The Laker/Lutz News

Matt Thon

Pasco’s growth fuels economy

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Apartment construction is dominating residential development along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor — a magnet for development in the midst of Pasco County’s surging growth.

As rooftops on luxury apartment homes pop up, retail is following, as evidenced by roadside signs and county permits.

Signs like these, east of Odessa, off State Road 54, are popping up on former pastureland up and down the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor. (Fred Bellet)

Former pastures along the heavily traveled road are occupied now with shops, restaurants, apartments, auto dealerships and Class A offices.

The Shops at Wiregrass, near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, in Wesley Chapel, has added Athleta; go! Calendars & games; and, siKicks (a footwear and collectibles shop); Charming Charlies; and, Hickory Farms. Coming soon are Body Details; JABZ Boxing; and The Living Room.

Besides expanding its retail, Cypress Creek Town Center, a massive development west of the Interstate 75/State Road 56 interchange, is jumpstarting its residential plans.

County building permits indicate that Garrett Apartments are coming to Grand Cypress Drive, and Silversaw at Wesley Chapel is rising along Garden Village Way and Citron Boulevard.

Valentino’s Fine Jewelers and The Good Feet Store have opened on Sierra Center Boulevard, the town center’s prime east-west road, and Carrabba’s Italian Grill is coming.

Construction on Miller’s Ale House, meanwhile, is ongoing at the Wesley Chapel Boulevard entry into Tampa Premium Outlets, on the south side of the highway.

Zaxby’s restaurant has opened on Sun Vista Drive near Costco. New offerings at Tampa Premium Outlets will include a Frosty Cart by Wendy’s and new jewelry selections with Banter at Piercing Pagoda.

BMW of Wesley Chapel is building a six-story building on State Road 56. (Fred Bellet)

Just west of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, on the north side of State Road 54, owners of El Dorado furniture store are laying groundwork for a 70,000-square-foot store.

When it opens, expected around June, shoppers will be able to stroll along a streetscape, enjoying more than 20 storefronts showcasing furniture styles from contemporary to traditional.

The Capo family, who is developing El Dorado, opened their first store in the late 1960s in Miami.

The family opened a store in St. Petersburg in late 2019, before the COVID shutdown and, despite the timing, it has fared well, according to Pedro Capo, chief operating officer at El Dorado.

Now, Capo said he expects to hire and train about 50 employees for the Pasco store, likely beginning in March or April.

Capo is optimistic about the Pasco store’s prospects, noting that the county’s residential growth bodes well for building a strong customer base.

El Dorado will join WaWa, Firestone and Burger King along State Road 54 frontage at the Brighthouse Crossings apartments.

Just west of Brighthouse, a Woodie’s Wash Shack has opened at the Shoppes at Cypress Creek. Fazoli’s Italian restaurant is another potential tenant for the new plaza.

More housing and dining options

In Land O’ Lakes, the Avidity Living apartment complex is being built off State Road 54 and Oak Grove Boulevard. The 252-unit development is scheduled to open in 2022.

Also, coming to this location, is EOS Fitness.

Willow Bend Town Centre, at State Road 54 and Collier Parkway, recently added Ayoki Japan restaurant. Esporta Fitness is a rebranding of the former LA Fitness. And a sign near the center’s entrance off the state road suggests Pasco will get another car wash – Vortex Express Car Wash.

A new apartment community, Avidity Living, is being built at State Road 54 and Oak Grove Boulevard, in Land O’ Lakes. EOS Fitness will be built at the intersection. (Fred Bellet)

West of U.S. 41, vacant land at Ballantrae and Cypress Ranch is sprouting “coming soon” signs as construction begins on apartment units, new retail, and a proposed Class A office complex, known as 54 Crossings.

On the south side opposite Ballantrae, the Cypress Ranch development includes Azora, a new apartment complex, with a spring 2022 opening. Signs in front of the complex show a cornucopia of proposed shops including ALDI grocery store, Chick-Fil-A, another EOS Fitness, Honest-1 Auto Care, and The Learning Experience.

“We are happy to confirm that we will open our newest Lutz, Florida location next year, with construction scheduled to begin soon,” according to Matt Thon in a statement provided by email. Thon is the Haines City division vice president for ALDI.

No further details were provided regarding the construction schedule or opening date.

A Circle K is under construction at this location, and a Woodie’s Wash Shack, is coming.

On the north side, 54 Crossings is a proposed 60,000-square-foot Class A office building, at Aprile Drive, adjacent to Ballantrae’s row of fast-food restaurants that includes Taco Bell and Dairy Queen Grill & Chill.

East of the Suncoast Parkway, the master-planned community of Bexley at Newland is moving dirt for a major retail and business center, off State Road 54 and Bexley Village Drive. Known as the Hub at Bexley, the commercial complex is scheduled for a summer 2022 opening.

Bexley’s website describes the Hub as a “retail and business destination,” with a summer 2022 opening. Bexley residents can walk or bike along connecting trails to enjoy dining, shopping, live concerts and family events. But it also is envisioned as an attraction for Tampa Bay residents with easy interstate access.

Construction continues at The Towns of Oakstead, on the north side of State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes. (Fred Bellet)

The Hub also includes a large outparcel on Bexley Village Drive, adjacent to the Springhill Suites hotel and opposite the delivery entrance into the Amazon warehouse. The site will become home to 4 & Co., with about 35,000 square feet of Class A offices and co-work spaces. Memberships and limited passes will be offered. Amenities will include a gym, yoga studio, sauna, a treatment room for acupuncture and massages, and conference rooms.

West of Suncoast Parkway, the Shoppes at Crossings Boulevard initially welcomed HotWorx and Jimmy John’s restaurant. New signs in the development indicate additional tenants will be there, including Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists, PTI Solutions, Touch Nail Spa, and Shauby Dental Institute.

Another apartment complex, Avilla Suncoast, is under construction at Redstone Way and Crossings Boulevard, immediately behind the new Hooters restaurant.

Next along the route, The Preserve Marketplace, off South Branch Road, is increasing its retail and business options with Caring Paws Animal Hospital, 100% Chiropractic, PostNet, Lin China restaurant, Papa Johns restaurant, Burger Fi, Chipotle, Panera Bread, and the USF Federal Credit Union. The shopping center is anchored by the Greenwise Publix grocery store.

Starkey Ranch Town Center, at Gunn Highway and State Road 54, is expanding, too. A shell building is under construction, but the new tenants are not yet identified.

Starkey Ranch Business Park on Heart Pine Avenue recently added Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop. Tropical Smoothie Café has a ‘coming soon’ sign. Butcher’s Mark Fresh Meats and Marinades is another shop on its way.

Clearly, there’s a lot going on, along State Road 54/State Road 56 — and there’s no indication that the pace of activity will slow anytime soon.

Published Nov. 24, 2021

By Kathy Steele

New retail popping up along busy highway corridor

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Total Wine & More kicked off its grand opening at Cypress Creek Town Center in celebratory fashion — with giveaways, a live band and a festive atmosphere.

The wine and beer emporium is the newest retail at the expanding town center, off the Interstate 75 interchange at the State Road 54/State 56 corridor.

The commercially vibrant corridor is a magnet for economic development in the heart of Wesley Chapel and Land O’Lakes, stretching over through Odessa to Trinity.

Retail and restaurants are chasing the booming rooftop construction — with residential growth in Pasco County breaking records.

Total Wine & More is now operating out of a space formerly occupied by Earth Fare. The atmosphere was festive during the store’s grand opening. (Kathy Steele)

As the pandemic recedes, established residents and newcomers alike are eager to be out and about.

And, they’re finding plenty to do.

Plus, more options are on the way.

County permits, signs planted on the roadside and company websites provide a snapshot of what’s under construction and what’s on the future horizon.

An ale house, a fitness studio; fast-food and dine-in restaurants; a Krispy Kreme; and two specialty car washes are among the new and coming attractions.

Established shopping meccas such as the Tampa Premium Outlets, The Shops at Wiregrass, and Cypress Creek Town Center are expanding their store directories, as new tenants take up residence.

Total Wine & More slipped into a spot at Cypress Creek Town Center that was once occupied by the specialty grocer Earth Fare.

Troy Rice, chief operating officer for Total Wine & More, said the former grocery store space was a good fit for his company.

The plumbing and electrical work had been done, and Total Wine knew it had a gap in its coverage area, Rice said.

An appreciative crowd of wine and beer aficionados packed the store’s grand-opening festivities.

Other new developments coming to Cypress Creek Town Center include Carrabba’s Italian Grill, and new apartments that will be built near the Hyatt Place hotel.

A Harley-Davidson dealership is coming to the area, too. It will be on Wesley Chapel Boulevard, across from the town center’s entrance at Pondside Drive.

Meanwhile, there’s new activity at the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Miller’s Ale House is coming to an outparcel along the Wesley Chapel Boulevard entrance into the mall. And Zaxby’s Chicken Fingers & Buffalo Wings, and Chicken Salad Chick will settle into parcels bordered by Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Sun Vista Drive.

Fazoli’s Italian Restaurant is among the shops that will be settling in, at the Shoppes at Cypress Creek, on State Road 54, west of Cypress Creek Town Center.

The Shops at Wiregrass, near the intersection of State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, has recent new tenants that include Sephora, Optimal Wellness, Perfume Palace and Gold Mine jewelers.

The mall’s coming-soon list includes JABZ, a boxing gym; Sky Jewels; Spirit, a Halloween costume store; and Fresh Produce Market, a produce stand in the parking lot of Dillard’s.

A shopping center next to Florida Avenue Brewing — at State Road 56 and Arrowgrass Drive — has attracted Green Market Café; Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center; and Lufka, an environmentally friendly health and beauty shop.

New development is coming to Land O’ Lakes, too.

Grand openings aren’t planned yet for the Shoppes at Cypress Creek, but construction is underway on State Road 54 next to the Circle K convenience store, west of the town center and outlet mall.

Signs tout Fazoli’s Italian Restaurant and Woodie’s Wash Shack at 24749 State Road 54. Additional tenants are anticipated.

Woodie’s car wash promises a “fun and funkie” experience, according to a marketing video. The beach-themed car wash acquired 11 sites in the Tampa Bay area, with expectations of turning on all its washing spigots by the end of 2021.

Beach vibes, coconut smells and a light show inside the car wash add up to family fun, with a final touch of vacuuming and sweeping out car trash at “Muscle Beach.”

Heading west along State Road 54, Krispy Kreme has planted a sign in a vacant parcel, just west of Camp Indianhead Crossings shopping center. So far, though, no permits have been filed.

The Shoppes at Ballantrae — west of State Road 54 and U.S. 41 — is expanding its commercial offerings, with a Valvoline shop on Aprile Drive, and another Woodie’s Wash Shack at 17322 State Road 54.

Santander Consumer USA and Rasmussen University are locating in the space previously occupied by the Super Target store, at Suncoast Crossings, off State Road 54.

On a vacant parcel opposite from the Shoppes at Ballantrae, there’s an Aldi sign staked in the ground.

Matt Thon, Haines City division vice president for Aldi, didn’t provide details on the chain’s plans in Land O’ Lakes.

However, in a written statement, he reported that Aldi has “secured property in Pasco County with hopes to service more customers in the area.”

First Watch, Starbucks and AutoZone are settling in, near the intersection of State Road 54 and Sunlake Boulevard.

Starkey Ranch Business Park, which opened last year with fare such as The Wicked Pour, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, and Encore Nail Salon, is adding Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and Butcher’s Mark Fresh Meat & Marinades, at State Road 54 and Heart Pine Avenue.

The sandwich chain’s website currently shows no restaurants in Florida.

The Preserve Marketplace at South Branch and State Road 54 will add Chipotle Mexican Grill and Lin China restaurant. The shopping center is anchored by Publix GreenWise, and last year opened with tenants that included CVS Pharmacy and Panera Bread.

Suncoast Crossings, which lost an anchor store when the Super Target closed more than four years ago, is undergoing a revival.

First Watch and Starbucks have new locations, near the intersection of State Road 54 and Sunlake Boulevard.

The approximately 115,000-square-foot building is being remodeled for two tenants – Santander Consumer USA and Rasmussen University.

Santander anticipates adding about 875 jobs. Rasmussen will bring in hundreds of students.

Shoppes at Crossings Boulevard is a new strip mall built on outparcels of Suncoast Crossings shopping complex.

Tenants will include Touch Nail Spa; Beyond 2020 Vision Specialists; PT Solutions, a physical therapy clinic; Jimmy John’s Sandwich Shop; Smoothie King; and Hot Worx, an infrared/sauna fitness studio.

Hot Worx, set to open July 15, is a new venture for Debbie Upright, a former pharmaceutical representative and her husband, Scott, a retired dentist.

The infrared-heated fitness studio will be open 24/7. Memberships and walk-ins are welcome for a variety of isometric workouts, yoga, Pilates and spinning.

Upright said she and her husband considered various sites, but said the area’s robust activity was a key consideration, in selecting where to set up shop.

“This is a prime location,” she said.

By Kathy Steele

Published July 21, 2021

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 moves toward grand opening

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A new Aldi grocery store is nearing completion at the entrance to Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 56.

Another Aldi in Zephyrhills that has been stalled for years over relocation of a traffic signal is nearing final decisions, and a potential allocation of state funds.

An exterior look at the new Aldi expected to have its grand opening soon. It’s in Cypress Creek Town Center, not far from the Tampa Premium Outlets. (B.C. Manion)

But, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) likely will determine the grand opening for the one off State Road 56, and the construction of the other, in Zephyrhills.

The store near the outlet mall is expected to open soon, an email statement from Matt Thon, Haines City Aldi division vice president, said.

“At Aldi, we know now, more than ever, our service to the communities we serve is critical during these unprecedented times,” Thon said. “We have been focusing all of our efforts on ensuring food and household goods are available in our existing stores.”

But, he added, Aldi is “working to open new stores where we can do so safely.”

The store’s contractors are moving forward with permits and inspections, according to county records.

Due to COVID-19, Pasco County is broadening its use of VUSPEX, a mobile video inspection application, to complete inspections.

The Aldi building is largely completed.

Aldi currently is hiring nationwide and for the Wesley Chapel store, Thon said.

No information on a construction start from Aldi is available currently on the Zephyrhills store.

However, the Florida Department of Transportation did approve the relocation of a traffic signal at Merchant’s Square and Townview shopping centers to U.S. 301 and Pretty Pond Road, clearing the way for the proposed Zephyrhills Aldi.

The relocation also includes a traffic signal to serve the shopping centers, according to Todd Vande Berg, Zephyrhills’ planning director.

Funding for the project is in the Florida budget, said Vande Berg.

But, shortfalls from unplanned expenditures related to the coronavirus pandemic could affect Florida’s budget.

A reallocation of funds could be coming, either from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ veto pen or potentially from a special legislative session.

“These are unusual times,” Vande Berg said. “Because of that, we don’t really know impacts on the budget.”

Earlier this year, Aldi opened a new store in Odessa. The store was part of a major expansion for the discount grocery chain, based in Illinois.

Those interested in working for Aldi, should visit Careers.Aldi.us.

Published May 13, 2020

Aldi opens Odessa store

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Customers were ready when the Aldi in Odessa had its grand opening celebration on March 12.

The Aldi store is one of the grocery chain’s new locations in Pasco County, and new stores are planned off State Road 56, near Wesley Chapel Boulevard, and another off U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

Customers were lined up on March 12, waiting for the new Aldi in Odessa to celebrate its grand opening. The store is one of Aldi’s new locations in Pasco County. (Brian Fernandes)

Patrons were lined up awaiting the store to open in Odessa.

Store Manager Katherine Garner oversees the Aldi store. She held the scissors for the ceremonial ribbon cutting outside.

Matt Thon, Aldi division vice president, helped officiate at the grand opening.

“We’re really excited to open the Odessa, Florida store,” he said. “It’s our 93rd store in our division here [and] about the 150th in Florida.”

It also is now among 1,900 Aldi grocers in the U.S.

Thon also noted that Pasco County’s growing population is what appealed the grocery chain to build a number of its stores within the region.

The newest Pasco store adopts the same interior design found in many of those in the country.

The aisles are filled with various food items – some commercial brands, but mostly Aldi brands.

The store also offers healthy food alternatives, such as vegan and organic products.

Many of these foods can be found in the new refrigerated section, which provides additional space to stock.

New and already-existing stores will follow this model, as well.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are some of the more popular items, Thon said.

“From the consumer feedback that we’ve received, and what our customers tell us each and every day, is produce drives their shopping decisions,” he said.

The key is to put fresh food with high quality on the line within a timely manner, Thon said.

Shopper Cynthia Cameron, of Hudson, came to the store to support the opening of the Odessa branch.

Aldi’s Matt Thon, Haines City division vice president, is joined by Store Manager Katherine Garner and District Manager Sopheap Bednarski. The trio took a moment to pose for a photo during the store’s March 12 grand opening.

Cameron noted that even when she’s in another county, she’ll shop at the nearest branch.

“I do like Aldi, and I think they’re a great store to shop at,” she said.

She enjoys Aldi’s chicken and its produce. She’s impressed by the store’s prices.

Thon noted that the store’s Keto bread is a popular item.

It sells quickly, he said, noting the Keto diet — which avoids carbohydrates — has helped popularize the bread, Thon said.

One aisle alone is stocked with various Aldi name-brand wines.

Also, items like Barissimo coffee and Elevation energy bars are placed at the front end of aisles as stand-out products.

This includes the gluten-free LiveGFree products.

“What I hear from customers is they come in for our gluten-free line and they’re shocked at the price points,” Thon said.

Cost-efficient items are what keeps loyal shoppers, he added.

The store also stocks appliances and décor items.

Items include bedroom accessories, shelves, chairs, ovens and handicap equipment.

Those who enjoy gardening also can select from a variety of flowers and plants.

The carts used at the store are interesting, too.

Each can be pulled from its space when a quarter is inserted in a slot, located on the bar handle. Customers get the quarter back once they return the cart.

Thon noted that he wants customers to have that same comfort level when they walk into the new Odessa store.

The upcoming Lutz-Wesley Chapel branch is scheduled to open in the summer.

Published March 18, 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

New Aldi stores springing up in Pasco

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The Aldi retail chain is opening three stores to meet new demands of Pasco County’s burgeoning growth.

Construction is underway simultaneously on new Aldi stores in Odessa, Lutz-Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

The grocery chain already has stores in Holiday and Port Richey.

Three new Aldi stores will be opening in Pasco County to keep up with the area’s growing demands. (Courtesy of Aldi)

Matt Thon, vice president for the Aldi’s Haines City division, said the grocery chain looks at many factors, when choosing store locations.

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

There’s no doubt about high traffic volume near the Odessa and Lutz-Wesley Chapel locations.

The Odessa store is at the intersection of State Road 54 and Trinity Boulevard, west of the Suncoast Parkway. The Lutz-Wesley Chapel store is near where State Road 54 transitions into State Road 56, near Interstate 75.

The State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor has been bursting with growth in recent years, with new residential and commercial developments.

Aldi’s history dates back to its first store opening in 1961. Since then, it has branched out to have a total of 1,900 locations in 36 states across the country, the retail grocer’s website says.

The grocer also expects to open nearly 2,500 new stores nationwide by 2022, according to the website.

Aldi operates as a grocery store with a variety of foods, including meats and fresh produce. The majority of products are exclusive brands, only found in Aldi stores.

Like other Aldi locations, the Pasco stores will be roughly 12,000 square feet. They also will have an interior layout that’s similar to other stores in the chain.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said he’s happy to see the new Aldi coming to his district, which will be built almost directly in front of a Costco store.

Moore said he’s been hearing a desire by his constituents for an Aldi store for quite some time.

“It’s great to have options for people. The more options the better. They’re in a good location. That’s for sure,” Moore said.

Having more locations is good for both the company and consumers, Thon said.

He said the bottom line is this: “We want to be conveniently located for our shoppers in Pasco County.”

Published November 06, 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