Nutrition Smart Adds Divine Leaf Vegan For Its Health-Conscious Customers 

This is just a small sampling of the 100% organic produce sold at the Nutrition Smart store at 1821 BBD Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. (Photos by Charmaine George)

If you think the Wesley Chapel Nutrition Smart (located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. just south of S.R. 56) is a store for vitamins and supplements, you’re not wrong. 

And, if you think that’s all the popular store carries, you’re not alone. 

But, if you’re one of those people who thinks Nutrition Smart is only a place where supplement fanatics stock up, you’re missing out on all that our area’s original “green grocer” has to offer. 

“A lot of people come in expecting just vitamins, but they’re impressed by what they see,” says Fausto Soriano, the store’s general manger. “That’s definitely a misconception.” 

Nutrition Smart offers fresh, organic produce, natural grocery items and refrigerated and frozen food, from dairy (including raw milk) and eggs to meat, bread and healthy snacks. 

Fausto says that many of the store’s customers do all of their grocery shopping in the store, which also includes the largest selection of supplements in the area, plus vitamins, bulk foods, sport nutrition, health and beauty items, pet care, household products and more. 

Fausto says it’s not on a huge scale like you would find at a large grocery store, but there is a little bit of everything, and Nutrition Smart offers something other stores don’t.

General manager Fausto Soriano checks out a customer at the register. 

“All of our fresh produce is 100% organic,” Fausto says. While other stores stock both organic and non-organic products that are sold right next to each other, at Nutrition Smart, “Our customers don’t have to worry about buying conventional products by mistake.” 

Fausto also says that at his store in particular, many people believe in an “eat first” philosophy where they make healthier food choices now instead of needing supplements later. 

Customers seem to like the store’s organic, fresh chicken and grass-fed beef, and get a wide variety of unique products at Nutrition Smart that aren’t available anywhere else. For example, he says, raw milk from a Florida dairy farm is extremely popular. 

“Every Tuesday, we get a fresh delivery of raw milk,” he says. “Customers line up waiting for the milk to arrive.” 

The store also is able to offer mom-and-pop brands from nearby vendors, too, including locally made raw honey. 

Local desserts are delivered fresh to the store from Dade City’s Hillbilly Farms Bakery. Tampa’s Sami’s Bakery delivers fresh breads, wraps, cookies and desserts every Thursday. Both bakeries offer specialty items such as low-carb and gluten- free desserts and bakery items. 

Other unique products include a variety of trending supplements, such as those derived from mushrooms and shilajit, a resin from the earth that reportedly can help with hormone balance and other functions. The store also carries a large variety of CBD products. 

Wesley Chapel Nutrition Smart stocks a huge selection of natural vitamins, supplements, CBD and beauty products…and more! (Below) You can’t beat Nutrition Smart’s selection of local, raw honey. 

Fausto adds that the Wesley Chapel location of Nutrition Smart is the number one store in the state of Florida for selling the energy drink Celsius. 

“We are known in the area for having a huge Celsius selection,” he says. “We have all the new flavors first, and the biggest variety of flavors, along with one of the most aggressive prices.” 

He says he and his staff, including assistant store manager Joe Geier, pay attention to trends in the industry to be sure they know what customers want. When vendors pitch new products to the store, they watch for commonalities. Many customers also read articles and often ask for certain new products or ingredients. 

Joe has been with the company for six years and was previously a vitamin manager. He and Fausto, who has been with Nutrition Smart for 15 years, are among about 24 store employees in the Wesley Chapel location. Definitely not a big chain, Nutrition Smart has just two other locations — in Port St. Lucie and Pembroke Pines. 

“Our vitamin staff is super knowledgeable,” says Fausto. “A lot of them have been doing this for 15 or 20 years. They focus on individualized service for each customer’s unique needs. We’re not just trying to sell a product. We want to hear what their needs are and hopefully gain their trust so they’ll come back in the future.” 

It’s a service they have been providing for 15 years now, since the Wesley Chapel location of Nutrition Smart opened in 2009. 

“We were the first in this area to provide these products,” Fausto says. “We’ve been here since before Wesley Chapel was a destination.” 

Introducing: Divine Leaf Vegan
 

If you like freshly-made vegan wrap sandwiches and fresh fruit smoothies, you have to visit the Divine Leaf Vegan counter at the Wesley Chapel Nutrition Smart 

Another hidden gem inside the Wesley Chapel Nutrition Smart is Divine Leaf Vegan, a new café serving freshly-made burgers, sandwiches, salads, cold pressed juices, smoothies and more. 

“It’s been awesome to have them,” says Fausto. “There’s not a lot of vegan restaurants or options in our area, so it’s worked out well. I’m not vegan and I buy stuff from there all the time. They have a really good ranch sauce they make from scratch, and I buy a full-size bottle because my kids love it. It’s phenomenal.”

Fausto adds that the partnership is great because people who find out about Divine Leaf through its own social media often become Nutrition Smart customers as they discover the store, too. 

Making Health More Affordable 

Nutrition Smart offers many discounts and coupons, including a 20% -off coupon in this issue. In addition, active and veteran military members, first responders, nurses and teachers all receive 10 percent off their purchases all day, every day. On Tuesdays, seniors (ages 55 & older) also receive 10 percent off. Shoppers also can sign up for Nutrition Smart’s text club by texting “WESLEY” to (866) 603-3532 for exclusive offers. 

Pam T. is a Wesley Chapel Nutrition Smart shopper who recently wrote a review. “Love this little health food store,” she says. “It’s my go-to every week. With great rewards and coupons, the prices are not painful. I love that all the produce is organic. Great selection of most items I need on a week-to- week basis.” 

Nutrition Smart is located at 1821 BBD Blvd. It is open Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m., and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit NutritionSmart.com, call the store at (813) 341-4444, or see the ad below for the coupon that will get you 20 percent off your purchase. 

Commissioners Talk Affordable Housing After Vote Opting Out Of ‘Live Local’ 

What the vote means for two Wesley Chapel properties & what Pasco County’s affordable housing plans are moving forward 

The Tapestry at Cypress Creek apartments, located at the intersection of Wesley Chapel Blvd. and S.R.s 54 & 56, is one of two existing apartment communities that have applied to greatly reduce their property taxes under Florida’s “Live Local” law. (Source: TapestryCypressCreekApartments.com) 

When the Pasco County Board of Commissioners (BOC) voted unanimously on May 21 to opt out of a portion of the state’s recently revised “Live Local” law that was originally passed last year, it didn’t stop the BOC from continuing to look to find other ways to bring affordable or “workforce” housing to the county. 

“We all agreed that although those in the workforce need more affordable housing,” says District 2 Commissioner Seth Weightman, “Live Local just did not seem to accomplish that goal.” 

To that end, Pasco’s senior assistant county attorney David Goldstein made a presentation to the commissioners at their May 21 BOC meeting which summarized the reasons why the county was choosing to opt out of the provision of the Live Local law (pushed by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo during the 2023 State Legislative session) that was modified towards the end of the 2024 session to allow local jurisdictions the opportunity to “opt out.” 

Pasco, led by Comm. Weightman, was at the forefront of the fight to get the law changed during this year’s session, as one of the two properties that applied for the Live Local tax break — the Tapestry at Cypress Creek apartments (where Jannah and I have lived the past five years, since the complex first opened), where Wesley Chapel Blvd., S.R. 54 and S.R. 56 meet — is located in his district. I can personally vouch for what Comm. Weightman said at the May 21 meeting: 

“That complex has been around for a number of years and was never intended to be an affordable housing project. It’s Class A multifamily living with amenities, right next to Wesley Chapel and the Outlet Mall.” 

Goldstein outlined the conditions that will allow the county to opt out of the 80%-120% of Average Monthly Income (AMI) provision of Live Local for 2025, although both Tapestry and a complex in the Trinity area both already have applied — but neither one had yet been granted that exemption by county property appraiser Mike Wells at our press time — for 2024. 

The 80%-120% provision allows rental communities to receive the Live Local tax exemption if their units rent for 80-120% of the AMI for an individual in Pasco County, which Goldstein said worked out to rents averaging about $2,000 per month. “These $2,000-per-month rents are not what our school teachers, county employees, firefighters and law enforcement officers can afford,” Goldstein told the commissioners. “It doesn’t make sense to give large tax exemptions essentially to complexes that are charging market rate rents with no charitable purpose.” 

He added that Pasco also has a large surplus of apartments in that 80-120% range. 

“Our deficit is only in rental units charging less than 80% of AMI, which is truly affordable or workforce housing,” he said. “But, we don’t have any communities offering rents under that 80% AMI range coming before you for approval.” 

Goldstein also noted that even with the changes to the Live Local law, Pasco is still grouped with Hillsborough, Pinellas and Hernando counties in the Tampa Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which is what is being used to determine if a community already has a surplus or a deficit in the number of rental units in the 80-120% AMI range, “So although our MSA has a surplus of 3,994 units at present, even if Pasco has a surplus in the future, but Hillsborough or Pinellas has a large enough deficit to more than offset our surplus, we might not be allowed to opt-out of Live Local in the future. I’m hoping the law will be refined again in the next legislative session.” 

He also said he hoped that other counties in MSAs with surpluses of the 80-120% AMI units will follow Pasco’s lead and opt out of the law. 

Pasco County’s senior assistant county attorney David Goldstein provides information about the changes to the state’s Live Local law to the county’s Board of Commissioners prior to the BOC’s vote to opt out of a portion of the state law regarding affordable housing. (Photo: Screenshot from Pasco BOC meeting) 

Goldstein also told the commissioners that counties that still qualify under the provisions of the law will have to opt out every year, and that the apartment complexes trying to receive the tax breaks also will have to apply for those breaks every year. 

“Fortunately, we only have the two complexes who may be able to receive the tax break this year,” he said, “but even just for this year, the county would lose 75% of the $1.7 million the two complexes paid in taxes last year (or more than $1.275 million combined)” if Wells does allow them to receive the Live Local tax break for 2024. “But, we can only opt out of Live Local for county taxes,” he added. “I have drafted a letter to the Pasco School Board, Mosquito Control District and the cities in the county instructing them to also opt out of the 80-120% AMI provision of Live Local for 2025.” 

Goldstein also mentioned that there are flaws in the way the data that would allow Pasco and other jurisdictions to opt out of Live Local is being used. 

“We can only opt out if the latest University of Florida Shimberg (Center for Housing Studies) Report, which uses American Community Survey data (based on the Census) shows that our Tampa Bay MSA has a surplus of rental units in the 80-120% AMI range,” he said. “But, that does not include recent construction — it’s always two years behind. If we have a recent apartment complex — and we have a lot of recent apartment complexes being built — it’s not counting those in the surplus inventory. We did raise that as a concern and we’re hoping it’s something else that can be refined during the next Legislative Session. The problem is that the Shimberg Report could show we have a deficit when we actually have a surplus on the ground.” 

He also noted that of all of the large counties in the state, only Broward and Miami-Dade counties have large deficits of units in the 80- 120% AMI range, “So it seems like this state law was enacted only to help southeast Florida. The law really should only be applied to those areas.” 

Goldstein also noted that the change in the law for 2025 only applies to tax breaks for existing communities, “So we’re hoping to get the land use part of the law changed during next year’s session. If we don’t have a deficit of those units, why should we have to give up job-creating commercial and industrial properties in the future to have more of them?” 

Pasco’s five commissioners — including new Dist. 4 Comm. Lisa Yeager in her first BOC meeting since being appointed to fill the seat of the late Comm. Gary Bradford by Gov. Ron DeSantis — voted unanimously to approve opting out of the tax portion of Live Local. 

Even so, at the insistence of Dist. 5 Comm. Jack Mariano — despite the fact Goldstein said it wasn’t necessary to do so — the BOC also voted 5-0 to draft a letter to the property appraiser asking him to not grant the exemption to the two rental communities that applied for it for 2024. “I’ve been in constant contact with Mr. Wells’ attorney’s office,” Goldstein said. “They’re well aware of how we feel about this.” 

Talking Affordable Housing 

Following their regular BOC meeting, the commissioners held a workshop on what Pasco can do to provide more affordable housing options for those in the workforce — county employees and others — especially after Goldstein noted during the regular BOC meeting that Pasco does indeed have a shortage of affordable units for those whose monthly incomes are below the 80% of the county’s AMI. 

The workshop was led by Cathy Pearson, Pasco’s assistant county administrator for public services, who said she was discussing affordable housing with David Lambert, the chairman of the Pasco Housing Authority and the Executive VP and general manager of the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, “And we both said we have never had an affordable housing plan for Pasco County. David took me to his Pasco Housing Authority Board and convinced the Board to pay for this study for us,” Pearson said. “How wonderful.” 

She also said that for the year-long study, “affordable housing was defined as housing that costs less than 30% of a household’s income.” For someone earning Pasco’s average median income of $63,187 per year, an affordable rent would be $1,579 per month, although starting teachers and many other workers only earn about 80% of that median income, so those workers could only afford rents of $1,263 per month or less. 

Among the options put forth by the study to help increase affordable housing options in Pasco include legalizing “accessory dwelling units,” sometimes called backyard homes or “granny flats,” adding duplexes or even quadraplex units in existing single-family communities, the possibility of requiring developers to include or pay for affordable housing in their unit totals to receive approval for those developments, as well as expanding some kinds of public rental or home-buying assistance. Goldstein also noted that the county already has reduced mobility and impact fees for developments that include affordable housing. 

Pasco Planning & Economic Growth director David Engel says the county is expected to add more than 101,000 workers to fill the jobs in the projects that are already under design or that the Board has already approved. 

“So we’re going to have a tremendous need for housing in the future for that workforce.”

Elite Women’s Care — The Newest Addition To The FAST MD Family! 

(L.-r.) Medical assistant Emily Peterson, Dr. Holly Ouillette and medical receptionist Yousra Boumansour welcome the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel communities to the new Elite Women’s Care office located just north of S.R. 56 near I-75 in Wesley Chapel. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

Board-certified gynecologist Holly Ouillette, M.D., recently opened Elite Women’s Care in Wesley Chapel in the Cypress Ridge Professional Park, located east of I-75 and north of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel. 

Dr. Ouillette is passionate about helping women, building relationships with her patients and providing excellent care. 

She is the only provider in the Wesley Chapel office of Elite Women’s Care, which also has offices in Spring Hill and Clearwater. Dr. Lauren Juyia and a nurse practitioner see patients at those locations. 

The practice is physician-owned by FastMD, a multispecialty group that also owns Florida Advanced Spine & Orthopedics. Dr. Ouillette’s husband, Dr. Ryan Ouillette, is part of that group, as is Dr. Juyia’s husband, Dr. Rushad Juyia. 

In November, Dr. Ouillette was hired by FastMD to bring Elite Women’s Care to Wesley Chapel. The practice’s new office shares a building with Florida Advanced Spine & Orthopedics (photo below). 

She says that being the sole provider in the office helps her build trust with her patients. 

“When you come in, you will always see me,” Dr. Ouillette explains. “Never a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant. It’s always going to be me.” 

Elite Women’s Care offers comprehensive and specialized care for women from adolescence to menopause. This includes well-woman exams, family planning (e.g., birth control counseling and intrauterine device, or IUD, placement), plus care for abnormal bleeding, painful periods, ovarian cysts, fibroids, breast concerns and follow-ups for abnormal pap smears. 

Dr. Ouillette also treats women experiencing pelvic pain, endometriosis and polyps. She offers menopausal and perimenopausal care, including hormone replacement therapy, non-hormonal therapy and treating urinary incontinence. 

When surgery may be required, she offers minimally invasive and robotic surgery. 

Dr. Ouillette is trained in and has previously practiced obstetrics (OB), but her Elite Women’s Care office doesn’t offer obstetrics. 

“We see people who are trying to get pregnant and, once you’re six weeks postpartum, you can come right back to seeing us,” Dr. Ouillette says. “We just don’t see you while you’re actually pregnant.” 

She explains that with only two doctors in a group covering three geographic areas, it’s not feasible for Elite to provide OB care. Patients who are pregnant are referred to an OB practice during pregnancy. 

“The benefits to the patient of going to an office that’s just gynecology is that we won’t have to leave (a GYN appointment) to go do a delivery,” says Dr. Ouillette. “Patients are being seen on time and not having to wait while the doctor is delivering a baby. We also don’t have to hold spots open for OB patients, so it’s easier to get in here.” 

She also says that patients currently can get in to see her in the Wesley Chapel office for same-day appointments for acute issues. 

About Dr. Ouillette 

Dr. Ouillette was introduced to the medical field at a young age because her mom was a nurse. 

“I always knew I wanted to be a doctor,” she says. “And, when I did the OB/GYN rotation in medical school, I liked it.” 

She says gynecologists develop a special relationship with their patients. 

“When someone comes in with a gynecology issue, it’s not something that’s easy to talk about,” she says. “I like making patients feel comfortable.” 

While she’s new to the Wesley Chapel area, Dr. Ouillette grew up nearby in Oldsmar. When she was attending East Lake High, her family moved to Michigan, and she ended up staying there for college. 

Dr. Ouillette first earned her Bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan in Dearborn, followed by earning her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit in 2012. She then completed residency training at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, where she was named Outstanding Resident Surgeon by the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. After residency, she received additional training in minimally invasive surgery at The Women’s Hospital of Texas Pelvic Restorative Center, also in Houston. 

Dr. Ouillette and her husband then moved back to Detroit, where she spent the last several years teaching residents and taking care of an underserved patient population at Ascension St. John Hospital. 

“I always wanted a big family,” she says, and to that end, she and her husband now have four children — ages six, five, three, and one-and-a-half. 

The family moved to Land O’Lakes from Detroit for the career opportunities afforded to both doctors. They didn’t anticipate working for the same group, but the more Dr. Ouillette looked at work options, the more appealing working for FastMD seemed. 

“With four kids ages six and under, I was trying to find a little slower pace,” she explains. “I would love to still be doing everything I was doing in Michigan — OB, GYN, teaching and academics — but it seemed like it would be too much right now.” 

Patient Beverly Stiles says Dr. Ouillette’s extensive experience is apparent. Although she was a patient of Dr. Juyia’s in Brooksville, when Beverly couldn’t be seen in a timely manner, the staff suggested she go see Dr. Ouillette in Wesley Chapel. 

“I instantly fell in love with her,” Beverly says. “She’s very professional and her staff is so nice.” 

Beverly explains that she had a complicated issue, but Dr. Ouillette researched it both before she saw her, and then again, after that appointment. Beverly says she felt comfortable voicing her concerns and having extensive conversations about treatment options, including changing her mind about surgery when her symptoms changed. 

“I could talk with her,” Beverly says of Dr. Ouillette. “She’s very one-on-one. She has tremendous training, expertise and professionalism, and she’s also easy to talk with. That’s what you want in a physician.” 

She also describes the Wesley Chapel office as “sparkling clean,” and that the staff’s communication has been excellent and that it’s been easy to get an appointment. 

“If you’re looking for a gynecologist, she’s the one you want to see,” Beverly says. 

Dr. Ouillette says she strives to build strong relationships — like the one she has with Beverly — with all of her patients. 

“The biggest thing is personalized care,” she says. “You’ll see the same faces every time you come in. You’ll see the same medical assistant (Emily Peterson), who knows all of the patients by name. We strive to know our patients well, so that when you call and ask a question, we know who you are. We take the time to listen to all of our patients’ concerns.” 

Elite Women’s Care is located at 2309 Crestover Ln. For more information or to make an appointment, call (352) 345-4456 or visit Elite-WC.com. 

Smallcakes in New Tampa is Closed!

We told you in our last issue that Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery (in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms) was getting ready to close, but until a week or so before our press time, the cupcake chain’s local link was still open, with no formal announcement from owners Marissa and Justin Dewdney as to when it would close. 

Well, that fateful day (for those of us who loved those moist cupcakes and unmatched icing) did finally come and we already know that the Palms Pharmacy, located next to Smallcakes at 17008 Palm Pointe Dr., was planning to take over the bakery’s space. 

“It’s going to take a while,” Palms Pharmacy owner and Doctor of Pharmacy Shahida Choudhry told the Neighborhood News. “We’re looking at several months to build the space out and get it stocked.” Of course, the independent Palms Pharmacy is still open next door during the build-out, with its chain-matching (or beating) prices and unmatched customer service. 

Shahida, never one to take it easy, also recently opened The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel — with an outstanding team of three nurse practitioners, led by Scarlette Owens, APRN, FNP-C (formerly of Florida Medical Clinic in Tampa Palms) — at 2935 Pearson James Pl. (off Wesley Chapel Blvd. in the new Cypress Bend Professional Park in Lutz (photo), next to Wesley Chapel Harley Davidson). 

For more information about Palms Pharmacy, visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com or call (813) 252-9063. For The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel, visit PrimaryCareWesleyChapel.com or call (813) 991-4243.

New Eateries Now Open Or Opening Soon At The KRATEs & The Grove 

Retro Dogs Co-Owners (l-r) Gisella Latorre, Gisella Troncozo, Luis Latorre and Samantha Latorre (Photo by Charmaine George)

As you’re receiving this issue, the KRATE at The Grove Container Park recently finished celebrating its two-year anniversary on June 8, but the lineup of restaurants and shops at the KRATEs continues to evolve.

One of the biggest changes is that The Chicken Boss, the fried chicken concept opened last year by The Bacon Boss HQ owners Josh and Christy Norland, has closed. The Norlands’ announcement on The Chicken Boss’ Facebook page said, however, that “select menu items from The Chicken Boss will find a new home at The Bacon Boss HQ.”

Meanwhile, the Chicken Boss will be replaced at the KRATEs by Indian Street Kitchen, the faster-food concept from owner Harry Patel at Persis Indian Grill, the instant hit that opened earlier this year next to Double Branch Brewing & Bites in the Village at The Grove. 

“We’ll be serving every type of Indian street food at the new location,” Harry told me. “Come see and taste what we have to offer.” Although he wouldn’t give me any hints as to what the menu will include (“It’s not finished yet,” he said), a quick Google search revealed that samosas, those crispy, delicately spiced potato-filled pastries that are amazing at Persis, are the most popular type of Indian street food. Harry did say that Indian Street Kitchen should be open soon., although it weas not yet open at our press time.

Meanwhile, the Sausage King, located in the second space occupied by TJ’s Hot Dogs (TJ’s was the original tenant in the Chicken Boss space at the KRATEs), has closed just a few months after opening and has now been replaced by Retro Dogs. Retro Dogs is owned by Seven Oaks residents Gisella Troncozo and Luis Latorre, and their daughters, Gisella Latorre and Samantha Latorre (photo, above), and features a make your own hot dog station, a new hotdog being added every week, French fries, milkshakes and beer.

The hot dogs at both TJ’s and Sausage King were great, but hopefully, Retro Dogs will hang around a little longer.

Although not located in the KRATEs, Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings is expected to open in the former location of King of the Coop at the front of The Grove, next to Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. 

Like King of the Coop, Hangry Joe’s specializes in Nashville hot chicken sandwiches (photo, left), plus wings, shakes and waffle fries. With 21 franchise locations (including the nearest to us at 5347 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills, photo below), and restaurants in Korea and Dubai, Korean corporate owners Derek Cha and Mike Kim have a simple premise — “to deliver the finest chicken sandwich in town.” For more information, visit HangryJoes.com.

And finally, congratulations to new TrebleMakers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant (6034 Wesley Grove Blvd.) owner Jason Scott, who recently took over from original owners Jamie and Joe Hess and Lee Bevan.

Jason is an accomplished pianist who both played and booked the dueling pianists at TrebleMakers, and he is working hard to revamp the service and experience at the restaurant before trying to figure out what changes to make to the menu. He has started with new $8 lunch specials offered Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 

For more information, call (813) 406-4371 or visit TrebleMakersofWC.com.