Dentistry Deja Vu? Telling A $6 Billion Tale Of Two Identical New Heartland Dental Offices

The under-construction Heartland Dental office located south of County Line Rd. and west of BBD Blvd. (Photo by Joel Provenzano)

What we first thought was just another routine addition to Wesley Chapel’s growing commercial landscape has turned into something far more intriguing. 

While reporting our last cover story — “Olive Garden & Seasons 52 Coming to WC Blvd. at Gateway Blvd.!”—we briefly noted a standalone dental office planned for the same development, although we didn’t honestly know the office’s name at that time, but now know that it is Heartland Dental. Whatever it was to be called, the dental office barely registered with us. 

Until we saw it again. A second, nearly identical building — same size, same name — quietly rising on the south side of County Line Rd., and west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., in the LA Fitness/Aldi plaza (photo above) in New Tampa. No signage yet, just a shell. But the plans we saw online confirmed that it is another Heartland Dental. 

Two brand-new, 4,260-square-foot dental offices, each large enough for up to 12 exam rooms. Same operator. Same footprint. Same timing. That’s when curiosity turned into a deeper investigation. 

Copy-&-Paste Dentistry? 

At first glance, two identical dental offices might seem unusual, but in today’s New Tampa and Wesley Chapel — and world — honestly, maybe it shouldn’t be. 

Multiple locations of the same brand popping up in a concentrated area can actually be a lagging indicator of that area’s economic strength. In simple terms: chains don’t plant roots unless the data says the area is “ready.” 

And, while New Tampa has already “arrived,” Wesley Chapel is clearly arriving. 

But, the dentistry scene? That’s always felt different. More local. More personal. Less… corporate. Hmmm. 

The Quiet Giant: Heartland Dental 

Heartland Dental isn’t just another dental company — it’s apparently the largest “dental support organization” in the U.S. 

Founded in 1997 in Effingham, IL, Heartland Dental operates in 39 states and Washington, D.C., and supports 1,900+ offices and 3,000+ dentists. 

Rather than owning these practices outright in the traditional sense, Heartland usually operates behind the scenes — handling administration, staffing, billing, supplies and logistics — while the dentists the company serves retain clinical control. 

Think of it as a hybrid model where dentists focus on patients and Heartland handles everything else. But, that’s really just scratching the surface. 

The Billionaire Dentist Behind It 

At the center of this operation is Rick Workman, D.M.D., the founder and executive chairman of Heartland Dental — and, according to a recent Forbes magazine feature, the architect of a $6-billion empire. 

The March 26, 2026, article — entitled “Meet The Billionaire Dentist That Other Docs Want To Punch In The Teeth” — paints a picture of a controversial but undeniably effective industry “disruptor.” 

Dr. Workman (photo, right), who lives in the Orlando area, is an avid rare car collector, AND part owner of the Tampa Bay Rays. He built Heartland Dental on a simple but powerful idea: 

Let dentists be dentists — and treat everything else like a scalable business. And scale it, he has. 

Controlling Every Aspect 

Here’s where things get especially interesting — and particularly relevant to our area. 

Workman didn’t stop at managing dental practices. Early on, he created a separate real estate arm: WMG Development. 

WMG has developed $1.4 billion in real estate across 30+ states. The firm buys land, builds the buildings, and leases them to Heartland-supported practices. 

Sound familiar? That’s because we realized through a simple search that WMG is the site developer and land owner behind Wesley Chapel’s Gateway Plaza Retail Center project, which includes the future Heartland Dental office, Olive Garden and Seasons 52, all under a shell entity called Shoppes at Gateway, LLC. 

And, no big surprise here, WMG also is the developer of the upcoming New Tampa Heartland Dental location. That site’s land is owned by Southeast QSR, but the development ties back to the same network. 

In other words, this isn’t just expansion. It’s sheer vertical integration. 

An improved version of the map of the Gateway Plaza Retail Center that appeared in our last issue, still showing Olive Garden (OG) and Seasons 52 (S52), but also adding the Heartland Dental (HD) office, (Two maps provided by Pasco County were modified into one map by NN). 
“The Founder” Playbook 

If this model feels familiar, it should. 

Anyone who’s seen the movie “The Founder” (which is great, by the way) — the story of McDonald’s rise — knows that the global chain’s real money wasn’t really made in hamburgers. It actually was all about the real estate. 

Heartland is applying a similar strategy in its dental operations by controlling the real estate, standardizing the dental business’ operations and scaling rapidly. 

For an industry once dominated by small, independent practices — some even in home-based offices — this approach has been nothing short of revolutionary, and it was all Dr. Workman’s idea. 

Raising Eyebrows 

Not everyone is celebrating, however. According to the Forbes article, Heartland’s structured systems include standardized clinical protocols, performance tracking across patient diagnostics and revenue-based compensation models. 

Heartland dentists typically earn a base salary, and begin earning about 25% of revenue after hitting certain production thresholds. The good news is that they average around $318,000 annually (vs. the dental industry average of about $208,000 per year). 

To supporters, this is efficiency and opportunity. To critics, of which there are apparently many, it raises important questions: Does standardization also influence treatment decisions and can corporate metrics coexist with personalized care? 

The debate is ongoing — and some dentists in our area are already part of it, similarly to what’s happened with other medical groups in other specialties. 

Already Here & Growing Fast! 

Heartland Dental already has a presence nearby, through supported practices like Somerset Dental Care in Tampa Palms, Watergrass Dental Care (on Curley Rd.), Dental Care at Quail Hollow and others. But these two upcoming Heartland locations definitely seem to be different. 

The “Heartland Dental” name apparently will appear directly on both of these new buildings. If that’s indeed what ends up happening, it could signal a shift toward more visible branding for Workman’s expanding company. 

In other words, this might mark a notable evolution in Heartland’s strategy. 

What This Means For New Tampa & Wesley Chapel 

So, here’s the big question: 

Is our area truly ready for corporate dentistry at scale? 

On the one hand, we have strong population growth, rising household incomes and increasing national brand presence (especially in Wesley Chapel), where all signs point to “yes.” 

On the other hand, this could lead to higher base commercial rents, more competition and greater pressure on independent dental providers. Chains like Heartland could benefit from economies of scale, access to capital (including backing from firms like KKR, née Kohlberg, Kravis & Roberts) and control over both operations and real estate. 

For smaller, single-location dentists, that can be a tough playing field to navigate. 

Disruption, Or Just the Next Phase? 

In fact, it may simply reflect the next phase of growth for the Wesley Chapel area as a whole. The arrival of chains — whether in dining, retail, or now healthcare — does often signal maturity of a market. 

But, it also changes the landscape. 

The question isn’t whether Heartland Dental will succeed here. The real question is will — or how will — the local dental industry ecosystem adapt? 

Because what’s being built isn’t just two dental offices. It’s a new model — one that could reshape how dentistry is delivered in our community for years to come. 

Five Guys On County Line Rd. Has Closed

If you’ve recently driven by the Five Guys Burger & Fries located across the parking lot from Fresh Monkee, and next to the Max’s Pet Market & Salon (photo) at 6431 E. County Line Rd. in New Tampa, you’re already aware that this location — which is hidden from view from both Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and County Line Rd. — has closed (its last day was Mar. 15). 

One of the other store owners in the same plaza told me that they had heard that this location was Five Guys corporate-owned and that, “The company apparently looked at the store’s numbers and decided that it was time to just shut it down.” 

The same store owner also said that, “They literally came here on [Mar. 16] and took out most of the equipment, tore down the sign, packed it all onto a truck and drove away.” 

We also have now been told by multiple sources that a Middle Eastern shawarma shop is expected to move into the now-empty Five Guys, although no one yet knows exactly when the new eatery is planning to open or its name. 

In the meantime, please note that Five Guys not only still has more than 1,900 locations in operation around the world, it actually is expanding those numbers. 

For New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents who still need their Five Guys burger, fries, shakes and unlimited peanuts “fix,” the franchised locations at 25599 Sierra Center Blvd., across S.R. 56 from the Tampa Premium Outlets, and at 28894 Wesley Chapel Blvd./S.R. 54, in Wesley Chapel, are both still very much open and hoping to see you soon. 

We’ll keep you posted about the restaurant planned for the now-vacated Five Guys space. 

For ordering and more information about Five Guys Burgers & Fries, visit FiveGuys.com. — GN 

Florida Avenue Brewing Company — So Much More Than Just A Great Local Brewery!

Photos by Charmaine George

I remember being so pumped when Florida Avenue Brewing Company first opened its second location (the original is still in Seminole Heights) in the former location of Sports + Field on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel near the end of 2020, as the Covid-19 pandemic was winding down. The on-site brewery (more on that below) wouldn’t be operational for almost another year, but it was exciting to me that Florida Ave. was a big, non-chain real restaurant with an elevated, better-than-sports-bar menu that included items that became instant favorites of mine — such as Chinese sticky ribs and Korean-style bibimbap bowls, to name just two. 

But, the restaurant was just really finding its way at that time and has since been through, “I believe, five executive chefs since then,” says general manager Monroe Brown (left in top photo), who was a server and mostly bartender at the location when it first opened. “But, we’re really happy with the most recent version of the menu and our current executive chef — Baxter McManamy.” (right in the same photo) 

I’ll have to second that, even though both of those early favorite dishes of mine are no longer offered. And, despite having been with Florida Ave. for about a year now, Baxter isn’t taking credit for most of the new menu items, although he will say that he’s tweaked some of the recipes and given his sous chefs an opportunity to present new ideas to make the menu better, too. 

All I can tell you is that the new formula is working. Jannah and I honestly avoided Florida Ave. the last couple of years because it seemed like it was turning into just another sports pub, but…. 

Check It Out Now! 

If you check out the food pictures on this page, I think it’s pretty clear that Baxter, Monroe, the Derby family — Anthony, Amanda and their mom, Toni — and Florida Ave. are definitely back on the right track food-wise. 

In the top photo on this page, Monroe is holding a super-tasty new Rice & Bean Bowl, with adobo rice, “Rollin’ Derby” black beans, avocado and pickled red onions with “bistro steak,” Baxter says. “It’s a little tougher than filet mignon, but has a flavor similar to NY strip.” 

Speaking of Baxter, he’s holding a tasty double-patty Florida Ave. Smash Burger, with sautéed onions, bacon, American cheese and roasted jalapeño aioli on a brioche bun and a side of loaded hand-cut fries. Every burger on the menu also is made to pair with one of Florida Ave.’s beers, including the burger I mentioned, which the menu says should be paired with a Flipa American IPA, but that’s really up to you. 

If you’re looking for something a little more unique, perhaps try my favorite new menu item that photographer Charmaine George and I sampled on our most recent visit — the Gulf Coast mahi Fish ‘N’ Chips (left). I’ve never seen any restaurant use mahi for fish & chips, but it was beer-battered (“We beer-batter a lot of our dishes,” Baxter said. “Why wouldn’t we?”), super-crisp and snow-white inside. Oh, and it was frickin’ delicious, too. It didn’t even need the house-made tartar sauce served with it. 

Speaking of fresh, before we move on, Monroe and Baxter invited me into Florida Ave.’s super-clean kitchen and showed me that while there are two huge, walk-in refrigerators in there, the freezer is about the size of one of the little ones you’d find in your neighbor’s garage. 

“We just really don’t freeze anything here,” Baxter said. “We make most everything fresh.”

Another one of my new favorite options is the General Tso’s cauliflower (right). It’s served crispy outside, tender inside and the General Tso’s sauce is sweet and a little spicy. I probably will order the spicy aioli on the side next time, just to keep the cauliflower at its peak crispness. 

Another new favorite of mine is the new French onion dip handheld (below left). It features shaved ribeye, mozzarella and provolone, with a zesty horseradish cream on a toasted Amoroso roll. But, the big difference is the French onion broth that really gives this particular French dip a flavor all its own. 

That same delicious onion flavor is encased in Florida Ave.’s tasty crock of French onion soup (above right), which properly covers the broth and toasted bread with a combo of melted mozzarella and provolone cheese, which almost mimics the more traditional taste of French gruyere. 

Another recent addition is the Seasonal Grazing Board (left). For March, this selection of artisanal bites included Irish-style sausage, pretzel bites, kalamata olives, two kinds of cheese, red onions and a chunky tomato chutney. The seasonal board is made to pair with a four-beer flight. If you’re a beer drinker (I’m really not), this is a great way to start your meal, especially with a group of friends. Of the four brews shown with the grazing board, my favorite was the Dead Parrot light lager, but Charmaine preferred the Luminescence Hazy IPA. 

And, although I’m not a big salmon eater and can’t eat shrimp, Charmaine raved about both the BLT salad (below right) — with chopped romaine hearts, candied bacon, blue cheese crumbles, heirloom cherry tomatoes, chives, ranch dressing and balsamic glaze — which she had topped with blackened salmon that she said was flaky and delicately spiced; and the grilled Coastal Lime Shrimp tacos (top left). She loved the tequila lime aioli slaw and the fresh pico de gallo on top of the tacos, too. 

Even though we didn’t have room for dessert, we both still made room because the two house-made Florida Ave. desserts we sampled were both just so good! 

Charmaine’s favorite was the warm coconut cake (below left), which swims in a pool of delicious rum sauce and is topped with grilled pineapple and whipped cream. Decadent. 

But, my new favorite dessert is the Basque (Spanish-style) cheesecake (below right). The menu calls it “irresistible” and that’s pretty spot-on. The tender crust has a delicious char, but the cheesecake itself is as creamy as a true NY-style, but not as dense, and as light and airy as an Italian-style ricotta-based cheesecake, but with a better texture and flavor. It didn’t need the fresh berry coulis, but the end result was spectacular! 

But, What If We Want To Drink? 

I’m so glad you asked. Jannah and I always sit in the comfy high-top bar chairs at Florida Ave., which has a big advantage over most other breweries in that it has a full, premium liquor bar, not just beer and wine. So, even though neither of us are partial to the interesting selection of Craft Cocktails on the menu (she would get the “That’s My Jam,” with Tito’s vodka and a tropical syrup flavor, but would substitute club soda for the Regatta ginger beer it comes with), she has had excellent Cosmos at the bar and my Jameson on the rocks is always perfect. However, you Old Fashioned lovers will probably flip for the variety of “Cask Crafted” Old Fashioneds. 

Florida Ave. also recently added a “Taproom Brunch” every Saturday & Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., with items like warm French toast bites, avocado toast, a breakfast flatbread (with sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, borracha salsa and shredded mozzarella, topped with micro cilantro) and more. The brunch menu also includes bottomless mimosas and “bromosas” (OJ with your choice of Florida Ave.’s Dead Parrot, Luminescence Hazy IPA or You’re My Boy Blue). There’s even a mimosa flight served with four different kinds of juice. 

For lunch every weekday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Florida Ave. offers a “Pint & Plate” lunch, with your choice of soup or salad, paired with one of five different main courses (a flatbread, smash burger, tacos, a chicken Caesar wrap or a chicken parm or Milanese Brew Pub Sub) and one free draft beer, or soft drinks or coffee, for just $15. 

For “Hoppy Hour” (Mon.-Fri., 3 p.m.-6 p.m. and all night on Wed., from 3 p.m.-close), Florida Ave. offers its year-round draft beers for $5.25, specialty rotating draft beers from $6.25, sparkling, white or red house wines for just $6 and well & specialty cocktails for $7. There’s also a variety of Hoppy Hour “bites” for $5 (for cheese curds, loaded fries, crispy cauliflower & more), for $7 (for flatbreads or chicken wings) or for $9 (for tacos or Nashville chicken sliders). 

And, of course, Florida Ave. also has a great fenced-in open area out back, with its own bar and table service, as well as arcade games inside for the kids, plus private indoor areas for catered meetings and events. 

Now, let me see…what I am forgetting? 

Of course…BEER! Not only is the Wesley Chapel Florida Ave. one of the largest independent breweries in Florida, which provides cans of its now-famous brews, ciders and seltzers to other bars, it offers a huge variety of its rotating, house-brewed beverages to its happy customers. 

But, don’t take my word for it. Florida Ave. has more than 1,200 5-star reviews on Google, including Sabine M., who wrote, “This has to be one of the best breweries in the area. Every beer is delicious….They have amazing lunch deals…really cool space. A great place to meet up with friends.” 

And, every Saturday, you can even bring your group on a tour of the brewery for just $12 per person, which includes a beer and a souvenir pint glass. You must be 21 for the tours, all sales are final and they should be booked in advance. 

As Monroe says, “If it’s been a while, come give us another try!.” 

Florida Ave. Brewing Co. is located at 2029 Arrowgrass Dr. For more info, call or send a message to (813) 452-6333, visit FloridaAveBrewing.com or see the ad below for a FREE “Fourcaster” Appetizer Sampler!

Art Of Drawers Turns Kitchen Frustrations To Joy With Quality Solutions


Why should you have to choose between beauty and functionality when doing a kitchen remodeling job? Why not get both? When you choose Art of Drawers, whether for installation of drawers, refacing of your cabinets or both, everything can be customized to your specifications. (All photos provided by Sid Kinghar) 

If the dark corners of your kitchen cabinets seem to swallow up the things you need, the designers at Art of Drawers want to get to know your frustrations and come up with a solution that will make working in your kitchen a little more joyful, with beautiful, high-end, perfectly customized drawers that will make finding items in your kitchen a lot easier — and look a lot more elegant. And, in addition to erasing problems with your kitchen cabinets, Art of Drawers provides custom solutions for pantries and bathrooms, too. 

“Art of Drawers offers premium quality, a lifetime warranty and really solves everyday problems for customers in their homes,” says Sid Kinghar, owner of the Tampa Bay-area franchise. 

He says his company is not about selling drawers. “We offer solutions to increase your storage and give you more accessibility and better organization,” he explains. 

While that is helpful for anyone, it is particularly beneficial for those who may be struggling to reach items in their kitchen, sometimes due to aging. “It can be a game changer for people who have accessibility or mobility issues,” he says. “For customers with back pain or who can’t bend down, this makes life a lot easier.” 

He adds that, because everything is custom made, each project is completely unique. Art of Drawers can provide solutions for cabinets where there also is plumbing or other obstacles, because the drawers can be fully customized to fit around those items. 

“We can install drawers where you would never think a drawer could be,” Sid says. “We also have drawer heights from two-and-a-half inches up to nine inches. Whatever it needs to be to fit your pots and pans, with dividers to stack lids, no two solution are exactly the same.” 

(Right l.-r.) Sid, Inaya, Faiza & Amani Kinghar of Art of Drawers. 

However, he says, what is consistent from job to job is Art of Drawers’ quality. In addition to a lifetime warranty on all product installations, the company offers an “elation guarantee,” promising that if you’re not thrilled within the first three days after your installation, you can receive a refund. 

But, he says, that just doesn’t happen. 

In fact, most of Sid’s customers enjoy their upgrades so much that they want to have Art of Drawers improve additional spaces, whether it’s more cabinets, a pantry or even bathrooms. 

“All of our drawers are handcrafted in the United States, with solid wood construction and soft-close, undermount rails,” he says. 

That high quality is what attracted Sid to the Art of Drawers brand, when he wanted to transition from corporate America to working for himself as an entrepreneur. 

Sid previously held roles in finance and management for two decades. Originally from India, he came to the U.S. and earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Business Management, Finance and Marketing from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton in 2005. In 2013, he earned a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.) degree from Babson College in Wellesley, MA, a school known as a leading college for entrepreneurship. 

Sid’s background in both management and working for his family’s retail company in India has helped him serve his Art of Drawers customers well. He says that serving his neighbors throughout the community was another key reason he decided to become an Art of Drawers franchise owner. 

Sid and his wife Faiza, who is an oncologist, have lived in Tampa Palms for the last six years. They have two young daughters, Inaya, who is six, and four-year-old Amani. 

A Little History… 

Art of Drawers launched nationally in 2019 and opened a corporate location in the Tampa Bay area in 2022. That location was sold in 2023 as a franchise, which Sid then bought last year. There are currently 43 Art of Drawers locations nationally, including three other Florida locations. 

The local Art of Drawers franchise includes three designers who work throughout the Tampa Bay area, from Wesley Chapel to Sarasota and from Lakeland up to Brooksville — and everywhere in between. Sid says the team includes two installers who execute the designers’ plans to perfection. 

Designers and installers are trained by Art of Drawers to be certified in the company’s products, so you can be confident that anyone working in your home will always meet the company’s high standards. 

The process starts with a free in-home consultation. A designer will come to your home to create a personalized design that is unique to both your home and your individual needs. 

Once the designer provides an estimate, you choose what to move forward with, whether it’s an entire kitchen upgrade or a smaller job to solve the problem you may be having with your most frustrating space. 

An installer will come out to verify your measurements — down to the millimeter — before everything is custom-built for you. It typically takes about six weeks for the drawers and organizers to be built, but then everything is installed in one day. 

“As the owner, I go back to make sure everything went smoothly,” Sid says. “We go on a ‘Wow’ tour so they can show off. I always want to make sure my customers are 100% elated.” 

Refacing, Too! 

Art of Drawers can transform your pantry from a cluttered mess into a neatly organized drawer system to make accessing the far reaches of the pantry a breeze.

In addition to adding functionality to your kitchen cabinets, pantry or bathroom, Art of Drawers now offers cabinet refacing, too. 

“You keep your existing cabinet boxes, but we can provide drawer faces, doors, and hardware,” Sid explains, adding that it’s a much longer-lasting solution than simply repainting cabinets, and Art of Drawers has about 200 options available. “It’s about half the cost of new cabinets and can be done in just two or three days. You can still use your kitchen while the work is being done.” 

He says customers who are looking to improve both the beauty and the function of their kitchens will appreciate that they can do both with Art of Drawers. Cabinet refacing also is available for customers who don’t also want to add drawers. 

Judy Cochran recently hired Art of Drawers to solve issues in her kitchen. 

“It’s been several years now that we’ve been frustrated because we couldn’t find anything in the pantry and it’s hard to get to stuff in the very back of the cabinets,” Judy says, “so we decided to seek out someone to do pull-out drawers for us.” 

She says Art of Drawers was recommended to her, so she called the company for an estimate. “Sid came out and was very efficient and explained everything in-depth,” she says. 

After taking a few days to think about it, she decided it would be worth the investment. 

“I’m very pleased,” she says, “We did the pantry and lower cabinets, and it was great.” 

She also says that Sid provided ideas for her that she hadn’t thought of herself, such as including a pull-out drawer for her trash. She was happy with the follow-up and customer service, saying Sid always either answered her calls or called her back right away. 

“I’m so glad we did it,” Judy says. 

Art of Drawers is licensed and insured, and comes to you for a free in-home estimate. For more info, visit ArtofDrawers.com or call (813) 548-6866.

Wesley Chapel Estate Planning Attorney Celebrates 100 5-Star Reviews & 2nd Location

Special to the Neighborhood News 

Now with two locations — one off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel and the other on Gunn Hwy. in the Carrollwood area, attorney Paul J. Monsanto of the Law Office of Paul James Monsanto specializes in wills, trusts & all aspects of estate planning. (Photo provided by Paul J. Monsanto) 

Life changes — sometimes in wonderful ways, sometimes without warning. A new child, an unexpected illness and other major transitions can shift everything. While we adapt to life’s changes every day, many people avoid planning for one certainty we all share: What happens when we’re no longer here? 

Who will protect our families? 

What happens to our assets? 

Will our wishes actually be carried out? 

Estate planning isn’t an easy topic — but failing to plan can leave families overwhelmed, stressed and navigating legal complications during the most difficult moments of their lives. 

That’s exactly what attorney Paul J. Monsanto seeks to help families avoid. 

At The Law Office of Paul James Monsanto, P.A., Paul and his team emphasize clarity, protection and peace of mind. The firm focuses on wills, trusts, probate and comprehensive family planning and also assists with long-term care planning, special needs planning, asset protection and trust administration. 

Avoiding an overcomplicated, one-size-fits-all approach, Paul believes that estate planning should be straightforward and built for real life. He believes this practical, common-sense approach to solving complex issues has fueled his firm’s reputation and growth. 

Since opening its doors in 2021, Paul’s law office has reached 100 five-star reviews on Google, a milestone that, he says, reflects consistent client satisfaction, trust and results. 

“Thanks to everyone who took the time to give us their feedback,” Paul says. “Positive word of mouth has been a crucial part of our success. I’m so happy and honored that my past clients have had such positive experiences.” 

Accompanying the reviews, clients comment that Paul thoroughly explains complex legal concepts in a clear and understandable way. Reviewers highlight the friendly, empathetic and responsive demeanor of Paul and his staff, noting that clients felt valued and understood. They also mention that documentation and processes are organized and high-quality. Paul’s clients appreciate his law office for its transparency about pricing and reasonable costs for excellent service. They add that Paul tailors estate plans to their specific needs rather than recommending unnecessary services. 

“Many people assume they need a complicated plan because of something they read online or heard from a friend or a neighbor,” Paul explains. “For most families, that simply isn’t the case. Simplicity, when done correctly, is powerful. I believe providing simplicity and value is what is driving the growth of our law practice.” 

Now With Two Locations 

Part of that growth now includes a second location. With proud roots in North Tampa Bay — the law office will mark the five-year anniversary of its Wesley Chapel location this summer — the Law Office of Paul J. Monsanto has added a second location in Carrollwood to better serve that community. 

“It’s a natural next step,” he says. “Like Wesley Chapel, Carrollwood is home to families, retirees and professionals seeking convenient access to quality estate planning services. We are going to fill that need.” 

Paul’s expertise has grown as well. He now brings more than 16 years of legal experience to every client relationship. He is licensed to practice law in both Florida and New York, holds a Finance degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville, and earned his Juris Doctor (J.D., or law) degree from the Duke University School of Law in Durham, NC. He practiced as a litigation attorney for major banks and insurance companies in New York City before returning home to Tampa to serve individuals and families. 

Paul’s diverse experience has shaped his understanding that no two families are alike. 

“I’ve helped single individuals, large families, blended families, same-sex couples, unmarried domestic partners, people without children, people who are on their first marriage, second marriage, third marriage — you name it!,” Paul says. “Every situation is different and every plan should reflect that.” 

The personal aspect of estate planning is what drew Paul to the practice area and why he plans to continue to practice estate law for years to come. “After practicing commercial litigation for big banks and corporations, it’s been so refreshing to help everyday people,” he says. “Speaking to my clients and hearing about their lives and their families is my favorite part of the job.” 

He adds, “The legal services industry has become so impersonal and disconnected, but dealing with a death, major illness or catastrophe is very personal. My staff is like family, and we bring that same personal touch to our clients. I hope that comes across.” 

To schedule a consultation with attorney Paul J. Monsanto, call (813) 997-5290 or visit PJMAttorneys.com. The Law Office of Paul James Monsanto, P.A., is located at 26852 Tanic Dr., Suite 102, Wesley Chapel. The new Carrollwood office is located at 3808 Gunn Hwy., Tampa.