz
A Bonefish Grill restaurant is one of three Bloomin’ Brands restaurants being built in Lutz. At 2526 Sierra Center Blvd., the eatery will be in the same vicinity of an Aussie Grill and Carrabba’s Italian Grill, at Cypress Creek Town Center. At roughly 6,000 square feet, the building’s inside will be feature custom booths, and both a lounge and bar situated at the restaurant’s center. Construction is anticipated to finish in May.

Contracting company opening in Dade City
A Phillips and Jordan regional office is currently being built in Dade City. Located at 30115 State Road 52, the 15,600-square-foot structure will be three stories. The contracting company focuses on heavy civil construction, right of way construction and disaster relief. Construction completion has not been scheduled yet.

New car dealership on State Road 56
The Volkswagen Dealership of Wesley Chapel will join the chain of dealerships running along State Road 56, in Wesley Chapel. The 25,000-square-foot structure will be at 26500 Silver Maple Parkway. Aside from multiple offices, it will feature a service bay, showroom and outdoor carwash. Construction is scheduled to be completed in November.

New office plaza coming to Lutz
The Willowbend Offices plaza is currently being developed in Lutz. The structure is  located off of State Road 54 on Collier Parkway, heading southbound. The site is on the east end of Collier Parkway, adjacent to The Reading Corner school. The 12,190-square-foot development will consist of two separate buildings for office and medical space. A construction completion date has not been determined yet.

Curious about something new that’s popping up in your community? Please send us the location — along with the address, if possible — and we’ll see what we can find out. Send your email to .

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Bonefish Grill, Collier Parkway, Dade City, Lutz, Phillips and Jordan, Sierra Center Boulevard, State Road 52, State Road 54, State Road 56, Volkswagen Dealership of Wesley Chapel, Willowbend Offices

Under Construction

July 10, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Tractor Supply store coming
Construction is underway for a Tractor Supply store that will offer agricultural and home improvement supplies. It is located on the east side of North Dale Mabry Highway – south of its apex with Land O’ Lakes Boulevard. The 18,800-square-foot is near the Lutz Walmart Supercenter. Construction started in June and is expected to be completed by October.

Grace Family Church
Grace Family Church is renovating a plaza that once housed a K-Mart store at 22920 State Road 54 in Lutz. The roof, on the western end of the 48,000-square-foot building, will be raised 12 feet to accommodate the church sanctuary. Plans call for multiple classrooms, a café and a 3-foot baptism pool. The church is expected to open this August.

Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar
A Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar is under construction in the Cypress Creek Town Center at 25372 Sierra Center Blvd. The 10,438-square-foot restaurant, which will offer Louisiana-style cuisine, will be able to accommodate 325 patrons. A grand opening is planned for July 29. The restaurant is expected to have 180 employees, and applications are being accepted on site now. For more information, contact Gyorgy Tamcsu at (636) 259-0902 or .

Medical Office
A two-story medical office is expected to be completed in October at 27800 Summergate Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Project plans call for a medical and administrative office, clinics on both floors and a dialysis treatment center. Construction started in June. The dialysis center may open as soon as December.

Curious about something new that’s popping up in your community? Please send us the location — along with the address, if possible — and we’ll see what we can find out. Send your email to .

Compiled by Brian Fernandes

Editor’s Note:

Keeping you better informed
It’s obvious that growth is happening all around The Laker/Lutz News coverage area.

It seems like every time you turn around ,there’s a new place to eat, to shop, to worship or have fun. Health care options are expanding, schools are being built and new employers are moving in.

And, as we travel through our region, it begs the question: What’s being built there?

Our new “Under Construction” column — debuting today — is our way to help satisfy your curiosity.

As we see new projects under construction in our community, we’ll share that with you through this column, or stories.

But, you can help, too. if you see something popping up in your neighborhood and you wonder what it is, please send us an email with the location — and address, if possible — and we’ll see what we can find out.

Please send your emails to .

B.C. Manion, editor of The Laker/Lutz News

 

 

Filed Under: Local News Tagged With: Cypress Creek Town Center, Grace Family Church, K-Mart, Land O' Lakes Boulevard, Lutz, Lutz Walmart Supercenter, North Dale Mabry Highway, Sierra Center Boulevard, State Road 54, Summergate Boulevard, Tractor Supply, Walk-on's Bistreaux & Bar, Wesley Chapel

Cypress Creek Town Center buzzing with activity

March 27, 2019 By B.C. Manion

If you haven’t been in the area west of Interstate 75, off State Road 56, during the past several months, chances are you’re not aware of the increasing activity happening at Cypress Creek Town Center and in nearby areas.

Five Below, at 25609 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz, is set to have its grand opening on March 29, according to a banner posted at the store.

Five Below is planning a grand opening on March 29, at the Cypress Creek Town Center, according to a sign on the company’s storefront. (B.C. Manion)

Five Below sells everything from cellphone cases and chargers to yoga pants, footballs, candy, and seasonal items from Easter, Halloween and Christmas.

Meanwhile, Burlington, at 25589 Sierra Center Blvd., also is set to have its grand opening on March 29, according to the company’s website. Burlington also is hiring, according a banner on the company’s storefront.

Burlington is an off-price apparel and home product retailer, which operates 567 stores in 45 states and Puerto Rico, according to its website. The store offers a large selection of coats, clothing, shoes, linens , home décor and baby items.

Those grand openings come on the heels of Hobby Lobby’s grand opening on March 18.  Located at  25675 Sierra Center Drive, it is the national retail chain’s 865th store. Each store offers more than 70,000 crafting and home décor products, including floral, fabric, needle art, custom framing, baskets, home accents, wearable art, arts and crafts, jewelry making, scrapbooking and paper crafting supplies, according to information provided by the company.

HomeGoods is planning an April 14 grand opening at Cypress Creek Town Center, according to the company’s website.

Meanwhile, Earth Fare, a North Carolina-based grocer, also at Cypress Creek Town Center, entered the Pasco County market when it opened its 51st store in February. The 24,000-square-foot store aims to promote the health and well-being of its customers by selling an assortment of healthy foods.

Coming soon to the town center will be HomeGoods, at 25557 Sierra Center Blvd., which is scheduled to have its grand opening on April 14 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to its website.  It also is “now hiring” according to a sign on the storefront’s exterior.

HomeGoods is an off-price retailer, which offers brand name and home fashion assortments that are 20 percent to 60 percent less than department and specialty store regular prices, the company’s website says. It offers merchandise from thousands of vendors throughout the world.

Many other establishments already are operating at the town center, which has shops and restaurants on both sides of State Road 56.

Diners have a wide array of options on the north side of State Road 56, including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Fast-Fire’D Blaze Pizza, Taco Bell, Pollo Tropical, Wendy’s, Ford’s Garage, Mellow Mushroom, Sweetea Café, Chuy’s Tex Mex and Bahama Breeze.

Burlington is planning a grand opening on March 29, at the Cypress Creek Town Center, according to the company’s website. It also is hiring, according to a sign on the exterior of the store.

Meanwhile, Walk-ons Bistreaux & Bar, on the same side of the road, is under construction. The New Orleans-based sports bar was founded by business partners who were walk-ons to the Louisiana State University basketball team. They opened their first restaurant near LSU’s Tiger Stadium.

On the south side of State Road 56, diners can select from LongHorn Steakhouse, McDonald’s, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, Culver’s, Panda Express, Chick-fil-A, Starbucks  and MOD Pizza.

Other developments on the south side of the road include Costco Wholesale Warehouse, an At Home Home Décor Superstore and smaller shops.

Tampa Premium Outlets also is on the south side of State Road 56, just west of I-75.

And, another project is coming, on the  east side of Creek Grass Way, about 600 feet south of State Road 56, according to county records.

Main Event is planning a 48,608-square-foot entertainment center and has requested permission to sell alcoholic  beverages there. The Pasco County Planning Commission and county planners have recommended approval, and the Pasco County Commission was scheduled to consider the request on March 26, after The Laker/Lutz News’ press deadline.

The Main Event is a bowling, laser tag and dining entertainment center, which has locations in 16 states, including Florida, according to its website.

On the north side of State Road 56, shops include T-Mobile, Noire Nail Bar, Men’s Wearhouse, Mattress One, Aspen Dental, Great Clips, Pearl Vision and Sleep Number. Verizon Wireless and Wesley Chapel Smile Dentistry are coming soon.

There’s also Hyatt Place Hotel & Conference, a 130-room hotel, has opened and already has hosted a variety of community events there.

Also, on the north side of State Road 56, to the west of Cypress Creek Town Center, there’s a new Burger King in front of the Brightwork Crossing apartment development, and nearby a Wawa gas station under construction nearby.

El Dorado Furniture-Wesley Chapel is planning a 70,000-square-foot, two-story showroom at State Road 54 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard, according to county documents.

Published March 27, 2019

Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: Aspen Dental, At Home Decor, Bahama Breeze, BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, Brightwork Crossing, Burger King, Burlington, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Chuy's Tex Mex, Costco Warehouse, Creek Grass Way, Culver's, Cypress Creek Town Center, Earth Fare, El Dorado Furniture, Fast-Fire'D Blaze Pizza, Five Below, Ford's Garage, Great Clips, Hobby Lobby, HomeGoods, Hyatt Place Hotel & Conference Center, Interstate 75, LongHorn Steakhouse, Louisiana State University, Lutz, Main Event, Mattress One, McDonald's, Mellow Mushroom, Men's Wearhouse, MOD Pizza, Noire Nail Bar, Panda Express, Pasco County Commission, Pasco County Planning Commission, Pearl Vision, Pollo Tropical, Sierra Center Boulevard, Sleep Number, Starbucks, State Road 54, State Road 56, Sweetea Cafe, T-Mobile, Taco Bell, Tampa Premium Outlets, Verizon Wireless, Walk-on's Bistreaux & Bar, Wawa, Wendy's, Wesley Chapel Boulevard, Wesley Chapel Smile Dentistry

Earth Fare enters Pasco market

February 27, 2019 By B.C. Manion

Earth Fare, a North Carolina-based grocer, opened its 51st store with special deals and fanfare at Cypress Creek Town Center last week.

The 24,000-square-foot store, off State Road 56 and just west of Interstate 75, aims to promote the health and well-being of its customers by selling an assortment of healthy foods, said Frank Scorpiniti, president and CEO, in an interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

Earth Fare’s opening festivities included a ribbon cutting. Shown here, are the dignitaries involved in that ceremony. They are second from left, is store manager Mike Hall; President and CEO Frank Scorpiniti; North Tampa Bay Chamber President /CEO Hope Allen; and Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore; while others look on. (Christine Holtzman)

“We’re pretty enthusiastic that because we are a philosophy-guided company, when we look across the retail landscape, there are no other food retailers doing what Earth Fare does,” Scorpiniti said. Earth Fare plans to open a total of eight to 10 stores in the greater Tampa area.

The store which opened last week, at 25535 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz, has 107 employees. It is the fourth store that the company has opened in the general Tampa Bay area in recent years.

Earth Fare also has opened stores in Seminole, Oldsmar and Lakewood Ranch, and within weeks will open stores in Boynton Beach and downtown Orlando.

“We see an opportunity for our brand to fill a void in the marketplace,” Scorpiniti said.

“Americans, just generally, are seeking healthier alternatives to feed their families and their children,” Scorpiniti explained. “We have found that there is a lot of need of what we bring to communities.

“We don’t want to be preachy. That’s not our mission here. Our mission is to make health and wellness easy to come by, at Earth Fare,” he said.

“Our first litmus test is whether or not what we sell is healthy,” he added. If it’s not, it doesn’t make the cut.

The grocery chain’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Angela Hind helps assure that Earth Fare  meets that commitment, Scorpiniti said.

“She and I have become very close colleagues in helping refine Earth Fare’s assortment, and understanding that this is a journey. We’re all learning still. But, when we look across North America, no one else is doing this,” Scorpiniti said.

Earth Fare offers a wide assortment of local, fresh and organic vegetables.

Reading labels not required
Earth Fare pledges that its foods are free of:

  • Added hormones
  • Antibiotics
  • Artificial fats and trans-fats
  • High fructose corn syrup
  • Artificial preservatives
  • Bleached or bromated flour
  • Artificial colors or flavors

The grocer also maintains a Boot List on its website, listing all of the food ingredients it has banned from its stores.

Besides the groceries it sells, the store has an organic juice bar, a  salad bar, a hot foods bar, a pizza station, a sandwich counter and packaged meals-to-go. It also has a café.

People might not view pizza as being healthy, Scorpiniti said. But, Earth Fare’s version is made with organic dough. It uses sauce with tomatoes from Italy, when the tomatoes are at their sweetest — foregoing the common practice of adding sugar to the sauce.

The cheese comes from Italy, too, and the pepperoni has no nitrates or nitrites, Scorpiniti said.

“Dare I say, it’s an amazing-tasting pizza,” he added.

On opening day, customers appeared to be enthusiastic about having a new grocery option.

“It’s proximity is really great,” said Lynn Pabst, who is retired and lives in Lutz. “To be able to get things that are fresh and healthy, and to promote that kind of style of living is very important, and it’s nice to have in our community.”

C. Walker, who lives in Wesley Chapel, likes the choices that the store offers.

“I’m a plant-based eater, and they have everything I need in this store,” she said, adding that now she won’t have to drive out her community to get what she wants.

Interest in the store was apparent in the early afternoon on Day 2, when it buzzed with customers. Shoppers perused shelves. They added fruits, vegetables, rotisserie chickens and other items to their carts. Others took a break to grab a bite, and ate it on the patio.

Earth Fare has come a long way since it debuted in Asheville, as a 1,200-square-foot store called Dinner for Earth. It was the city’s first health food store, and it offered a modest selection of organic dried bulk goods and wellness process.

Many varieties of apples, peaches and pears offer a bouquet of colors in the produce section of the Earth Fare supermarket.

Over time, it has opened locations from Portage, Michigan to Palm Beach Gardens.

Its assortment has evolved, but its commitment to healthy food has not wavered, Scorpiniti said.

The grocer promises its customers that they can shop in every aisle of the store without ever needing to read a label, and they can be confident that their food selection will be healthy, the executive added.

He also touched on what he considers to be a misperception when it comes to the price of healthy foods.

“I think health and wellness eating has sometimes created this connotation that you have to pay a lot more to be healthy in the food you buy,” Scorpiniti said.

Earth Fare thinks it can provide, with a curated assortment in a 24,000-square-foot store,

“a nice, bright, shoppable, friendly store,” and do it efficiently, in order to sell a 98-cent, non-GMO, baguette, every day, and a $5 rotisserie chicken, every day, Scorpiniti said.

As a newcomer to the area, the company also has reached out to learn what the community needs from Earth Fare, he added. It has a 19-member community advisory panel, which provided  suggestions regarding items to stock on store shelves, and offered input on what local cause the store should support. In this case, it is the New Tampa YMCA, which received a $3,000 check from the grocer.

When Earth Fare opens a new location, it’s a big day for the company, the president and CEO said.

He said he typically gives the new team a pep talk.

In essence, his message to them is this: “This is a different mission. It looks like we’re selling groceries, but we’re changing lives.”

Earth Fare, a 24,000-square-foot healthy food supermarket
Where: 25535 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz
When: Hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., daily
Details: The store offers a wide selection of healthy fruits, vegetables, meats, fish and other foods. Its services include delivery and catering.
Earth Fare’s Lutz/Wesley Chapel location opened last week. It has 107 employees.

Earth Fare’s sustainable stores
Earth Fare:

  • Uses the heat generated from cooling its freezers and refrigerators to heat its water
  • Has polished concrete floors to eliminate the need for harsh cleaning chemicals
  • Is built with a reflective roof to reduce cooling costs in warmer months
  • Uses LED bulbs, which consume 60 percent to 75 percent less energy
  • Uses pure water, filtered through reverse osmosis, throughout the store — including in its produce misters

Christine Holtzman contributed to this report

Published February 27, 2019

Filed Under: Top Story Tagged With: Angela Hind, C. Walker, Cypress Creek Town Center, Dinner for Earth, Earth Fare, Frank Scorpiniti, Interstate 75, Lutz, Lynn Pabst, New Tampa YMCA, Sierra Center Boulevard, State Road 56

Duke’s landscaping plan gains approval

January 23, 2019 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Planning Commission has approved a landscaping plan submitted by Duke Energy Florida LLC., in connection to an electrical substation in Wesley Chapel.

The planning board had previously approved the electric company’s request for an expansion to its electrical substation on a 20-acre parcel on the north side of Satinleaf Lane, about 650 feet west of Smith Road. However, that approval was contingent on Duke’s subsequent submission of a landscaping plan relating to the project for the planning board’s approval.

Residents of Meadow Pointe had sought additional landscaping to reduce the visual impacts from the expanded substation.

Drew Gilmore, a public engagement specialist for Duke Energy, outlined the company’s plan for buffering the substation from its neighbors’ views.

The plan he presented included more trees and a different assortment of plantings than initially proposed. The electric company also has agreed to add more trees in an area within the  Meadow Pointe subdivision.

However, while Meadow Pointe residents wanted more landscaping, those living closest to the substation — in Satinleaf — told commissioners they didn’t want any additional landscaping between their properties and the substation.

Rather, they said, they prefer a view of open pastureland.

Planning commissioners voted to keep the additional landscaping, to buffer the substation from Meadow Pointe, and to eliminate the proposed landscaping between Satinleaf and the substation.

In other action, the board:

  • Approved a request from Tracy L. and Raul Rodriguez Jr./Keiro Academy, for a private school on 20.6 acres of land zoned for agricultural and residential use. The parcel is on the east side of Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, about one-half mile north of Darby Road.

According to the applicant’s information, “Our student population will primarily demonstrate anxiety, sadness, defiance and school refusal issues stemming from technology overuse. Our students simply need to reconnect with nature in a screen-free environment and to develop social and life skills to succeed. We intend to create a program exclusively for boys age (15 to 20) and seek to maintain a daily census of 32 students who will live on the property.

  • Recommended approval of a license for the sale of alcoholic beverages at Chipotle Mexican Grill, at the northwest corner of State Road 56 and Grand Cypress Drive, extending to Sierra Center Boulevard.

The Planning Commission is the county’s land planning agency. It has decision-making authority for special exception requests, which can be appealed to the Pasco County Commission.

All other planning commission decisions are recommendations to the Pasco County Commission, which has final authority on zoning and land use matters.

Published January 23, 2019

Filed Under: Local News, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News Tagged With: Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Darby Road, Drew Gilmore, Duke Energy, Grand Cypress Drive, Keiro Academy, Meadow Pointe, Pasco County Planning Commission, Raul Rodriguez Jr., Satinleaf Lane, Sierra Center Boulevard, Smith Road, State Road 56, Tracy Rodriguez, Wesley Chapel

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03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer “Foodie Feast: Apple Pie Bombs” on March 5. Participants can learn how to make tasty, apple pie bombs. Watch the prerecorded video between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., online at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . … [Read More...] about 03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

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The Grand Concourse Railroad, 11919 Alric Pottberg Road in Shady Hills, will offer a Pancake Breakfast and Unlimited Train Rides event on March 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for kids. For information, visit Grand Concourse Railroad on Facebook. … [Read More...] about 03/06/2021 – Pancakes and trains

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host a virtual poetry discussion group on “Female Power!” on March 9 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 16 and older, via Zoom. Participants can share a favorite poem or take part in discussions on poems about women or written by women poets. Themed poems will be sent out to help with the session. Registration is required. For information, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or . … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Poetry discussion

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The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer a Technology Tuesday: Robots & Machines on March 9, through a curbside pickup activity. The kit will help kids learn more about technology, from robots to coding, through online and hands-on activities. The pickup is limited to 35 participants and must be reserved ahead of time. A book bundle can be included. Kits must be picked up between March 9 at 10 a.m., and March 13 at 5 p.m. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Technology Tuesday

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