More Furniture & Office Options Coming To Wesley Chapel

CITY Furniture has been making big moves in the Tampa Bay area, building a roughly 1.3-million-sq.-ft. distribution center off I-4 near Plant City and putting new showrooms in Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

Although S.R. 56 between the Tampa Premium Outlets and the Cypress Creek Center has often been referred to as Restaurant Row due to its large array of dining options, it also has become something of a Decorator Destination, with another major furniture store on the way.

CITY Furniture re-submitted plans to Pasco County planners on March 8 for a 120,000-sq.-ft. showroom on a parcel of land north of Bahama Breeze restaurant.

If approved, which is likely, CITY Furniture will be built on a 400,000-sq.-ft. parcel just east of Badcock Home Furniture & More, and north of La-Z-Boy.

Planning to be located between Marsh Bend Way and Garden Village Way, the two-level showroom will include 400 parking spots, including 40 for electric cars.

If you include the recently opened El Dorado Furniture to the west of the Cypress Creek Town Center, and the Ashley (which is owned by CITY) and Haverty’s Furniture stores barely a mile to the east just past the I-75 interchange, as well as home furnishing stores like At Home, Home Goods and Floor & Decor, that’s a lot of options for current homeowners and the thousands of new homes and apartments already in the county’s plans.

CITY Furniture originally began as a Waterbed City back in the 1970s, according to its website, but has evolved into 23 furniture and home accents showrooms. It’s exclusive brand is Kevin Charles, but its tagline “Everyone Can Live Like This” promises style and affordable prices.

FIRST IN!: The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (NTBC), which serves businesses in Wesley Chapel, Trinity, Odessa and northern Hillsborough County, is moving from its Lutz location back to Wesley Chapel.

The NTBC will be the first company taking advantage of the soon-to-open Signature Workplace, located in the old Forever 21 space at the Shops at Wiregrass.

Signature Workplace is a two-floor co-working business that offers workplaces for individuals and small businesses that want to save on overhead or need more flexibility. It offers team suites, fully furnished private offices and luxury conference rooms.

It also has room to host events, and offers perks like WiFi, coffee and snacks.

“We think it’s a great idea in a great location,” said NTBC CEO Hope Kennedy. “We were the first ones to sign up so we’re happy to support a new business.”

The NTBC will be moving out of its current office on Highland Oaks Blvd. on March 24, and into Signature Workplace, which is expected to open in July.

OTHER NOTES: Rodizio Grill, the Brazilian Steakhouse we told you last July was coming to Wesley Chapel, has officially filed plans with the county for its 9,560-sq.-ft. restaurant, which will be located on Sun Vista Dr. south of the Costco and next to At Home.

According to Businesswire.com, Middleburg Communities closed on two land parcels (49 acres total) in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, off S.R. 54. Middleburg plans to develop two residential communities – Mosby Avalon Park, a 338-unit traditional apartment community, and Hamlet Avalon Park, a build-to-rent community with 260 single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes. Construction will begin immediately on Mosby, with Hamlet to start during a future phase.