Potential Tenants Set Sights On Former Sweetbay Building

Long before Tampa City Council member Luis Viera had his code enforcement eyes trained on the AMC movie theater at Highwoods Preserve, they were focused like a laser on the long-shuttered former Sweetbay grocery store right across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from the theater.

The Sweetbay building was filthy, and the parking lot was not only overgrown with weeds and other vegetation, but sometimes, it was virtually overflowing with tractor-trailers and parked storage trucks.

Sometimes, it was a dumping ground for people’s cast-off furniture, appliances and clothes.

Efforts to clean the area were sometimes successful, but little by little, the parking lot adjacent to Home Depot would revert to its former rundown status. “What it needs,” Viera has said, “is a new tenant.”

For the first time since the Sweetbay store closed in 2013, that is actually a possibility — although it won’t be anytime too soon.

According to John Neukamm, the attorney for KNK Tampa, Ltd., the California-based owners of the building, prospective purchasers and tenants have begun reaching out to his client in advance of the property becoming available in November 2020.

There have been countless stories swirling about the reasons behind the building staying empty for the past seven years. The Sweetbay store is practically a New Tampa landmark, but not in a good way. Viera has argued that it is arguably New Tampa’s most notorious eyesore.

“That’s unfortunate,” Neukamm says. “My client didn’t want it to be that way.”

Here’s the story:

In February of 1999, the property, then owned by Walter Property Investments, LLC, was leased to Kash ‘n Karry Tampa, Ltd., for a 20-year term, beginning with the completed construction of the building, which was in November of that year.

In 2001, KNK Tampa, Ltd., which has no relation to Kash ‘n Karry, bought the property, which is currently worth $1.54 million, according to Hillsborough County property tax records.

Kash ‘n Karry continued to operate under the lease until June 14, 2006, when its Belgian parent company Delhaize America Inc. converted it to a Sweetbay Supermarket, where whole pineapples and cookies were handed out to customers at its happy New Tampa grand opening.

In January of 2013, however, Publix and Walmart had each only strengthened their respective holds on the Tampa Bay grocery market, and Delhaize announced it would be closing 22 stores in the Tampa Bay area, including its New Tampa location.

In October of 2013, Jacksonville-based Bi-Lo Holdings, the parent company of Winn-Dixie, paid $265 million for 72 Sweetbay stores, plus the leases to 10 other underperforming Sweetbay supermarkets that had already been closed, one being the New Tampa location.

The New Tampa lease had six years remaining at the time. However, if there were attempts by either Delhaize and Bi-Lo Holdings to negotiate its way out of the lease, they failed. 

Subleasing would have been another option, but with such little time remaining on Sweetbay’s lease, it was likely a tough sell considering what it would have cost to properly renovate the building.

Bi-Lo Holdings has continued to pay the rent at the New Tampa location. Those monthly lease payments will come to an end in November. 

“Because we are a year out from that day, we have started to open up a dialogue with prospective purchasers and tenants,” Neukamm says. “We have been contacted already by a number of folks who are interested.”

Over the years, a number of brokers have inquired about selling the property, but Neukamm says his clients felt talks were premature because of the existing lease. 

He says there will “likely” be a new owner or tenant in place by this time next year.

And, what does Viera, who says he has been asked countless questions about the old Sweetbay since being elected in 2016, think about the possible elimination of the area’s most prominent vacant store?

“It’s about time,” he says. “It’s about time.”

Welcome To The Neighborhood (News), Bubba’s 33!

Even though it’s the latest link in Wesley Chapel’s chain of chain restaurants, the new Bubba’s 33 on S.R. 56 between Ashley Furniture and the affiliated Texas Roadhouse has a few advantages the others don’t:

1. It’s the first Bubba’s 33 in the entire state of Florida

2. It not only has crispy-crust pizzas, excellent sports bar food and reasonably-priced drinks; it also has…

3. …Texas Roadhouse-quality ribeye steaks and…

4. …Amazing brunch on Saturday and Sunday and most of all…

5. Owner Jeff (at right in top photo) and his wife Crista Dean and their expertly-trained staff making sure that everyone leaves Bubba’s 33 a fully satisfied & happy customer! 

Please tell Jeff, Crista & Co. that you read about them in the Neighborhood News!  

The Wades — Still Creating A Winter Wonderland After All These Years

Tom and Ann Wade’s first Christmas tree was made of chicken wire shaped into a cone, with pinecones hanging as ornaments.

After 53 years of marriage, the Tampa Palms residents’ tree now towers over them, covered with garland and lights and ornaments designed to fill you with the Christmas spirit, but with a modern tech-twist that plays whatever Christmas song you ask it to.

The tree is the centerpiece of one of New Tampa’s most elaborate home-decorated winter wonderlands.

“The ornaments on the tree (are my favorite),” Tom says. “There are pictures of our kids when they were small, anniversary pictures
essentially the history of our family.”

Inside the Wades’ two-story, five-bedroom home is a trip to old-time Christmas, if you’re lucky enough to be a friend or relative (or nosy reporter) and get an invitation past the gateway of outside lights and garland wrapped around two Colonial columns, seasonal music and a striking nativity scene above the door of their residence in the Cambridge subdivision. 

No laser lights and inflatable snowmen for the Wades. The look is traditional, and people still stop when passing by to snap a quick picture.

Christmas may be over as you’re reading this, but you might still able to get a look at the lavish outside decorations. But hurry, because after this year, Tom, who is now 76 years old, says he finally plans to scale back.

“I’m getting kind of old, and I don’t need to be getting up on the roof anymore,” he says, with a chuckle.

The Wades were co-founders of the Rotary Club of New Tampa (our area’s original, morning Rotary) — Ann is the current president, as well — but it is not a misnomer to also call them the first family of Tampa Palms Christmas decorations.

In 1988, Tampa Palms developer Ken Good decided to hold a home-decorating contest to celebrate the Christmas season (and market New Tampa’s growing and largest master-planned community).

It was extravagant, as a huge crowd took part in a celebratory party, with horse-drawn carriages and some of the best decorations in an area not yet called New Tampa.

The Wades were chosen the winners of that contest by a panel of judges and awarded the first place prize — a 35-inch Mitsubishi television, worth roughly $3,000 at the time (or $5,258, adjusted for inflation).

“We didn’t know there even was a prize,” Ann says. “That was a pretty big TV back then.”

The Wades have gone all out for Christmas every year since then, even sponsoring the contest in 1997 with their own money when the original fizzled out.

Their Christmas collection, inside and out, has only grown bigger since they won that first contest. Ann says she recently counted 50 boxes of Christmas decorations, and the job of prepping the house for the holidays takes them four days, mostly with Ann working inside and Tom handling the outside.

“We just love Christmas,” Tom says.

Their dining room looks as if old Saint Nick himself has been invited over for dinner. The meticulously decorated room and table settings for hosting holiday parties with their fellow churchgoers, Rotary Club members and neighborhood friends.

But mostly, they keep doing it for their family. This year, like every year, they hosted their three children — Amy, Nathan and Laura — plus their 10 grandchildren and in-laws. “There’s 18 of us,” Ann says. “It can get wild.”

As usual, Santa showed up while the family slept. Gifts were exchanged, dinner was served Christmas night, and pictures were taken.

Who knows, one of those pictures might just end up hanging from the Christmas tree next year. 

(Photos: Charmaine George)

Wesley Chapel’s Learning Experience Is Open Off S.R. 54!

The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel director Karen Mullen (left) and area manager Jennifer Tibbetts share a table in the center’s Make Believe Blvd. (Photos: Charmaine George)

The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel, located near the front of the Lexington Oaks community off S.R. 54, just opened in August, but is already a busy, bustling learning center filled with happy children.

“We are quickly growing,” says Kristen Nyilas, the operating manager who oversees both the Wesley Chapel franchise and a Brandon location. “As of right now, though, we are still accepting new students at every age group.”

The center offers both full-time care for ages newborn to five years old and also VPK-only classes. VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) is three hours a day for students who will enter kindergarten the following year and it is offered at no cost to parents. Instead, the cost is paid by the state of Florida. Some part-time care is offered, such as three days a week or mornings only, based on availability.

Nyilas says The Learning Experience Wesley Chapel provides a foundation that gives students a jump start in elementary school.

The school’s director, Karen Mullen, adds, “When they come to The Learning Experience, they graduate with skills that set them apart from their kindergarten peers.” 

School History & Programming

The Learning Experience was founded by Michael and Linda Weissman in 1980 with a single location in Boca Raton, and was built on teaching through cognitive, physical and social principles; summarized in the school’s motto, “Learn, Play and Grow.”

When it comes to early childhood education, all of The Learning Experience centers use the proprietary Learning Experience Academic Program (L.E.A.P.) that Kristen says was written by educators who specialize in early childhood education. It guarantees that children will graduate with “exceptional core academic skills.” 

The curriculum was written around what the school’s founders believe are the six stages of development — Infant (6 weeks to 1 year old), Toddler (1-2 years old), Tawdler (2-2-Âœ years old), Prepper (2-Âœ to 3 years old), Preschooler (3-5 years old), and Kindergartner (5 years old, but it is not offered at the Wesley Chapel location and some others).

“Even infants have a curriculum,” explains Kristen. “A lot of parents like that their children are learning as soon as they come to our center.”

L.E.A.P. includes sign language for infants and toddlers, a phonics program and even a foreign language program, teaching children Spanish or Mandarin (although currently, only Spanish is taught at the Wesley Chapel location). 

L.E.A.P. workbooks include a journal, an interactive book and Fun With Phonics, which is specifically designed to teach reading to 3- and 4-year-olds.

Imagination Blvd.

Children also take part in activities that promote a healthy and active lifestyle. The Learning Experience offers eight enrichment programs for children, including Suddenly Science, Dancing Feet, Talent Sprouts, Super Soccer and more.

“Our enrichment programs are included, and there’s never an added fee,” says Kristen. She explains that the programs are offered once a week for three months. Each student gets a kit to use in class — such as a yoga mat and CD for “Yippee 4 Yoga” — that the student takes home at the end of the unit.

The Learning Experience mascots, including Flexi Flamingo (P.E.), Lionstein (Science) and Bubbles the Elephant — the leader of the mascots — help lead the children through their day.

The Latest & Greatest

What truly sets The Learning Experience apart, says Karen, is its commitment to the newest technology and newest ideas in early childhood education.

“It’s colorful and bright and happy,” she says with a big smile.

Karen is a lifelong educator who has earned a Master’s degree in Education (M.Ed.) from Capella University in Minneapolis, MN, and a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education from California University of Pennsylvania in California, PA. She has experience as an elementary school classroom teacher and as a curriculum specialist, among other roles.

“The Learning Experience is on the leading edge of what’s new in early childhood education,” she says. “So many places aren’t willing to take the chance to change, but not here.”

She says that’s evident not only in the school’s curriculum, but also in its technology. All classrooms for kids ages three and older have L.E.A.P. Interactive smart boards in the classroom. Students being taught a new lesson interact with their smart board to circle the correct answer, for example.

The Learning Experience also has a proprietary app — which can be used at home on a computer, tablet or phone — to continue learning. Called “BubblesU,” it allows students to reinforce lessons learned in school in a fun and interactive way.

But, that’s not the only app offered by the school. Kristen and Karen say parents love the Show and Tell app, which is how The Learning Experience’s staffers communicate with parents all day about what their child is doing in school. 

“We send notifications so the parents know when they were diapered, when they slept, exactly what they ate, or if they need to bring supplies, like if they’re running low on diapers,” explains Kristen, “and we send them at least five pictures every day.”

The school also emphasizes dramatic play and allows all students who are potty trained to visit Make Believe Blvd. daily, where there is a slide and a ball pit, plus storefronts and more to encourage imagination.

The outdoor play areas are covered in turf, not mulch, and feature a splash pad for cooling off in the summer.

The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel provides all snacks and meals daily and is an allergy-friendly and completely peanut-free facility.

One other thing that sets The Learning Experience franchises apart is their commitment to cleanliness. Not only is the center spotless, but during construction, an air purification system was installed, similar to what hospitals use, with ultraviolet lights.

“It means our air is very clean,” Kristen says, “and that helps to reduce the number of illnesses.”

The cleanliness — including the air quality — is one of many things that Heather Barnhart loves about The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel, where her daughter Hailey, who is two-and-a-half, attends.

She says that’s just the beginning.

“I love that in art class, they do the art themselves and not have the teacher do it for them,” Heather says. “They use their imagination and their hands, markers, paint and crayons.”

Heather also has been especially pleased with the education being provided to her daughter, who comes home singing songs and counting, sharing things she’s learned at school.

The biggest compliment for The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel might be that even though Hailey spends all day there, she doesn’t always want to leave at the end of the day.

“Sometimes, she’d rather stay there and play,” says Heather.

The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel is open Mon.-Fri.,  6:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. It is located at 5440 Post Oak Blvd., just outside the entrance to Lexington Oaks, off S.R. 54. To learn more, visit TheLearningExperience.com and search for the Wesley Chapel location or call (813) 994-3865.

The Owners Of Island Fin Poké Co. Say Healthy Eating Is Here To Stay!

I first met Jeff and Brenda Sproat — the owners of the brand new Island Fin PokĂ© Co. located on the New Tampa side of County Line Rd. (next to LA Fitness) — when Jeff and I both coached our sons in what used to be called the New Tampa Little League (NTLL) at what is now called the North East Sports Complex/Eber Baseball fields off Cross Creek Blvd. Jeff was generally one of the calmer, more disciplined coaching dads in the NTLL at the time. I…wasn’t.

Even so, Jeff and I pretty much always got along and Brenda was always smiling and friendly, even after a tough game for either team.

I hadn’t spoken at all with the Sproats, except for the few times we’d run into each other at a local restaurant or store, since those Little League days, before Brenda called to tell me about their new business venture. She was excited that Island Fin was getting ready to open — they were maybe three months off at the time — and said she was hoping I could  help them promote their new eatery to residents on both sides of the county line.

“Have you ever had a pokĂ© bowl?,” she asked me. And I answered that not only did I enjoy the still-emerging (at least in this part of Florida) “quick casual” pokĂ© bowl concept, sushi-grade tuna has, for more than two decades — and likely always will be — an important  part of my life. And, the fact, as Brenda was quick to point out, that Island Fin PokĂ© Co. is so much more than just tuna pokĂ© couldn’t possibly be a bad thing.

First, A Little History…

According to IslandFinPoke.com, the Island Fin Poké Co. can trace its roots back to when founders Mark Setterington was the GM and Paul Reas was the bar manager at the Bahama Breeze in Orlando in 2004.

Mark moved to Las Vegas in 2007 to “do his own thing” while Paul stayed at Bahama Breeze. The two remained close friends, but it wasn’t until August of 2016, after Paul quit his job at Bahama Breeze, that the two started working on a concept together. Their objectives were to come up with a concept with incredible food and remarkable service that would be super easy to replicate. 

Mark was running ten restaurants in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, but the website says his Las Vegas kitchen became “ground zero” for pokĂ©. They experimented with sauces, which they felt were important in order for Island Fin to distinguish itself from its competitors in what was already a growing field.

“I really think the sauces are the biggest thing that sets us apart,” Brenda says. “All of the sauces are homemade — and gluten-free, by the way — and each one is a little different, but they’re honestly all delicious. We’ve only been open for a few weeks but we have people coming back again and again to try a new sauce or keep using the same sauce.”

Island Fin’s website also touts the fact that the concept features the freshest, locally sourced ingredients, farm-to-fork freshness and some unique proteins, including octopus. 

Jeff and Brenda brought in a familiar face — their son Jason (a darn good ballplayer, as was his brother Adam) — to manage the location, since they no longer live in this area themselves. But, no matter who serves you when you visit, the employees are all friendly, knowledgeable and most people who dine in are in-and-out in just a few minutes.

“The bowls and everything we sell are at a great price point,” says Jeff, ever the business side of the biz. “And the food, honestly, is outstanding.

So, How Does It Work?

As with most quick casual pokĂ© bowl places, you start at one end of a line and tell your “technician” what you want to add as you assemble your bowl.

You start with a base — white or brown rice, mixed field greens or you can combine them. You then add your well-marinated pokĂ© protein — from salmon, octopus, chicken, Spam, tofu or my favorites — ahi and spicy ahi tuna. Combos are OK, too. 

Crab Bowl.

Next, choose your veggie mix-ins — edamame, corn, sweet onions and jalapeños. Then, you add your sauce — shoyu (soy), ponzu (citrus soy), OG (with jalapeños), Island Fin Fire (with cilantro and habañero), or Wicked Wahine (sweet and hot). I haven’t yet tried them all, but Brenda says the Island Fin Fire is the hottest. I’m currently stuck on the OG sauce. It sets a great flavor base for everything else you add…

…Because wait, there’s still more! In addition to the mix-ins, there are the following toppings — chili flakes, chili oil, crispy garlic, crispy onions, green onions, furikake (a fish-based topping), fresh pineapple and mango, cucumber, pickled and spicy pickled veggies, pineapple & mango salsa, wasabi peas, pickled ginger, seaweed salad and of course, black and white sesame seeds. For $1 more, you can add premium toppings like avocado, surimi (some call it imitation or “k”-crab), macadamia nuts or masago (salmon-family fish eggs, or roe). 

One thing I will say is that even though Island Fin also has a variety of “finishing” sauces — avocado, wasabi, togarashi (hot sauce) and Jamaican cream — I don’t really need anything else on my fresh and delicious bowl, although a lot of Island Fin’s customers love them. Feel free to try them all, if you like, and let me know if you like your bowl better with or without a finishing sauce.

I’m currently stuck on mostly spicy tuna on brown rice and field greens with edamame, corn, OG veggies, spicy and regular pickled veggies, seaweed salad and sesame seeds with OG sauce, but I will try Island Fin Fire and Wicked Wahine soon — probably before this issue reaches your mailbox. Your cost for any of these bowls? Just $11!

And, as a reward for all that healthy eating, you should finish your meal with whatever flavors of Dole Whip Island Fin is serving that day. To date, I’ve sampled the pineapple and the vanilla and although I disagreed with Jeff that the non-dairy vanilla tasted “just like frozen yogurt or soft-serve ice cream,” it doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s delicious and the cup is big enough for two to share (at least in my opinion, even though I’ve yet to share it).

“Dole Whip is the biggest thing at Disney,” Brenda says. “People have driven a long way because they heard we had it. It’s really refreshing.”

Agreed. And, although there are canned soft drinks (even La Croix sparkling water and Perrier), the only thing that could make my meal better at Island Fin is an ice cold Red Stripe or other Caribbean beer. Ah, maybe someday. 

Great Catering & Current Offers

Brenda says Island Fin has a great catering menu on the IslandFinPoke.com website and that the local location can accommodate anything from small gatherings to large PTA, sports team and even corporate parties, and she invites everyone to give the restaurant a call to discuss their options.

And, Island Fin currently has a number of great offers to get local residents to come in and try them out. 

First, Brenda’s challenging anyone who snaps a picture in front of the Acme On The Go mobile truck (which the Sproats are parking out in front of the restaurant from time to time) to post it on Island Fin’s social media to receive $3 off your pokĂ© bowl.

Speaking of the truck, all you have to do is mention the ad being displayed on the truck and you’ll receive a free Dole Whip (a $4 value!) with the purchase of any bowl. Of course, if the truck isn’t on site when you’re there, you could bring in or mention the coupon in the ad on page 43 of this issue.

And, if you stop in to Island Fin PokĂ© anytime after 4 p.m., you’ll receive a pokĂ© bowl and a Dole Whip for only $13 (a $2 savings). 

“We really want people to give us a try,” Brenda says. “Whether you’ve never tried pokĂ© before or you’ve tried one or more others, I think there are a lot of good pokĂ© places out there, I just think ours is the best.”

“We looked at a lot of different franchises but this is a young franchise with fewer than 20 locations in only a few (seven) states, and we liked the idea of being part of something new, that was still evolving,” Jeff says. “Plus, we’re enjoying getting out in the community to talk about Island Fin.”

Brenda adds, “We also picked Island Fin because we were given a lot of freedom in the look inside our restaurant. We picked a lot of the decorative touches (like the signposts above) ourselves and we’re proud of the way the place looks. Plus, we believe that healthy eating, with fresh food, is here to stay.” 

Island Fin PokĂ© Co. is located at 6417 E. County Line Rd., Suite 101, in New Tampa (zip code 33647), although the location’s Facebook page is “Island Fin Poke Company-Wesley Chapel.”

Brenda says, “We weren’t trying to be controversial when we picked that Facebook page. We know we’re physically in New Tampa, but we believe we’re going to be drawing customers from both sides of the county line. And now, we can’t change that Facebook page.”

Island Fin Poke Co. is open every day, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., and is available on Grubhub, with other delivery services to be added in the future. For more info, call (813) 575-8002, visit IslandFinPoke.com or see the ad (and coupon) in our latest issue.