As previously announced, the last remaining New Tampa Winn-Dixie supermarket, located at 6425 County Line Rd. (in the same plaza as LA Fitness), closed on Dec. 8 and is in the process of being converted to the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area’s third ALDI grocery store.
We were told that it would be several months before the new ALDI would open, but this Germany-based international brand already has nearly 2,500 U.S. supermarkets and more than 200 stores in Florida, including at 18002 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. in New Tampa and at 2215 Sun Vista Dr. in Lutz (in front of Costco).
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the still-open (at least at our press time) Winn-Dixie in the Towne Center of Wesley Chapel plaza on Wesley Chapel Blvd. told us there are no plans to close that store. — GN
Commercial lender Vanessa Ng (photos) knows that busy entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses don’t have time to call a bank, apply for a loan, wait to hear back and then call a different bank if they’re turned down by, or just not sure they like, the first option.
That’s why she works for CommLoan, a company that allows her to help business owners apply for a loan through a streamlined process that provides many options to meets their needs quickly.
“CommLoan is really efficient and can provide a quote to the borrower within minutes,” Vanessa explains. “We have a database of 750 lenders we work with through a proprietary system called CUPID, and, in some cases, it will give us back 300 options.”
CUPID, which stands for Commercial Underwriting Pricing Index Data, is an innovative platform developed by CommLoan, a company that was founded in 2014 in Scottsdale, AZ, by long-time mortgage banker Mitch Ginsberg. CommLoan lends nationwide, except in Nevada and North and South Dakota.
Vanessa joined CommLoan about a year ago, adding commercial lending to her 12-year career as a residential lender.
She currently works with business owners all over the country and says she is hoping to increase awareness of CommLoan locally in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas.
Vanessa is originally from South Tampa and graduated from the University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Finance in 2012. She went straight into the mortgage business out of college and first moved to New Tampa for five years, and then, to Wesley Chapel, where she now lives in Estancia at Wiregrass Ranch.
“There is a lot of expansion and growing businesses in Wesley Chapel, Dade City and Zephyrhills,” she says, “and I’m trying to help out those entrepreneurs.”
She says she often provides loans for new commercial properties, such as gas stations or car washes, multifamily properties and single-tenant-use buildings, such as medical offices.
Vanessa also helps business owners who have equity in their current properties refinance their existing loans to get cash out, or help those who have a maturing loan and want to refinance.
Vanessa says her loans are for a minimum of $300,000 and can go up to as much as $100 million. She notes that some of these loans are as low as zero percent down.
“CommLoan provides tailored solutions,” Vanessa explains. “So, whether a buyer is looking for no prepayment penalty, a non-recourse loan, or some other specific criteria, I’m able to filter the search for that. Within seconds, I can get the best rates and the best programs for my buyer.”
CommLoan’s hundreds of lenders include everything from large national, commercial and regional banks to midsize banks, credit unions and debt funds.
Easing Frustrations
Vanessa explains that, sometimes, clients come to her feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.
“If someone goes to a bank for a loan, but then gets turned down, it can leave them scrambling if they’re already under contract to buy a property,” Vanessa explains. “Once I understand the scenario, I can send it to a dozen lenders at the same time and, sometimes, I’ll get offers the same day. It’s very different from waiting a week to just get turned down by one bank. These are busy entrepreneurs who don’t have time to waste hours or days trying to get a loan.”
She says her job is to remove the frustration from the process. “I do all of the legwork so you can keep running your business.”
Steven Sockwell and his wife, Lindy, have several investment properties near Rockville, IL. A few months ago, they were working with a Realtor® to purchase a new rental property and the Realtor recommended Vanessa and CommLoan as a lender. Even though Vanessa was far away in Florida, Steven decided to reach out to her.
“Ever since then, she’s been great to work with,” Steven says. “We’ve had several things she’s helped us with, including two transactions from start to finish. She’s very helpful and the transactions have been smooth.”
He adds that Vanessa has, “a wealth of knowledge” and credits her experience with helping them get the properties they wanted.
“She’s a very hard worker,” Steven adds. “Anything I have questions about, she’s able to answer them.”
He says he’s in the process of buying another rental property and that he will continue to work with Vanessa and CommLoan because it’s been such an easy process.
“One thing I’ve noticed about CommLoan is that everything is very streamlined,” he says. “The information in documentation is very straightforward and to the point. It’s so different than going to a local bank here where everything is so convoluted and you have to read, re-read, and re-read again to understand it. Instead, everything is very orderly and tells you want to do next, step-by-step. And, anything we don’t understand, we ask and Vanessa answers quickly.”
Steven says Vanessa also helped him look at his current portfolio of properties and figured out how to use the equity in those properties to, “seize the moment” to buy other properties.
“I didn’t know how to go about doing that and she walked us through it,” Steven says.
He also says working with Vanessa has been so easy, even if he wasn’t in the process of purchasing a property and needing a loan, he would still feel comfortable reaching out to ask her questions.
“She would answer,” he says. “I’m sure of it. She’s a great person to work with.”
For more information, contact Vanessa Ng via email at vng@commloan.com, call or text her at (561) 310-4720 or visit VanessaNg.CommLoan.com.
The staff at Teena Hughes, M.D., P.A., Pediatrics, located on E. Fletcher Ave., is led by Dr. Teena Hughes (front row, 3rd from left) and her son Dr. Roger Hughes (4th from left & next page). (Photos by Charmaine George)
For more than 30 years, Teena Hughes, M.D., has been a trusted pediatrician in Tampa, supporting generations of families in their healthcare journeys. Born in Clewiston, FL, she was raised in the Fort Lauderdale and Orlando areas.
After earning her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of South Florida and completing her three-year pediatric residency at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, she spent several years gaining experience with a large healthcare group before deciding to open her own practice. Today, the Teena Hughes, M.D., P.A., Pediatrics office on E. Fletcher Ave. near N. 46th St., located only 20 minutes or so south of the Hillsborough County line near Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.,, is well-known by local parents and their children.
Dr. Teena’s eldest son, Roger Hughes, III, D.O., joined the practice in July 2021, but his route to pediatrics wasn’t immediate. After earning a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Microbiology from the University of Florida in Gainesville and completing his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree at the Bradenton, FL, campus of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, he pursued a three-year residency at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola, FL.
Although he admits he initially was uncertain about focusing on pediatrics, Dr. Roger says everything changed during medical school.
“I was always interested in medicine and knew I would be a physician, but didn’t really have an interest in pediatrics” he says, “until I experienced it. In medical school you have a chance to try different areas of medicine, and I immediately fell in love with pediatrics and knew this was the right path for me.”
Just as Dr. Teena has brought her own second generation into the practice, she says, “Many of the patients I cared for as children are now bringing their own kids to me,” she says. “It’s heartwarming to see the next generation walk through my doors.”
Dr. Roger adds that they have families coming from as far away as Riverview and Dade City. “They come for the personalized care they remember getting themselves,” Dr. Roger says, “and know their children will receive the same.”
He also says that working alongside his mother has been both rewarding and practical.
“It’s great having two doctors here,” he says. “We can cover for each other while keeping the small, family-friendly atmosphere our patients love.” Dr. Roger recalls one particularly touching moment: “A former patient said he enjoyed coming to the office when he was small and always anticipated going to the treasure chest — it was his favorite thing. Now, he’s bringing his own child here.”
The office offers a wide range of services tailored to meet the needs of young patients and their families. From wellness checkups and sick visits to vaccinations and minor procedures like ear piercing and wart removal, Teena Hughes Pediatrics provides a level of care that is both extensive and convenient.
For example, ear piercing recently has become a sought-after service, handled with a doctor’s precision.
“One of my nurses,” Dr. Teena says, “had just come on board and asked about piercing. I told her we didn’t do it. But then, I became educated about the fact that many Hispanic families believe in piercing a child’s ears as early as they can. She told me we needed to start doing it and it has been a success. Parents trust us to do it because it’s safe and hygienic. We even get teenagers coming in for second piercings with their parents’ approval.” Please note that Dr. Teena will only pierce ears and you don’t have to be one of her patients to receive the service.
Dr. Teena and Dr. Roger’s affiliation with AdventHealth Tampa (AHT) hospital ensures a seamless connection to hospital care. Each morning, either Dr. Teena or Dr. Roger visit newborns at AHT, offering parents peace of mind as they navigate the early days of parenthood. Both doctors feel comfortable with pediatric patients of all ages, from newborns through teens.
Published Research, Too
The practice also participates in clinical research studies, contributing to advancements in pediatric medicine. Recently, Dr. Teena co-authored a study on PCV20 (which stands for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine 20-valent), which protects against seven more strains of pneumococcus (or pneumonia) than PCV13. Published in the prestigious Pediatrics (the official peer-reviewed flagship journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics), this research underscores the practice’s commitment to improving children’s health.
Families also can even participate in studies, such as those evaluating different types of baby formula. Participants receive formula free of charge and help researchers gather valuable insights by keeping journals of their experiences.
“These studies provide an opportunity for parents to access additional resources while contributing to medical advancements,” Dr. Teena explains. “The products they are evaluating are usually products they already use.”
The team includes three Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) — nurse practitioners Kelsey Overton, Adrienne Graham and Desiree Bonnet — who work closely with Dr. Teena and Dr. Roger to provide additional top-notch care. This cohesive team ensures that every family feels supported, no matter the need.
Dr. Teena balances her professional life with her role as a mother and grandmother. With four children and one grandson, family is at the heart of everything she does. Her second son Casey currently is completing a post-graduate residency in Chicago and, while his future plans are undecided, Dr. Teena welcomes the possibility of him joining the practice and adding to her legacy.
She also is proud of the relationships she’s built over the years. “Being a pediatrician is about more than just medicine,” she says. “It’s about trust, compassion, and being there for families during every stage of life.”
The office also is highly accessible, with hours designed for busy families. Open Mon.- Fri., 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and 8 a.m.-noon on Sat., the practice offers same-day and next-day appointments, as well as walk-ins at 8 a.m. Patients can schedule appointments online through the practice’s website, which also provides a wealth of educational resources on topics like car seat safety, immunizations and traveling with children.
Teena Hughes, M.D., P.A., Pediatrics is located at 4444 E Fletcher Ave., Suite C, and accepts most major health insurance plans. For appointments and more info, call (813) 903-0060 or visit TeenaHughesPediatrics.com.
As previously announced, the last remaining New Tampa Winn-Dixie supermarket, located at 6425 County Line Rd. (in the same plaza as LA Fitness), closed on Dec. 8 and is in the process of being converted to the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area’s third ALDI grocery store.
At our press time, we didn’t know how long it would take for the new ALDI to open, but this Germany-based international brand already has nearly 2,500 U.S. supermarkets and more than 200 stores in Florida, including at 18002 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. in New Tampa and at 2215 Sun Vista Dr. in Lutz (in front of Costco).
Sindbad To Replace Bang-Bang!
Although the tasty Bang-Bang! Bowls store in the Pebble Creek Collection (at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite C-2) lasted less than a year, coming soon (maybe even by the time you’re reading this) to that location is the second Sindbad Tampa restaurant, which features smoothies, juices, crepes, desserts, cakes and ice cream.
The original Sindbad location is at 10933 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace, and even though the shop has a Middle Eastern-sounding name (Sindbad the Sailor is a fictional character from Baghdad), the sign now posted in the Pebble Creek location would seem to indicate a more Mexican-inspired menu. Among the items listed on that sign include Elote (Mexican street corn), Mangonada (a Mexican frozen beverage), Aguas Frescas (Mexican fresh fruit juice smoothies), Frutas con Nieve (water-based Mexican ice cream) and more Latin fare. However, the New Tampa Sindbad, like its Temple Terrace counterpart, also will feature some delicious-looking Sindbad Waffles (right) with fresh strawberries, blueberries and Nutella and you can even add ice cream.
Until the New Tampa location opens, visit or call the Temple Terrace Sindbad at (813) 443-9692 & please tell them I sent you! — GN
The team of doctors at AllergyTampa, which has a location on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., includes Dr. Richard Lockey (above), Dr. Seong Cho (below right), Dr. Mark Glaum (below left) & Dr. Amber Pepper (Bottom right) & Dr. Emily Dzoba (bottom left).
When it comes to AllergyTampa, located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. near E. Fletcher Ave., caring for individuals with allergies and immunological diseases goes beyond the walls of the office. Doctors Richard Lockey, Seong Cho, Mark Glaum, Amber Pepper and newest addition Dr. Emily Dzoba not only provide quality care for thousands of patients, they also participate in ground-breaking research and train students and medical professionals in the specialty.
A founding faculty member of the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine, Dr. Richard Lockey helped start USF’s Division of Allergy & Immunology in 1973, along with founding director Dr. Samuel Bukantz. More than 50 years later, USF’s Division of Allergy & Immunology has been recognized as a World Allergy Organization “Center of Excellence.”
Dr. Lockey earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the Temple University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA, before becoming a Professor of Medicine at USF. He is a past president of the World Allergy Organization and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI).
Dr. Lockey first established his private practice in 1984 as “Academic Associates in Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.” At that time, Dr. Lockey humbly wondered if he would even have enough patients. Within just five years, he was already getting referrals for severe asthmatics. Now, 40 years later, AllergyTampa’s flagship practice is thriving and there is a second location in South Tampa, and Dr. Lockey is still actively involved, seeing patients two days a week in addition to his teaching and research at USF.
Despite his 50+ years of experience, Dr. Lockey appears to be in no rush to retire. His love of the work is evident — and not surprising — since his interest in allergy and immunology was sparked at a young age. Going on rounds with his father, a family physician who later specialized in allergy and immunology, Dr. Lockey says he was greatly impacted by what he witnessed — especially people who were struggling to breathe deeply.
Then, after doing a research paper on asthma in medical school, it became clear to him that allergy & immunology was the specialty in which he wanted to make his mark. Dr. Lockey, and his colleagues at AllergyTampa, continue to be at the forefront of quality patient care that benefits from clinical research, Board-certified expertise and a desire to improve the quality of life for those suffering from allergies and immunological diseases.
“The advances in immunology have totally revolutionized our care,” Dr. Lockey says. “The treatment of allergic and immunological diseases, in my lifetime, has changed exponentially. People no longer die from diseases they used to die from.”
Dr. Seong Cho
Participating in those advances enables the doctors at AllergyTampa to provide informed, expert care for their patients.
Dr. Lockey’s colleague, Dr. Seong Cho, shares his optimism about where medical science is heading. An otolaryngologist, or ear, nose & throat (ENT) specialist, Dr. Cho earned his M.D. degree from Kyung Hee University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea. He honed his allergy and immunology expertise at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL, before joining AllergyTampa.
Dr. Cho describes how research of biologics (a class of drugs that can be used to treat a variety of allergic conditions, including asthma, eczema and food allergies) is expanding. Biologics are now being used to help with other conditions and are altering approaches to treatment altogether. As an ENT, Dr. Cho has seen first-hand how these advances have major impacts — for example, for patients who have nasal polyps, which are non-cancerous growths inside the nose or sinuses that can last for several months and are more common with allergies, asthma and frequent infections. While small nasal polyps may not cause symptoms, larger ones can cause discomfort and complications that need to be addressed.
“In the past, nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis were surgical diseases,” Dr. Cho says. “But now, because of those medications, you don’t need to have repeated surgeries. We figure out [which] molecule causes the problem and target it.” That precision means fewer side effects for patients and, as their use continues, injections may have the potential to treat a variety of other conditions. That marriage of research and patient care by the doctors at AllergyTampa has led to other life-changing treatments.
Dr. Mark Glaum
Dr. Mark Glaum describes how clinical research changed the landscape of how hereditary angioedema (HAE) is treated. HAE is an immune reaction which can be triggered by any number of potentially everyday occurrences, from anxiety and stress to colds and even minor injuries like a scratch. It can cause swelling of the face, intestinal tract and airway and, depending upon the location and severity, also can cause disfigurement or even potentially be life-threatening. HAE previously was only treated with supportive care, but that too has evolved, thanks to the clinical research involved in creating products that are now on the market.
Dr. Glaum describes how these new medications helped a specific patient that had been extremely limited by her HAE.
“She had never gone on a cruise, or a vacation outside of a metropolitan area, because she was afraid that she would have an attack and need treatment,” Dr. Glaum shares. “But, now that she is controlled, with no flare-ups or swelling on the medication, she is free to go and enjoy life and vacations outside of the city.”
Dr. Glaum earned his M.D. degree from Hahnemann University School of Medicine (now Drexel University College of Medicine) in Philadelphia, and completed an allergy and clinical immunology fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital, also in Philadelphia. He says that when he came out of his training, there was only supportive care for hereditary angioedema.
Quality Of Life Improvements
Dr. Amber Pepper
Helping people with allergies and immunological diseases improve their overall quality of life is a priority for all of the doctors at AllergyTampa. Dr. Amber Pepper says she was inspired to focus on the specialty in medical school, after meeting her husband, who has allergies and asthma, and seeing how those conditions affected him. That personal connection, along with the opportunity to shadow Dr. Dennis Ledford (who retired from this same practice), whom she calls an amazing mentor, at USF, made it an obvious choice. Dr. Pepper went on to earn her M.D. degree from USF in 2013 and completed her internal medicine residency and allergy & immunology fellowship at USF in 2016.
Dr. Pepper emphasizes the importance of identifying food allergies, which she says are distinct from food sensitivities and intolerances.
“The thing about food allergies, that is really important, is that if you are truly allergic, you can potentially have anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction that can cause patients to go into shock if not treated immediately), which can be life threatening,” she says, adding that, “there are now certain types of immunotherapies that we can do to try to increase the threshold of food allergies.”
Dr. Emily Dzoba
For people who suffer from certain environmental allergies, Florida can be especially challenging according to Dr. Emily Dzoba, the newest member of the AllergyTampa team. Dr. Dzoba earned her M.D. degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville in 2019 and completed her internal medicine residency there in 2022. In June of this year, she completed her allergy & immunology fellowship at USF and came to AllergyTampa in October.
“What’s pretty unique here in Florida is the pollen season,” Dr. Dzoba says. “It lasts all the way from January to May because of the climate.”
Keeping track of area pollen levels is key for these reasons and the pollen-counting station at USF, which is run by Dr. Glaum, is there to help the wider Tampa Bay community.
“We do counts of pollens that are in the air at any given point and time, on a weekly basis, and report it to the National Allergy Bureau,” Dr. Glaum explains. “It helps our patients keep track of what’s in the air that they might be sensitive to, and gives them a heads-up.”
One thing that Dr. Glaum says makes AllergyTampa — where all of the doctors are Board-certified (Dr. Dzoba’s Board certification is pending) and members of AAAAI — unique is that, “We try to make sure when you come in you see a physician, each time. You don’t see a PA or nurse practitioner. We pride ourselves on taking care of patients like they were our family members.”
AllergyTampa has offices at 13801 BBD Blvd., Suite 502, and in South Tampa at 1906 W. Platt St. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit AllergyTampa.com or call (813) 971-9743.
