The North Tampa Bay Chamber Has Had A Busy March 2026!

Broadcaster, Author & Professor Mike Nabors Tells The NTBC: ‘Don’t Quit, Pivot!’ 

As a fellow University of Florida College of Journalism grad, I’ll freely admit that Florida Southern College (in Lakeland) professor Mike Nabors (above), who earned his Master’s degree from USF, has had a pretty unique career. 

After more than 30 years in the broadcasting business, where he has been on-air for the New Orleans Saints (his first book, called The Brees Way, is about the career of retired Saints QB Drew Brees), the Tampa Bay Lightning, ESPN and several TV stations, Mike told nearly 100 members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) on Mar. 4 about his new book — Don’t Quit, Pivot. It tells how he was able d to pivot his own career at age 50 to become a college professor. 

“I loved being a broadcaster,” Nabors said. “But I found out that I really love teaching. I never thought I’d be on Spring Break at my age, but I can’t wait to get back to the classroom and to my students.” 

In order to become a college professor, he had to go back to school to get a Master’s degree and he admitted that he felt like Rodney Dangerfield in the movie “Back to School” — “a reference that none of my students had even heard of” — and that writing a thesis was harder than writing a book. 

“I’ve found that there are three types of working people — people who are passionate about their jobs, people who tolerate what they do and people who genuinely dislike their jobs but continue to do them for the paycheck. If you’re not passionate about your career, you shouldn’t be afraid to change it up. And, my book can show you how.” 

Nabors also started his own TV production company, the Nabors Media Group, which has produced sports documentaries, as well as videos for a number of nonprofit companies, including the Moffitt Cancer Center and Humane Society of Tampa Bay. 

For more information about Mike Nabors, visit MikeNabors.com. For the NTBC, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com or call (813) 994-8534. — GN, all photos by Charmaine George 

NTBC Ribbon-Cuttings — Woodie’s Wash Shack, Comprehensive Foot & Ankle & Dr. Rosh 

The North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) continues to help local businesses announce they have arrived in our area with well-attended ribbon-cutting events. Among those in the last 45 days include the new Woodie’s Wash Shack — The Grove (next to the new Target at 5618 Oakley Blvd.) on Feb. 20; and, on Mar. 5, both Dr. Bryan Raymond’s Comprehensive Foot & Ankle Specialists (at 2816 Windguard Cir., Ste. 102, Wesley Chapel) and the new location of Dr. Roshni Ranjit-Reeves’ Doctor Rosh Oculofacial Specialist at 18311 U.S. Hwy. 41, Lutz. 

Woodie’s, which is now up to 17 Tampa Bay-area locations, hosted a great, crowded event with free car washes all day, plus free Chick-fil-A boxes, lots of free merch and more. For more information, visit WoodiesWash.com. 

Podiatrist Dr. Bryan Raymond, DPM, who moved from a smaller office on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, provides custom orthotic shoe inserts, digital X-rays, sports and regenerative medicine, non-invasive vascular testing, Softwave technology to reduce inflammation, minimally invasive surgeries performed in-office and more. 

For appointments & more info, visit CFASDoc.com, call (813) 344-1932. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Rosh — whose original office location was on S.R. 54 in Lutz (next to Brunchies), has been in her much more spacious new location for nearly two months. 

Dr. Rosh specializes in cosmetic plastic surgery and reconstruction of the eyes and their surrounding structures, including the eyelids, eyelashes, orbit, eye socket and lacrimal system. 

“We also are now able to offer in-house IV anesthesia and our surgeries in our new location,” Dr. Rosh says. “But, this place really feels more like a spa than a medical office.” For more info, call (813) 303-0123 or visit DoctorRosh.com. — GN 

More NTBC Events — Optimum Health & Wellness, Ginger Health & AdventHealth WC 

It’s been such a busy few weeks for the NTBC that we have another whole page of events to show you that were held on Mar. 12 & Mar. 18. 

Ginger Health 

On Mar. 12, Ginger Health, the office of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Ginger Le (at right in near photo), located at 27553 Cashford Cir., Suite 102, in the Summergate Professional Park in Wesley Chapel, held a very cool NTBC Open House event, with demonstrations of an Emsella Chair (below left; sitting in it is like doing thousands of kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor of both men and women), a Sensory Chair (not pictured) to help regulate your nervous system), Shockwave Therapy (below right; a non-invasive device using high-energy sound waves to stimulate healing), massage and traditional PT exercises to an appreciative crowd of attendees. 

We gave bonus points to Dr. Le for serving delicious pasta and sandwiches (bottom left) from Pasta di Guy (4839 BBD Blvd. in Wesley Chapel), plus large shrimp, cold cuts and more. 

For more info about Ginger Health, which also has a Temple Terrace location, call (813) 631-9700 or visit GingerHealth.com. 

Optimum Health & Wellness 

Later that same day, Optimum Health & Wellness (23031 Tabak Ln.), the office of psychiatric nurse practitioner Heather Hughes, MSN, ARNP (in pale blue in both upper far right photos), held its NTBC ribbon-cutting event to introduce her spacious new office located less than a mile from of the intersection of Collier Pkwy. and S.R. 54 in Land O’Lakes. 

“At Optimum Health & Wellness,” Heather said, “we believe true healing means caring for the whole self, not just treating isolated symptoms. Your journey may include nutrition, lifestyle support and integrative practices that bring mind and body back into alignment.” 

Optimum Health & Wellness also offers “Insight through Testing,” because, as Heather said, “We know that ental health is deeply connected to what is happening within the body. Functional lab testing helps uncover nutrient, hormone and inflammation imbalances that may be influencing how you feel.” 

For more info, call (813) 856-1515 or visit OptimumHealthandWellness.org. 

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Coffee Social 

Then, on Mar. 18, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel (AHWC) hosted the NTBC’s monthly Coffee Social, which moves around to different member venues every month. 

The coffee event was supposed to be held outside, in the hospital’s beautiful healing garden (below), but was moved indoors because of cold weather that morning. 

The Social was instead moved into a packed employee lounge and conference room inside the hospital, but none of the 60-70 people in attendance really seemed to mind avoiding the cold. 

The hospital’s chief operating officer Zachary Crane (above, front) thanked everyone for coming and the rest of the time was spent mingling, networking and enjoying the free coffee, mini-quiches and pastries. 

The NTBC’s Coffee Socials are networking opportunities only, with no set agenda or program and you don’t have to be a Chamber member to attend. 

For more information about Advent- Health Wesley Chapel, visit AdventHealth. com. For more info about the North Tampa Bay Chamber and its events, call (813) 994- 8534 or visit NorthTampaBayChamber.org. — GN

You’re Entitled To Your Opinion, But I Think NY NY Pizza Is Wesley Chapel’s Best!

The first time I ever had New York New York (aka NY NY) Pizza, my friend Suzi had just finished her set at an Open Mic night at The Improv in Ybor City in 2007 and all of the comics went to NY NY’s take-out window on 7th Ave. for a slice. 

As a native New Yawka who had moved to Wesley Chapel 14 years earlier, I was impressed enough with the crust, sauce, cheese and overall flavor of that first slice that when I was told, in 2012, that NY NY was opening a location in Wesley Chapel, I was excited to meet the owner, Freddy Mamudi, and tell him how much I enjoyed that first slice (with pepperoni and Italian sausage) and just how much I was looking forward to his 2013 opening on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. 

NY NY has been in my top two or three favorite pizza places in Wesley Chapel (or New Tampa) ever since, at one point just behind the former La Prima Pizza (which originally opened as the second location of Pizza Suprema) in the Target shopping center, and neck-and-neck with Amici Pizza on Wesley Chapel Blvd. 

When La Prima closed in 2019, NY NY became #1 in my book, especially once I sampled NY NY’s “Grandma’s pizza” (left), which most NY-style pizza places now serve but which wasn’t even a thing yet when I left the Big Apple in 1993. 

In my opinion, NY NY’s crisp, thin crust is the closest to true NYC pizza locally and the sauce and mozzarella cheese are spot-on. But, the garlicky sauce and fresh basil on NY NY’s Grandma’s pizza has made it competition for my favorite, along with the restaurant’s pepperoni and sausage pizza. 

These days, the Wesley Chapel location is one of nine that Freddy at least co-owns. He keeps his hand in every location because he insists that all of his partners — like his cousin Disi Musa (at right in the top photo, with Freddy) — have worked at another of his locations for years before giving them the opportunity to partner in their own locations. Disi worked for Freddy since 2008 in Ybor and was a partner in the Carrollwood location since 2014. 

“It’s all about quality control,” Freddy told me on my most recent visit with photographer Charmaine George. “If everyone puts their own spin on our recipes, it’s no longer the NY NY pizza our customers have come to expect.” 

When you visit NY NY Pizza for the first time, instead of a pie, I suggest trying four or five different slices — since most or all of these are available every day in the display case next to the cash register. Get one Grandma’s; one regular cheese; one pepperoni, sausage or meat lovers slice; one of whatever your favorite specialty slice may be and one square Sicilian slice (definitely the most authentic crust and flavor of any Sicilian that I’ve sampled in the Tampa Bay area; more on this below). I’ve never been a big fan of “white” pizza or veggie pizza, but if these or other “Gourmet” slices are your go-tos, definitely give them a try here, too. 

Speaking of Sicilian, as I was preparing to write this story, I happened to be in downtown Tampa and decided to check out Tampa’s most storied (and busiest) pizza place — Eddie & Sam’s NY Pizza on E. Twiggs St. Although I honestly thought Eddie & Sam’s (which I hadn’t visited in years) was good, neither its Grandma’s nor its Sicilian slices could touch NY NY. I’m fine if you disagree, but I say try both places for yourself and tell me which you really like better. 

Other Stuff, Too 

Although it’s hard for me to venture away from NY NY’s pizza, I do enjoy a lot of the place’s other menu items. 

The chef’s salad, with rolled ham, turkey and cheese and lots of fresh veggies, is good, as is the big portion of lasagna. I told Freddy and Disi that I’d prefer to see a little thicker sauce on the lasagna, but the amount and flavor of the ground beef and ricotta cheese stuffing were both spot-on. I also enjoyed the penne alla vodka, to which I added grilled chicken. Both the lasagna and the penne were served with tasty toasted garlic bread on my most recent visit, because the usual yummy garlic knots on the menu weren’t made yet that day (Charmaine and I were there fairly early). 

We also were genuinely impressed with both NY NY’s baked crispy and zesty mild Buffalo wings (which also are available in hot, hot garlic, teriyaki, garlic parmesan, sweet chili, BBQ & hot BBQ, lemon pepper and mango habanero). The wings are available as extras in NY NY’s “Family Meal” deals (see below and the ad below for details). And, even the extra-crispy French fries are really excellent. 

But, while I’ve never had a calzone or stromboli at NY NY (I really don’t love those anywhere), I have enjoyed NY NY’s properly oven-baked meatball and chicken parmigiana subs. What I didn’t expect, to be honest, was how much I’d appreciate NY NY’s Philly cheesesteak, although I definitely won’t claim that it’s authentic Philly-style — and that’s what I like about it! I’ve had both Pat’s and Gino’‘s and a couple of others in Philadelphia and I prefer NY NY’s oven-crisp sub rolls to the traditional, soft Amoroso rolls in Philly and you can give me the real mozzarella over that city’s usual cheese sauce every time. NY NY’s grilled onions and peppers were properly sautéed to tender and the overall flavor was outstanding. 

Meal Deals & Specials 

In the previously mentioned ad below, you’ll find a number of “meal deals” and specials that will please your wallet nearly as much as they please your appetite. The Family Meal Deal includes one extra-large one-topping pizza, 10 wings and six garlic knots for just $39.99, or upgrade it to two XL pizzas for just $59.99. 

The Pasta Special includes two baked pastas and six garlic knots for just $25.99, while the Pizza Special is one medium one-topping pizza and one hot appetizer for $19.99. There also is a Sandwich Special (2 hot or cold subs, with fries, for $25.99) and Every Day Slice Specials with a drink ($8 for two cheese slices, $10 for pepperoni and $12 for two Gourmet slices). 

And, if you mention the Neighborhood News when you call or pick up, you’ll save 10%. 

Try NY NY for great pizza and great people! 

NY NY Pizza (3757 BBD Blvd.) is open Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-9 p.m., & 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. For more info, call (813) 528-8771 or visit NYNYPizzeria.com. Online ordering and delivery are available.

Tampa City Ballet Hosts An Amazing ‘Inside The Studio’ Wine & Cheese Social!

I’m so glad our photographer Charmaine George was able to be on hand for the “Inside the Studio” wine & cheese event at the Tampa City Ballet (TCB) studio at 15365 Amberly Dr., in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms. The event was hosted by TCB founder and artistic director Paula Nuñez (right in photo) and Board member Marguerite Pinard (left in same photo) and featured demonstration dances by TCB’s super-talented professional dancers, as well as a vocal performance by Coloratura Soprano Daniela Mass, (below left), plus wine, cheese and many TCB supporters and joyous attendees.

Up next for TCB is “Dance Now,” Tampa Bay’s (FREE) Dance Festival, with hundreds of dancers from Bay-area dance troupes of all genres. It will be held at Tampa’s Water Works Park (next to Ulele Restaurant) on Sunday, March 15, 4 p.m. For more info, see the ad below or visit TampaCityBallet.org. — GN

Eight Turn Crêpe Brings Unique Japanese Street Food To Wesley Chapel

If you’ve been wanting to try something truly different from the norm in our area — whether you want a delicious hand-held savory crêpe filled with crispy pork belly, chicken teriyaki or even smoked salmon and cream cheese, or a sumptuous dessert crêpe with Dubai chocolate or lychee, raspberry and almonds, you probably should go check out the new Eight Turn Crêpe, which celebrated its Grand Opening (photo above) at 2653 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., Suite 116, on Jan. 31. 

This location was previously occupied by 35 Below ice cream, in the same plaza as Dickey’s BBQ, Umu Japanese & Thai and Sorbo coffee — which is interesting because Eight Turn Crêpe is an homage to Japanese street food, but offers items that are completely different from anything served at either Umu or Sorbo. 

Let’s start with the company itself, which began with a single location in New York City’s Soho district in 2013 and is now up to about a dozen locations in New York, California, Texas, Idaho, Washington state and Virginia. The BBD location is the first to open in Florida and the chain’s VP of franchising Steve Kogan was on hand (left in top photo) for the opening of franchise owner Lien Nguyen’s (center in same photo) Wesley Chapel location. 

The former ice cream shop is small but attractive, with only a few tables inside and a few more outside, but the stars of the show are the super-tasty, naturally gluten-free, rice flour crêpes themselves. You can order them in either the classic Japanese cone shape (right photo above) or rolled and sliced sushi-style, like the crispy Tokyo pork belly crêpe Charmaine and I shared (left) — an amazing mix of flavors, with kimchi, avocado, lettuce, crispy shallots, sesame seeds and Japanese mayo. 

In addition to the options I mentioned above, there’s also Thai chicken, bacon, egg & cheese and Philly cheesesteak savory options and all of the sweet crêpes are layered with different flavors of custard cream — and most of them are stuffed with fresh fruits, including strawberries, bananas, raspberries, blueberries, mango and lychee, with pistachios, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts, crunchy flakes, granola and more. 

I incorrectly assumed that the sweet crêpes also would include gelato, but even though only two of the sweet crêpes on the menu include a scoop of vanilla gelato, there are a number of other gelato flavors you can add to any sweet crêpe on the menu. Best of all, you also can design your own sweet or savory crêpe, using any of the aforementioned ingredients. 

Eight Turn Crêpe also has a large variety of bubble and fresh fruit teas, “super food” smoothies and creamy Japanese milk shakes. Charmaine and I loved the cherry blossom milkshake we shared — it was bursting with real cherry flavor. 

I’m hoping our readers will find and frequent Eight Turn Crêpe. It’s truly different from anything else in our area — and totally tasty. 

For info, call (813) 867-6413 or visit EightTurnCrepe.com. — GN, all photos by Charmaine George 

Señor Tequila Keeps Upgrading Its Authentic Mexican Menu!

If it’s been a while since you last ate at Señor Tequila, located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., in the Shoppes at New Tampa of Wesley Chapel plaza just south of S.R. 56, I suggest you try it again. 

When I told assistant manager Samantha Lopez that Jannah and I noticed a definite increase in quality the last couple of times we ate at Señor Tequila, Samantha said, “The owner, Alvaro Mellado, brought in a new general manager, Norma Mellado (yes, they’re related) and a new chef and they have been working on the quality.” 

It shows. Although I’ve never eaten at any of the other Señor Tequila locations (in Westchase, on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Carrollwood and in Winter Springs), I have been sampling the Wesley Chapel location since it first opened in 2021 and everything — from existing items like the sizzling chicken fajitas (top photo) and molcajete (left) to new menu additions, like the esquites (spicy, creamy, “street” corn off the cob, below right), tostones Mexicanos (bottom right), birria tacos (below left) and the Señor Tequila’s Favorite skirt steak (bottom right) — are all quality. 

Samantha says the fajitas are still Señor Tequila’s top-sellers. Jannah and I often do a steak and chicken Fajitas Mexicanas combo (there’s also a Texas Fajitas combo with beef, chicken and shrimp), but since we were sampling some other beef dishes, we opted for all chicken this time. The chicken came out tasty and tender and the sizzling onions, bell peppers and tomatoes were all spot-on. 

Samantha says she prefers the new esquites to the restaurant’s still-available street corn on the cob — and we agreed the large order of it was delicious, with mayo, cotija cheese, lime, tajin and cilantro. 

Although I can’t eat shrimp, Charmaine said the tostones with ceviche-style shrimp, topped with pico de gallo, queso fresco, homemade chipotle sauce and guacamole may have been her favorite dish of the day. 

And, although we all found the molcajete — another popular sizzling dish served in a lava rock bowl “heaped with beef strips, chicken, pork, chorizo sausage and shrimp (which we had them serve on the side for Charmaine) and topped with cheese, grilled cactus, avocado, peppers and onions — was too many different flavors in one dish for our taste, Samantha says that traditional Mexican lovers say it’s among their favorites. Like the fajitas, the molcajete is served with rice, creamy refried beans, lettuce, guacamole, pico de gallo, sour cream and flour tortillas — so it’s more than a meal just by itself. 

Jannah’s favorite new dish was the trio of birria tacos, which feature tender shredded beef, onions and cilantro in obviously homemade corn tortillas shells and served with a savory beef broth consommé. 

Charmaine and I both preferred the Señor Tequila’s Favorite steak, which also was extremely tender and topped with a zesty house-made chimichurri sauce and served with a side of perfectly grilled mixed veggies and Mexican rice. 

So good! 

And of course, Señor Tequila also has a popular queso dip, fresh guacamole (not made tableside), a sampler appetizer with beef nachos, chicken quesadilla, chicken flautas and stuffed jalapeños, plus favorites like burritos, chimichangas, chiles rellenos and enchiladas, as well as steak Monterrey (served with a poblano pepper stuffed with shrimp, peppers, onions and mushroom, topped with a creamy habanero pesto sauce), chicken & steak brochetas and much more. 

What About Beverages? 

If you check out the ad below, you’ll see that Señor Tequila offers a number of different drink specials, including Margarita Tuesday, when regular 16-oz. house margaritas cost only $5, Thirsty Thursday, when a 28-oz. sangria or sangrita (which has a bottom layer of frozen lime margarita topped with a layer of homemade sangria) for only $9. There’s also a great Happy Hour every Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m., with draft beers, house wines and house margaritas all 2-for-1. 

In the photo above, the 16-oz. house margarita is on the left, the 28-oz. sangrita is in the middle and the rosarita, with Three Olives rosé vodka, instead of tequila) is on the right. Jannah also sampled a “skinny” margarita, which may have been her favorite of all the drinks. 

Señor Tequila also has a huge assortment of upscale tequilas, mezcals, Mexican and domestic beers on draught and in bottles, and a gorgeous, full premium liquor bar. 

And yes, there’s also a $10.99 kids menu, with everything from one cheese quesadilla, taco, burrito or enchilada (with rice or rice and beans), or chicken fingers or a cheeseburger (with French fries). All kids’ menu items also include a soft drink. 

Señor Tequila is located at 1640 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. It is open Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. & 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 428-5411, visit TheSenorTequila.com.