Chef Luca Ammirati and his wife Erika are closing Frammi, the authentic Italian & American restaurant on BBD Blvd. on Aug. 22, but are reopening it by sometime in Nov. in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms. In the meantime, Luca wants to teach you how to make delicious parmigiana di melanzana (eggplant parmigiana, bottom left) and semi-spicy, al dente rigatoni amatriciana (bottom right) like he does — without burning down your house! (Photos by Charmaine George)
So, here’s a little bad news-wonderful news situation for you.
First, the bad news: Luca and Erika Ammirati, the owners of Frammi — the authentic Italian & American restaurant previously known as Oakley’s Grille — are closing their location at 17631 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in North Palms Village as of Saturday, August 22.
The amazing news is that Luca and Erika will reopen Frammi at 15363 Amberly Dr., in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms (hopefully) by sometime in November of this year.
I met Luca at the new location just before we went to press with this issue and although the space between the Tampa City Ballet and the Tae Kwon Do studios in the plaza was still an empty shell, Luca was meeting with his engineers to finalize the plans for the new Frammi’s layout that same day, and he believes “It won’t take too long to get the new Frammi open,” he said. “And it’s a larger space, so we will have room for a bar and more tables.”
That’s great news, as is the fact that the new Frammi will expand Luca’s already-extensive menu of authentic Italian favorites.
“But, other than the burgers (right), we will not be bringing the rest of the American menu from the old Oakley’s Grille with us,” he said.
Please note that for the few days to a week of time between when you receive this issue and Aug. 22, the original Frammi (which the Ammiratis took over in 2018 and renamed in 2022) will still be open every day, serving both Luca’s authentic Southern and Erika’s equally legit Northern Italian specialties — as well as the fajita tacos, chicken sandwiches and more that made Oakley’s so popular. “And, I will still have chicken at the new location, so if you want a fried chicken sandwich, we can still help you.”
Cooking Lessons & Private Chef Service
In the 2-3 months’ time between Frammi’s closing and the new restaurant’s opening, Luca says he is offering both “Cooking Classes with the Chef” and “Private Chef Experiences.”
Jannah and I are already getting a group of ten people together to take lessons from Luca.
For just $50 per person, each guest will learn how to make two different pasta dishes (but not how to make the fresh pasta) and Luca will provide all of the ingredients and pair each pasta with a different Italian wine, as part of a full meal. Please note that for the cooking class, since Frammi will be closed, you will have to provide the kitchen for Luca and that ten people is the magic number for that $50-per-person price.
Want more? Luca also is now offering a two-hour “Private Chef Experience” for up to four people for just $200. It includes two hours of Luca’s time preparing and serving your food in your home, but the ingredients for your private meal will be charged separately.
Either way, if you’ve ever had Luca’s pasta, you know that both of these are well worth it!
For more info or for reservations for the last day of the current Frammi (Aug. 22), call (813) 523-5075 or visit Frammi.com. For cooking lessons & private chef services, call Chef Luca’s cell at (813) 775-8279. — GN
(l.-r.) Tampa’s mobility director Brandon Campbell, Mayor Castor, City Council chair Alan Clendenin, Viera & longtime West Meadows resident Brad van Rooyen in front of New Tampa Blvd. The dark gray strip is the first piece of the roadway to be resurfaced.
Note – we are aware that the resurfacing of New Tampa Blvd. is progressing nicely and is much further along than what appears in this story. The following story was written when the project had just begun the day before.
When I attended the official groundbreaking ceremony for the resurfacing of a 1.8-mile stretch of New Tampa Blvd. in West Meadows on Aug. 5, I was thrilled to see that one of District 7 Tampa City Council member (and New Tampa resident) Luis Viera’s most ardently-pushed projects was finally coming to fruition.
“There are a few projects left that I am still working to get done before I leave office on Nov. 2,” Viera told me after the ceremony also attended by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, Viera’s fellow City Council member and chair Alan Clendenin, City of Tampa Mobility Department director Brandon Campbell and long-time West Meadows resident Brad van Rooyen. “But finally getting New Tampa Blvd. repaved has definitely been one of my top priorities.”
But, with the first New Tampa Blvd. repaving already having started the day before the groundbreaking event, all of the day’s speakers were thrilled to get this project finally started.
“Since the loss of the All For Transportation sales surtax,” Mayor Castor said, “which would have been a great source of funding for paving projects like this throughout our city, we’ve had to look at other options. We’ve used a lot of our General Fund we’ve put into paving projects. We’re also looking at our regional infrastructure accelerator and some other ways to not only solve our transportation issues, but also the safety and conditions of our roads.”
She lauded the work of the city’s two in-house paving crews, which she said, “They can do our [paving] work at about half the price in about half the time [of using an outside contractor], so they’ve been doing a really great job.”
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor & Dist. 7 City Councilman Luis Viera at the groundbreaking event for the resurfacing of New Tampa Blvd. in West Meadows on Aug. 5.
Mayor Castor also noted that, “We set a record in the City of Tampa last year, paving over 80 miles of roadways. But, even though that doesn’t begin to address the needs of our community, it really shows that we are focused on paving our streets.”
She also complimented the city’s “Fix It Fast” program. “Anyone that sees a pothole in a roadway, signs being down, anything like that, if you call, the goal is within 72 hours to fix that. And, most of them are done in 48 hours.”
And finally, she said, “One of the things we’ve been very intentional about is making sure that we’re hitting every single neighborhood. If anybody has a question about our paving progress and what roads we intend to pave in the future, go to Tampa.gov. There’s a map that shows all of the paving that’s been done and the streets we’re going to hit in the future.”
She also noted, however, that while “it’s an inconvenience for our driving public to go over bumpy roads and potholes, for us, as that road deteriorates, it goes from a simple paving job to a rebuilding job. Every road in the city is graded, and we are hitting the worst first.”
When introducing Viera, the Mayor said, “Short of jumping up on my desk with a map of New Tampa Blvd. saying ‘Pave this or else,’ he has been on this project relentlessly. So, I want to say thank you to Luis and his persistence and for really being a champion for New Tampa.”
Viera started his comments by saying that, “Since I’ve been in office, with K-Bar Ranch forthcoming, we’ve gotten about $20 million in new parks funding for New Tampa alone and about 80% of that has been in partnership between City Council and Mayor Castor, who has proven herself to be, in my time, not just a good person, but a real supporter of New Tampa.”
And of course, Luis reiterated his slogan that New Tampa “is the Alaska of Tampa. Most of the people in New Tampa aren’t from Tampa. They’re from up north and different parts of the world. We’re religiously and culturally diverse and all we want are safe neighborhoods and just the basics. This project is a very big win for New Tampa.”
Viera also mentioned that he and van Rooyen “went to high school together. Brad helped me out on my first campaign and since I got elected, this road has been his Moby Dick and he is Captain Ahab. He is obsessed with this road because he’s a community leader here in West Meadows and he’s a wonderful person and a good friend and a great family man.”
Next, Viera introduced Clendenin, whom he called, “a good friend, a good and decent person and a great community leader.”
The Council chair started his comments by saying, “To say that Councilman Viera is a champion for New Tampa would be the biggest understatement anyone at this [event] would make today. I’ve never met anyone as passionate about his community as Councilman Viera has been about New Tampa serving on City Council.”
“[Since] we started this, we have exponentially increased our paving budget,” Clendenin said. “Working with the administration, we have doubled our in-house paving crew. If you drive around the city, you see paving projects in every corner of the city. So, wherever you live in the City of Tampa, [your streets] are on our radar.”
He added that, “We’re making up for decades and decades of neglect of the roads not being paved. So, this isn’t a problem solved in one, two or three years; it’s a much longer-term project, but we will get to those roads.
“There’s a commitment on City Council and the administration to make sure we have the funding and the other six people I sit with on City Council are absolutely committed to improving the city’s infrastructure.
“I’m happy for New Tampa for this accomplishment. This is the first, not the last. And, we look forward to continuing this momentum.”
Up next was Campbell, who said that, “You’ll probably notice that the contractor is not out here today because this road carries about 12,000 cars a day, which hopefully means that we’ll have 12,000 happy customers at the end of this project. But, it also means that they’re doing most of their work at night.”
Campbell also noted that along with New Tampa Blvd., “we recently repaved Commerce Palms and Compton Dr. as well — and that really just highlights our commitment to not only New Tampa, but to all areas of the city.”
He added that, “So, far this year, we’re at about 30 lane miles of resurfacing and this project will ad three-and-a-half more lane miles to that bank as we make our way towards last year’s record of 80 lane miles being resurfaced. Since 2019, we have resurfaced over 330 lane miles throughout the city, which I think is a testament to the commitment from the Mayor, City Council and my department.”
The final speaker was van Rooyen, the president of The Promenade at West Meadows Homeowners Assn. “and I previously served as president of the West Meadows Property Owners Association. I also served three four-year terms on our Community Development District.
“I have lived here for 22 years and I honestly thought this project was never going to happen. But, while Marvel has Captain America, we finally got ‘Capt. New Tampa,’ Luis Viera.
“I want to thank Luis for listening to us. He’s stayed engaged with the community. He heard our concerns and he advocated for us.
“New Tampa asks for very little of the city. We have homeowners associations and CDDs who take care of our infrastructure, so all we ask for from the city are safe roads, mobility and public safety — and this is the first administration that has heard our concerns. So, thank you to the Mayor, City Council and city staff for making this project a reality.”
Viera has since posted that now with New Tampa Blvd. underway, “Before I leave Council, I hope to see the ‘cut-through’ finally being open for K-Bar Ranch, formal passage of $8 million for the historic K-Bar Ranch park, passage of our Public Safety Master Plan ordinance and some progress on provisional funding for a New Tampa Police Substation presence.”
The people of New Tampa have now been hearing the phrase “Welcome to Cold Stone” for 20 years and even though many other ice cream shops have entered the local market (and many others have gone away), Cold Stone Creamery has been a constant source of joy for young and old alike. It features a unique selection of super-creamy, ultra-premium ice cream flavors, and a huge variety of toppings that you can have the happy Cold Stone ice creamers mix in from more than two dozen ingredients (bottom photo) — from fresh bananas, strawberries and raspberries to candies and cookies like Heath bars, Twix and Reese’s Oreos and toppings like real (but not hot) fudge, marshmallow, caramel and even pistachio cream sauce.
New Tampa store general manager Nola Davis (above) says that this summer before the kids go back to school is a great time to try or return to Cold Stone, as there are several new flavors and new Signature Creations everyone can check out.
For example, she says, “in honor of the recently released “Supergirl” movie, Cold Stone currently has ‘Supergirl’s Cosmic Kettle Corn’ (above left), which combines kettle corn-flavored ice cream, big pieces of kettle corn (above right), a caramel swirl and Supergirl-colored sprinkles.”
Another current specialty creation is the Oreo® Pretzel Perfection (left), which Nola says, “has a sweet cream-based, Oreo® Cookie chocolate-covered pretzel ice cream, Oreo® cookies, mini-pretzels, caramel and sugar crystals (below left).”
There’s also a new “Cup & Cookie Chaos” (not pictured) that features Cookies ‘n’ Peanut Butter ice cream that is made with Oreo® cookies, Reese’s peanut butter cups and Oreo® Reese’s cookies.
And finally, Nola says, the big hit of the summer so far is, “Our Dubai Chocolate Creation” (top photo). “It has our chocolate ice cream with pistachio cream, kataifi (finely shredded phyllo dough) and chocolate shavings. Everyone is crazy about Dubai chocolate these days. And, people are really loving it!”
Nola even sent us home with samples of each creation, so we could all sample them. My favorite, not surprisingly, is the “Cup & Cookie Chaos,” but I can definitely finish off a serving of any of them.
She adds, “Even if you pick one of our Signature Creations,” Nola says, “You can still make it your own.”
All of these Signature and “Create Your Own” Creations can be put on your choice of a cone, cup or waffle bowl, in the usual Cold Stone sizes — Kid’s Size, “Like It®,” “Love It®” and “Gotta Have It®.”
I had for me to not take one of these entire cakes home with me and finish it all myself.
Nola also explains that although there is always a supply of ready-made cakes in the store (above right photo), including some of the “Perfect Pair” cakes, “Most of our cakes are custom-ordered, so you can always get whatever flavors of ice cream you want, toppings, everything, but please always give us at least two days to create the cake you want because someone has to build the cake and someone else will have to decorate it. Then, it has to stay in the freezer for a certain amount of time.”
So Many Specials!
The New Tampa Cold Stone Creamery also offers different specials every Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Monday is “Mega Monday!,” when you get one FREE “Like-it Create” creation with one mix-in when you purchase any two “Love-it” sizes (or larger).
Tuesday is “2-for-$10 Tuesday!,” when you get any two “Like-it” creations (with one mix-in each) for only $10.
Wednesday is “Waffle Wednesday!,” when you get a FREE plain waffle bowl or cone when you buy one “Love-it” size (or larger),
Thursday is “Thriving Thursday!,” when you get $2 OFF any Cookies, Cupcakes or Reese’s Cups OR $5 OFF any Large-Size Signature Cake.
And, right now, when you mention this story and present the coupon in the ad below, you’ll get a FREE scoop of ice cream!
All of these offers are valid in-store at the Cold Stone location on Preserve Walk Ln. in New Tampa ONLY. Please note that they are not available with any other offers and are limited to one special per family/per order.
We definitely agree with Nola that the summer is the best time of year to check out the New Tampa Cold Stone Creamery. Now you know why!
New Tampa’s Cold Stone Creamery is located at 17519 Preserve Walk Ln., in the Highwoods Preserve area, just off I-75. It opens every day at 11 a.m. and stays open until 11 p.m. on Sunday, until 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and until midnight on Friday & Saturday. For more info, visit ColdStoneCreamery.com or call (813) 977-0024.
So, this year’s Dining Survey & Contest is all new! Below are pictures & descriptions of all of the mom-&-pop and small (10 units total or less) chain restaurants in or near New Tampa (see location info below), with their addresses, phone numbers, websites and a picture of their exteriors and/or signage.
All we’re asking you, as New Tampa residents, to do in this issue is name your FIVE (5) Favorite Restaurants located in New Tampa — all of zip code 33647, and Bruce B. Downs Blvd. between Tampa Palms & E. Bearss Ave, as well as on E. Bearss Ave. between Bruce B. Downs & Livingston Ave.) — on the entry form HERE!
Submit a correctly filled-out form and you’ll be entered into a random drawing to win up to $200 in FREE dining at the restaurant of your choice located ANYWHERE in the Tampa Bay area!
Please do not include ANY restaurants located in zip codes 33543, 33544 or 33545 (Wesley Chapel) in this month’s Survey. You’ll get to vote for your five favorites in Wesley Chapel next issue.
Here is what you need to know to enter this year’s Survey & Contest:
(I hope) every brick-&-mortar restaurant that serves food and is located in & near New Tampa (NT) that is either a true mom & pop or part of a “chain” — whether regional or national — that has fewer than ten (10) total locations, is listed in alphabetical order below.
Please note that although the restaurant list doesn’t include any chain eateries with 10 or more locations in New Tampa, you can still write the names of your favorite chains in any or all of the five spaces on the entry form HERE.
But, whether you choose five places from the New Tampa list of more than 70 restaurants or five chains that don’t appear on the list or some combination thereof, in order to be considered to win any of this year’s five dining prizes, you must write the names of FIVE (5) NT-area restaurants in the five spaces on the entry form HERE!
HERE ARE OUR OTHER RULES!
1) DO NOT write the name of your one favorite place in more than one Top-5 space. Only its first-place vote will count.
2) If the restaurant is on this list, we consider it to be in New Tampa. If you want to vote for a chain restaurant, please look up its zip code or location to see if it qualifies as a New Tampa restaurant.
3) In order for your votes to count and help your favorite restaurants, you must include your real first AND last name, the community you live in (K-Bar Ranch, West Meadows, etc.), your daytime phone number where I can reach you (which I will only do if your name is selected to win a prize) and your valid email address.
3) This year’s prizes are again FREE dining at any restaurant YOU choose anywhere in the Tampa Bay area, inclduing the Grand Prize of $200, as well as prizes of $100, $75, $50 & $25.
4) See the Entry Form HERE to find out how to have your votes counted & win prizes! Good Luck! — GN
The beginning of the 2026-27 school year in Hillsborough County (unfortunately for our schedule) began on Aug. 10, or the day after we went to press with this issue.
And, while we did not get to interview new Freedom High principal Deanna McCahan (right) before school started, we did chat with (and photographer Charmaine George got a few pictures of) new Chiles Elementary principal Kelly Wackes.
In her Principal’s Message on Freedom’s web page on the HillsboroughSchools.org website, McCahan (who spent the last five years as principal at Shields Middle School in Ruskin, said, “As your principal, I am thrilled to welcome you to another exciting school year. Our dedicated staff is committed to providing a supportive and challenging environment where every student can thrive. We believe in fostering a community of respect, responsibility, and excellence. Whether you are a returning student or new to our school, we are here to support you every step of the way. Let’s make this year memorable and full of achievements.”
McCahan succeeds Kevin Stephenson, who is the new principal this year of Sgt. Smith Middle School in the Citrus Park area.
Welcome, Kelly!
Kelly Wackes is already a familiar face to many New Tampa residents, as she served as the assistant principal at Clark Elementary in West Meadows for the past five years and has been part of Hillsborough County Public Schools for the last 11 years — first as a math coach and then as a teacher.
“This week, getting to know the staff has been amazing,” Wackes told me just before the 2026-27 school year began. “Everyone has been so welcoming.”
She said she is proud to be the new principal at Chiles, as this is the school’s 25th year of existence, “and it’s never been anything other than an ‘A’-rated school,” she said. “And, all of us — the teachers, staff, parents and students — are committed to continuing that tradition of excellence. Our motto this year is, ‘Honoring the Past, Soaring into the Future.’”
Wackes, who holds a Master of Education (MEd) degree from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, said her oldest child is entering the 4th grade and is still at Clark, “but my youngest is starting Kindergarten with me at Chiles. I’m so excited for this year!”
She added that the 25th anniversary celebration for Chiles has been temporarily set by the District for March 5, 2027. — GN
