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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Sun Vista Drive

Consumers have more grocery options in Pasco

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Grocery shoppers now have two more options in Pasco County, as GreenWise Market and Aldi have opened new stores.

The 25,147-square-foot GreenWise Market, at the Preserve Marketplace Shopping Center, 2175 Sembler Drive, is GreenWise Market’s fourth location in Florida. The Preserve Marketplace is off State Road 54, in Odessa.

GreenWise Market just opened a location in Odessa. Shoppers can sip coffee or wine, as they peruse through the store’s broad array of specialty, natural and organic foods. (B.C. Manion)

“Our GreenWise Market is about exploration, community, enticing the palate, and a place for the foodie, as well the food connoisseur. We celebrate food, and have an extended offering of natural, organic and prepared foods,” said Maria Brous, director of communications for Publix, via email.

The store offers specialty, natural and organic foods. Its personal care offerings include  vitamins, nutritional supplements, natural soaps and shampoos, and more. Its meats have been raised with no antibiotics or added hormones, and it offers sustainably-sourced seafood.

Shoppers also can pick up made-to-order meals and grab-and-go foods, such as handcrafted gourmet sandwiches and freshly baked pizza.

They also can select from a curated collection of wines and imported cheeses.

Another feature: Shoppers can enjoy a cup of locally roasted coffee, wine and beer on tap, or other selections, which they can drink while shopping, or when relaxing at the bar.

The Odessa store expects to have about 130 employees, Brous said.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Brous said, “our stores continue to be busy.

Do you enjoy buying some foods in bulk? You may want to check out the selection available at GreenWise Market, in Odessa. (Courtesy of GreenWise Market)

“We ask our customers to shop as they normally would, but not to stockpile, so that their friends, family and neighbors have the same opportunity. The grocery industry is resilient, and we just needed to be patient and allow the industry an opportunity to recover.

“We are seeing better conditions in most categories; however, paper and cleaning products have been slower to rebound. For this very reason, customers may see limits in place. In addition, limits will vary by store depending on high demand for certain items,” she said.

GreenWise Market is owned and operated by Publix Super Markets Inc., a privately owned company. Publix is one of the 10 largest-volume supermarket chains in the country.

Aldi also opened a new store in Pasco market, at 2215 Sun Vista Drive in Lutz, near a broad array of shops, restaurants and stores at Cypress Creek Town Center.

Matt Thon, the Haines City Aldi division vice president, said the grocer considered a variety of factors when choosing a store location.

“We want the best sites that are closest to our shoppers and can support a high daily traffic volume,” Thon said, via email.

Aldi just opened a new location in Lutz, at the edge of the Cypress Creek Town Center. The store is part of the company’s expansion efforts. It aspires to be the third-largest grocer in the nation, by store count, by 2022.

“As the demand for Aldi grows, so do our real estate options. Bottom line, we want to be conveniently located for our shoppers,” Thon added.

He noted that Aldi’s “priority focus is saving people money on the food and products they want most.”

He said the store achieves that by “offering shoppers a curated selection of Aldi-exclusive brands.

“More than 90% of our store consists of Aldi-exclusive products,” he said.

He also noted that “when it comes to value, Aldi won’t be beat on price. For the past decade, Aldi has held the esteemed title of Value Leader among U.S. grocery stores by Market Force Information.”

Thon also said that each of Aldi’s stores, including the one in Lutz, employs 15 to 20 people.

If you enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables, chances are you’ll find something to your liking in the Aldi produce section. (Courtesy of Aldi)

During COVID-19, Aldi has been focusing its efforts on ensuring essential food and household goods are available, Thon said.

The new location is part of Aldi’s national expansion, according to a company news release. The grocery chain has nearly 2,000 stores across 36 states and aspires to become the third-largest U.S. grocery retailer, by store count, by the end of 2022, the release says.

Aldi offers its own line of gluten-free products, antibiotic-free meats and organic products, including bananas, tomatoes, avocados, apples and salad mixes, and organic milk, almond butter and salsa, among other things, the company reports.

Aldi also has integrated several new safety features in all its stores across the country, to ensure the health and safety of customers and employees.

GreenWise Market
GreenWise Market features foods for the health-conscious, as well as gourmet foodies, including specialty, natural and organic foods. GreenWise Market is owned and operated by Publix Super Markets Inc.
Where: 2175 Sembler Drive, Odessa
When: Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., daily
Info: GreenWiseMarket.com

Aldi
Aldi offers its own line of gluten-free products, antibiotic-free meats and organic selections. It prides itself on its affordability, and is aiming to become the nation’s third-largest grocer, by store count, by 2022.
Where: 2215 Sun Vista Drive in Lutz
When: Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Info: Aldi.us

Published July 29, 2020

Aldi offers updates on Pasco stores

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The Aldi store in Odessa is expected to open this spring, and the Wesley Chapel store is expected to open by this summer.

That’s according to the latest information provided by Matt Thon, the vice president for the Haines City Aldi division.

The Lutz-Wesley Chapel area, Odessa and Zephyrhills are the chosen locations for three new Aldi stores. These branches will offer shoppers more grocery stores to choose from. (File)

An opening date for the Aldi in Zephyrhills has not been determined.

The Zephyrhills branch has not been built yet, says Todd Vande Burg, planning director for the City of Zephyrhills.

Work is underway to analyze the best relocation spot for traffic lights at the intersection of U.S. 301 and Pretty Pond Road, Vande Burg said.

The Aldi stores in Odessa, at 12134 State Road 54, and in the Lutz-Wesley Chapel area, at 2215 Sun Vista Drive, combined, are planning to hire 20 to 25 employees.

The Aldi website has information about available positions, explains the anticipated number of working hours, and details starting pay rates.

Openings include store associates, cashiers and stockers.

The website details duties for the various positions and qualifications needed for the job.

There also is information about benefits offered by Aldi and tutorial videos that give applicants an idea of what to expect.

The three new Pasco County Aldi stores will join the over 1,900 grocers nationwide.

To learn more about job opportunities, visit Aldi.us.

Published February 19, 2020

Cypress Creek plaza still expanding

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The pace of development at Cypress Creek Town Center is picking up, with new shops and restaurants under construction at two sites within the town center.

Most of the action is taking place along Sierra Center Boulevard, a main artery that cuts through the town center, which is located at State Road 56 and Grand Cypress Drive. Two new shopping strips, each fronting Sierra Center Boulevard, will significantly boost the retail development.

Signs staked amid construction activity herald the coming of HomeGoods, Five Below and Burlington. County records also show additional shops will open, including Hobby Lobby, Sleep Number, Pacific Dental, Verizon Wireless, Dollar Tree and America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses.

Restaurants include Blaze Pizza, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Walk-on’s Bistreaux & Bar. Earth Fare, a specialty grocery store, is coming, too.

The town center is part of a mixed-use project of retail, offices, hotel and residential under development by Sierra Properties Inc.

The new retail at Cypress Creek will add to established shops and restaurants that line the south side of Sierra Center, including Men’s Wearhouse, Great Clips, T-Mobile, Noire Nail Bar, Ford’s Garage, Bahama Breeze Grill and Chuy’s Tex-Mex.

Even here, new retail is coming, including Sweetea Café. The restaurant’s menu will have freshly brewed bubble tea, and homemade Vietnamese food and snacks.

The new 130-room Hyatt Place Hotel & Sierra Conference Center opened recently at the far eastern end of the boulevard.

On the south side of State Road 56, Sierra Properties also will gain an Aldi grocery store, at 2215 Sun Vista Drive, on a parcel fronting the Tampa Premium Outlets.

The bounty of new shops, restaurants and offices at Cypress Creek represents a fraction of the development rush that is remaking Pasco County.

It is all part of the warp and weave of bringing a mix of retail, office, hotel, industrial and retail to a county with a long-held reputation as a bedroom community.

Development is bringing rooftops, retail, offices, manufacturing and jobs to the county.

“That’s refreshing,” said Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

More development brings new residents, more jobs and added amenities, and it all adds up to a county where people “live, work and play,” Cronin said. “They don’t have to get on the road every day. They don’t have to make the commute.”

More development is on the way in the area surrounding Cypress Creek Town Center, too.

One recent arrival is At Home Décor Superstore on an outparcel at Tampa Premium Outlets.

To the immediate west of Cypress Creek, Brightwork Crossing is well under construction of up to 350 apartments. A WaWa gas station and El Dorado Furniture store also are planned.

The Shoppes at Cypress Creek is being proposed for development at the northwest corner of State Road 54 and Old Cypress Creek Road. Site plans filed with the county last summer show two 9,000-square-foot buildings separated by a breezeway. A “quick service” restaurant also is proposed for an outparcel at the site.

The following stores are scheduled to  open in 2019 at Cypress Creek Town Center:

Hobby Lobby
Plans are for a February 2019 opening, according to an email from Hobby Lobby representatives.

Hobby Lobby is primarily an arts and crafts store, but it offers a broad array of merchandise and hobby materials, including picture-framing, jewelry-making, floral and wedding supplies, cards and party favors, and home accessories.

The Oklahoma-based national chain began with a $600 investment in a home-based venture by owners David and Barbara Green. They opened a 300-square-foot store in Oklahoma City in 1972, according to the company’s website. Today, Hobby Lobby has more than 800 stores in 47 states.

Burlington
Burlington traces its roots to 1924 and a wholesale operation selling women’s coats and junior suits.

Its first outlet store opened in 1972 in Burlington, New Jersey, according to the company website.

Today, Burlington sells clothes, shoes and other accessories at discounted prices to women, men and children.

HomeGoods
The Massachusetts-based discount home furnishing store is part of the family of TJX Companies Inc., which includes TJ Maxx.

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

Sleep Number
The Minnesota-based national chain sells mattresses, beds and bedding.

Pacific Dental Services
The California-based chain provides a full-range of dental services. It has more than 630 offices in 20 states.

Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless sells phones and accessories, as well as tablets and “fitbit” products.

America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses
America’s Best offers discounted services, including eye examinations, glasses and contacts.

Dollar Tree
The discount store traces its roots back more than 60 years to the Ben Franklin Variety store, and a concept of selling products for $1. It offers a wide array of products, including drinks, toys, candy, school supplies, home décor, gifts and cards.

Chipotle Mexican Grill
The Denver-based fast-casual restaurant is known for its burritos and tacos, and a philosophy of preparing meals-to-order with fresh ingredients. The company has more than 2,000 restaurants nationwide.

Walk-on Bistreaux & Bar
Walk-on Bistreaux & Bar is a New Orleans-based sports bar that is co-owned by New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees. It was founded by business partners who were walk-ons to the Louisiana State University’s basketball team. They opened their first restaurant near LSU’s Tiger Stadium.

Blaze Pizza
Blaze Pizza is a California-based fast-casual restaurant that serves made-to-order, fresh-from-scratch pizzas.

Earth Fare
The North Carolina-based specialty grocery store stocks its stores with organic, natural and local foods.

By Kathy Steele

Published January 2, 2019

Specialty grocers sprouting up in Pasco

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A national trend for smaller, specialty grocery stores is taking hold in Pasco County.

Within the next year, Earth Fare, Sprouts Farmers Market, and possibly Lucky’s Market will open grocery stores that specialize in natural, organic and fresh foods.

Aldi is planning to open its no-frills, discount grocery stores in Zephyrhills and New Port Richey in 2019. Also, a new store is coming to the southeast corner of State Road 54 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard, on a parcel owned by developers of the Cypress Creek Town Center.

South Branch Ranch developers submitted plans to the county that include a “prototype” grocery store within a mix of commercial, office and retail. The approximately 25,000-square-foot store, on State Road 54 at Suncoast Parkway, would fit within the size range for boutique-style grocery shopping.

These new foodie arrivals on the retail scene follows an explosion of growth all over Pasco of more shops, restaurants and residential development.

Activity centers include Cypress Creek Town Center, the Village at Mitchell Ranch, Starkey Ranch and Wiregrass Ranch.

Rooftops and retail are two major parts of getting development started, and making them profitable, said Bill Cronin, executive director of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

“Some of the developments now are coming to fruition with their plans,” Cronin said.

Grocery stores are one part of that development pattern.

As 2019 unfolds, Pasco residents can anticipate a buffet line of new grocery options in addition to the traditional brand names, such as Publix and Winn Dixie.

According to the U.S. Grocery Store Trends 2018, consumers continue to prize high-quality fruits and vegetables, low prices, and great product selection and variety.

Currently, the new trend in groceries is for smaller stores that offer organic, natural and local foods. In addition, consumers are looking for something extra – a food “experience.”

“Everybody is looking for that food experience, whether its ethnic sourcing or that new product,” said David Fikes, vice president of communications and community/consumer affairs director for the Food Marketing Institute. “It’s not (about) giving people 11 varieties of ketchup in the store.

The digital age is ushering in coupons and social connectivity via mobile applications. Online grocery shopping is gaining in popularity, especially with millennials, according to the survey.

Baby boomers, though, are showing keen interest, as well.

Experiences are shared on Facebook, or other social media, as if saying “I discovered this, and you’re the foodie among your group,” Fikes said.

Prior generations would shop to stock the pantry in order to have enough food on hand, Fikes said. That evolved later to a desire for nutritional, healthy food, he added.

Now, a third factor is a desire for discovery, engagement and connection, according to the FMI survey.

“We are moving away from stocking up our pantry to what’s the next meal,” Fikes said.

The specialty grocery stores coming to Pasco include:

Earth Fare is an organic-based grocery store that boasts that its shoppers don’t need to read labels to know its products are healthy. (Courtesy of earthfare.com)

Earth Fare
The store will open at Cypress Creek Town Center, at 25535 Sierra Center Blvd. The organic-based grocery store boasts that shoppers don’t need to read labels to know its products are healthy.

Its food is free of added hormones, artificial anything, and, according to Earth Fare’s website, the store sells “100 percent clean food for your family.”

Earth Fare began in Asheville, North Carolina, as a health food store before it enlarged and, in 1994, became a full-service grocery store. Its stores are built to be energy efficient, with skylights and LED light bulbs. Biodegradable to-go containers are used, and recycling is encouraged in the store.

Among its features is the Heirloom Juice Bar.

Aldi
Aldi is in the permitting phase for a store at 2215 Sun Vista Drive, which is near the Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 56. The store is expected to open in fall 2019, according to email responses from Matt Thon, Haines City Division vice president for Aldi.

Aldi is planning new stores in Pasco County, one near Tampa Premium Outlets and the other in Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of Aldi)

Thon also confirmed in the email that an Aldi will open in Zephyrhills, but no other details are available.

The location under discussion is off Pretty Pond Road, at U.S. 301. One issue nearing resolution at the site is the relocation of a traffic signal to that intersection.

The traffic signal “is under design review and engineering,” said Todd Vande Berg, Zephyrhills’s planning director.

Plans are to remove the existing signal at the main entrance to the shopping plaza, but to have traffic signals at the north and south ends of the plaza.

No construction date is set, but Vande Berg anticipates Aldi will open in 2019.

Lucky’s Market
Lucky’s is eyeing an approximately $1.5 million renovation to the former Winn Dixie grocery store at Collier Parkway and State Road 54, according to county records.

A pre-application meeting with county planners was held in November.

The Lucky’s option isn’t a done deal, but is the latest grocery to show interest in the site. Previously, representatives for Sprouts Farmers Market made inquiries and submitted a plan for a grocery store, as well as retail and a restaurant.

Nothing came of the proposal.

Now, Lucky’s is exploring options, though a spokeswoman for Lucky’s said no contract is signed.

The pre-application included demographics suggesting why the site has potential.

Average daily vehicle trips within 3 miles of the site, on State Road 54, total nearly 40,000; within 7 miles, more than 173,000 vehicle trips are charted.

About 14,770 households are within 3 miles of the proposed Lucky’s, and about 66,000 within 7 miles. Average household income ranges from about $87,000 to $94,000.

Lucky’s began in 2003 with inspiration from two chefs.

The store highlights local, organic and natural foods. Customers can sip glasses of wine or beer at an in-store café, or as they stroll along the aisles and fill their carts.

Lucky’s also has a juice bar, hot-ramen bar, a bulk foods section, and specialty foods, including house-made sausage and in-house smoked bacon.

Sprouts Farmer’s Market
Pasco’s first Sprouts Farmers Market will be one of three anchor stores at the 165,000-square-foot shopping center, The Village at Mitchell Ranch, according to a Dec. 13 press release from The Shopping Center Group.

Other anchors will be HomeGoods and Michaels. The shopping center is in Trinity, at Little Road and State Road 54.

The Arizona-based chain opened its first store in 2002. Its roots, however, date to 1943 and a fruit stand operated by Henry Boney in San Diego.

Sprouts features natural foods at affordable prices. Its motto is “eating clean and living healthy.” Today, the chain has about 300 stores and 28,000 employees.

By Kathy Steele

Published December 19, 2018

MOD Pizza sets up shop off State Road 56

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MOD Pizza is expected to open soon in a mini-retail center along restaurant row, in front of Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 56 in Lutz.

The pizza chain’s sign is in place outside, as workers complete the interior build-out for the restaurant.

The Pasco County Commission on Aug. 7 approved an application from Cypress Creek NVH LLC for an alcohol license that would allow sale of beer and wine only for on-site consumption.

A site plan on file with Pasco County shows a shell building of about 7,800 square feet, with space for multiple tenants.

Workers are completing the interior build-out of MOD Pizza, a new restaurant by Tampa Premium Outlets. (Kathy Steele)

MOD Pizza, at 2227 Sun Vista Drive, will occupy about 2,800 square feet at a storefront on an outer corner of the building, near Starbucks.

An outdoor patio of about 280 square feet also is planned.

In addition to the pizza restaurant, work is ongoing for an eye vision center, according to county permits.

MOD Pizza would be the latest restaurant along an already busy row of sit-down and fast-food restaurants, off State Road 56, close to the outlet mall entrance.

Other restaurants include Chick-Fil-A, Culver’s and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen.

Commercial and residential development continues at a fast clip at an intersection that ties in with Interstate 75, Wesley Chapel Boulevard, Grand Cypress Drive, State Road 54 and State Road 56.

More restaurants and shops are coming to outparcels surrounding the outlet mall, Cypress Creek Town Center and Brightwork Crossing.

Burger King is open, and El Dorado Furniture Store is expected to open next year at Brightwork Crossing.

At Home Décor Superstore is under construction on an outparcel at the outlet mall.

Construction also is underway for several shops at Cypress Creek Town Center including Burlington, Earth Fare, Home Goods and Five Below.

Published August 15, 2018

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen opens, Chick-fil-A comes next

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Pasco County residents looking to grab a bite to eat will have two new dining options starting this month.

One of those options, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, opened on June 6.

Chick-fil-A will open June 30.

Cheddars Scratch Kitchen opened on June 6 in front of Tampa Premium Outlets. Chick-fil-A is under construction in between Cheddar’s and Culver’s, which opened in May. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
Cheddars Scratch Kitchen opened on June 6 in front of Tampa Premium Outlets. Chick-fil-A is under construction in between Cheddar’s and Culver’s, which opened in May.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

The restaurants are side-by-side on Sun Vista Drive, in front of Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 56, in Wesley Chapel.

Before opening day at Cheddar’s, about 170 employees received training and worked at an invitation-only dinner session to get ready for customers.

“I think we’re excited. It’s a new destination, a new area,” said Mark Garcia, a general manager from Laredo, Texas. He was on temporary assignment to launch Cheddar’s at the Cypress Creek Town Center, a major retail center anchored by the outlet mall.

Pasco County resident John Seebach will be the new restaurant’s general manager.

Diners weren’t the only ones eager to have Cheddar’s on their radar. Garcia said about 1,500 people applied for jobs.

Construction is nearing an end at Chick-fil-A on Sun Vista Drive, by Tampa Premium Outlets. Opening is June 30.
Construction is nearing an end at Chick-fil-A on Sun Vista Drive, by Tampa Premium Outlets. Opening is June 30.

The restaurant seats nearly 320 people and serves meals made fresh from scratch daily. Menu items include hand-battered onion rings, grilled hand-cut salmon, homemade chicken pot pie and hot fudge cake sundaes.

“Everything is made pretty much in house,” Garcia said.

This is the first Cheddar’s in Pasco.

Next door, construction crews are busy getting Chick-fil-A primed for its opening.

Owner Britt Young previously owned a Chick-fil-A in Moultrie, Georgia.

“I’ve got family all around here,” said Young, who lives in Lutz. “We love the area.”

The chicken chain got its start in 1946 as a diner in Atlanta, opened by Truett Cathy. Cathy opened his first Chick-fil-A brand restaurant in 1967, also in Atlanta. From the beginning, Cathy kept his restaurants closed on Sundays, saying employees needed time to spend with their families.

According to the company website, Chick-fil-A has about 1,700 locations in 38 states and Washington D.C.

Published June 8, 2016

Culver’s ready for custard day on Feb. 29

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The countdown is less than a week away for the opening of Culver’s restaurant.

The aqua building with the royal blue highlights is a visible sign of the growth under way near the Tampa Premium Outlets.

“There is such development in this area,” said franchise owner Marty Roeske. “There’s going to be nothing but growth. We’re excited.”

Construction crews are pulling together last-minute details to prepare for the Feb. 29 opening. A grand opening will be scheduled, probably in March, when Culver’s founder, Craig Culver, is expected to attend.

The pastel blue of Culver’s restaurant, off State Road 56, matches the Florida Key West style of Tampa Premium Outlets. The sign is counting down to the Feb. 29 opening. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
The pastel blue of Culver’s restaurant, off State Road 56, matches the Florida Key West style of Tampa Premium Outlets. The sign is counting down to the Feb. 29 opening.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

Next door, Cheddar’s Casual Café is under construction, also fronting the outlet mall along State Road 56.

Other anticipated restaurants include BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Starbucks, On the Border, Panda Express and Chick-Fil-A, according to Pasco County records.

The Roeskes are establishing some firsts for Culver’s.

“It’s the first Culver’s to say ‘baby blue’,” said Lucas Roeske, who is assisting his father in restaurant operations.

The official color is a shade of aqua. The royal blue is the signature Culver’s color.

This restaurant also has patio seating, another first for Culver’s.

The fast-food chain’s menu serves up Culver’s signature, “Butterburgers,” as well as fried chicken, sandwiches and salads.

And, for desserts, there are Culver’s frozen custard treats, made fresh daily and scooped into waffle cones, dishes, sundaes, shakes and malts.

The Roeskes aren’t newcomers to restaurants or to Culver’s.

They own a franchise in Wisconsin, which is operated by another of Roeske’s sons.

That franchise opened in 2000 as Culver’s 97th restaurant.

Lucas Roeske, left, and his father, Marty Roeske, stand beside the menu board at the drive-through at Culver’s restaurant.
Lucas Roeske, left, and his father, Marty Roeske, stand beside the menu board at the drive-through at Culver’s restaurant.

The Roeskes initially looked in Hillsborough County for locations, but eventually landed at the site that is one of Pasco’s hottest development areas.

In addition to restaurants, Costco and Kohl’s are among future retail headed to the junction of State Road 56 and Interstate 75, as part of the Cypress Creek Town Center.

On the north side of State Road 56, more retail, offices and potentially a hotel also are coming to the town center.

With five high schools close by, Marty Roeske said there is a good employment base.

More than 80 people have been hired, and the number could go as high as 100, he said.

The family moved to Pasco more than a year ago, leaving behind the cold and snow of Wisconsin.

“We love Wesley Chapel,” said Marty Roeske. “It’s very much home to us. It’s a community-based area.”

Culver’s is located at 2303 Sun Vista Drive, off State Road 56 and Grand Cypress Drive. The restaurant is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

For information, visit Culvers.com.

Published February 24, 2016

New restaurants planned for Cypress Creek Town Center

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BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse and the Panda Express are eyeing retail space at the Cypress Creek Town Center.

The proposed mall is located off State Road 56 at the Interstate 75 exchange. Adjacent to the site, the shops at Tampa Premier Outlets are taking form and shape for an anticipated October opening.

Representatives for BJ’s and Panda Express both had scheduled sit-downs with Pasco County planners within the past week to discuss their applications, according to county records.

Conceptual plans also are filed for both restaurants.

The restaurants join a growing list of retailers that have filed plans with Pasco County as part of the town center including Kohl’s, Chick-fil-A, Costco’s, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s.

BJ’s is planned as a 7,500-square-foot restaurant with a menu that offers the eatery’s signature deep-dish pizza, as well as salads, pastas, steaks, baby back ribs and a kid’s menu.

The California-based restaurant was founded in 1978, and added its own handcrafted line of beers in the mid-1990s, according to its website.

Plans on file with the county show Panda Express as a 2,600-square-foot restaurant, located within Cypress Creek Town Center at Grand Cypress Drive and Sun Vista Drive.

The family-owned restaurant also got its start in California in 1973, first under the name Panda Inn. Nearly a decade later, the Cherng family changed the name to Panda Express and now have more than 1,700 restaurants in the United States and Puerto Rico, according to the restaurant’s website.

Company representatives for Panda Express and BJ’s were not available for comment.

Published June 24, 2015