Don Julio’s Celebrates Grand Opening & Anniversary!

When Julio and his wife Ximena Rodriguez first opened the original Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave. seven years ago, the restaurant was an homage to Julio’s mother Esther Rodriguez (or Doña Esther). Esther began putting her cooking talents to good use in the late 1980s and early ‘90s by selling her authentic Mexican cuisine out of her garage in West Tampa after her husband, the original Don Julio, passed away when her three children were still young. She did well enough to put all three kids through college. 

As we reported last year, since then, Julio and Ximena opened a much larger restaurant, with a full-liquor bar, in the City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center, which has really helped increase the Rodriguez family’s exposure in the community “and brought in a lot of new customers,” Julio says. 

But, just a few days before we went to press with this issue, Julio and Ximena had moved the original Don Julio’s two spaces down in the same plaza — to the much larger space previously occupied by Bearss Tavern & Tap. “It just got too packed on the weekends at the old space, Julio says. 

I promised Julio that Jannah, photographer Charmaine George (who took all of these pictures), her boyfriend Brendan and I would visit the “new” location to not only check out the much larger space but also to sample some of Doña Esther’s “autentica” recipes we hadn’t tried before. 

And, it just so happens that Doña Esther (center in above photo, with Ximena and Julio) was helping out in the kitchen on the day we visited — and yes, we definitely sampled! We started by sharing the huge Don Julio’s Sampler (photo right) from the “Antojitos/Cravings” menu. The sampler includes crisp taquitos (we had them filled with chicken), a tamale (corn dough stuffed with pork, wrapped in a corn husk and steamed), a sope (handmade thick corn tortilla topped with refried beans, lettuce, onions, cheese and sour cream; we added ground beef to it), a tostada (similar to a sope, but flatter; we added carne asada steak to it), nachos (we added pastor and ground beef) and our new favorite, the perfectly cheesy quesadillas to which we added shredded chicken. 

We each also ordered a main course. Jannah got her usual fave (although it was her first time having it at Don Julio’s) — the ground beef enchiladas (with refried beans and a red guajillo chile sauce). Charmaine really enjoyed her taco salad (bottom right photo) with tender carne asada steak. Brendan also raved about his chimichanga al pastor (marinated pork cooked on a vertical spit; left photo), which also was stuffed with plenty of cheese and topped with melted cheese). 

I also tried the Bistec Ranchero (below), which is round steak cooked (and covered) in an amazing combination of tomatoes, onions and serrano peppers. The steak itself was not quite as tender as the carne asada, but the flavor was truly fantastic. 

The new restaurant itself is beautiful. Julio says, “It took us six months to build this out, but we’re very pleased with the result,” including the authentic Mexican Talavera tile behind the bar (bottom left photo). We’d have to agree. 

And, speaking of the bar, the newest Don Julio’s still features an incredible selection of tequilas and mezcals, some very upscale and rare, but all at very reasonable prices. Brendan, previously a long-time bartender, said his strawberry margarita was “spot on,” Charmaine savored her tequila sunrise and Jannah raved about the white sangria. I, of course, also had no complaints about my Woodford Reserve bourbon. 

Ready For Cinco? 

Julio promises that both locations of Don Julio’s will be throwing “the best Cinco de Mayo party in town” the weekend of May 3-4, “and the big final blowout on Monday, the 5th.” 

“We’ll have DJ music, drink specials and, at the Bearss location, we’ll be serving quick and easy tacos from our food truck outside,” he says. “Plus the new location has this huge outdoor patio, so come check us out!” 

Both award-winning Don Julio’s locations (2802 E. Bearss Ave. and 16023 Tampa Palms Blvd.) are open Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday & Saturday. For more information, visit DonJuliosMexican.com or find them on Facebook or Instagram. For reservations (not required but suggested, especially on the weekends), call (813) 898-2860 (Bearss Ave.) or (813) 644-7899 (Tampa Palms). 

Apex Internal Medicine’s Dr. Satodiya Provides Personalized Primary Care For Adults 

The team at Apex Internal Medicine of Tampa, located in the Cory Lake Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, includes (l.-r.) medical assistants Jennifer Araujo and Leticia Jerguson and Dr. Mukesh Satodiya. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

Dr. Mukesh Satodiya opened Apex Internal Medicine of Tampa three years ago to serve the community and neighborhood that he lives in and loves. The primary care practice is located in the Cory Lake Professional Center on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, minutes from Wesley Chapel. 

Working with a wide range of adult patients is something that Dr. Satodiya appreciates about his location and clientele. 

“It’s a mixed population, a mix of ethnicities, working people to retired, 18-year-olds to seniors,” he says. “A broad spectrum from the medical practice point of view.” 

Dr. Satodiya’s 15+ years of practicing medicine, along with his incredibly personable approach, serve his diverse clientele well. Board-certified in Internal Medicine, he earned a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree from B. J. Medical College in Ahmedabad, India, in 1999. He completed his residency training in internal medicine in 2007 at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, NJ. 

His previous experience includes working in both a hospital environment, as well as with a corporate medical practice. Dr. Satodiya says that having his own practice allows him to focus on the level of patient care, which is what matters most to him. Born and raised in India, his decision to become a doctor was inspired by his view of it as a noble profession focused on helping others. 

“Our main purpose is to offer more personal care, rather than treating a certain number of patients per day,” explains Dr. Satodiya. “Most of our patients like that we’re not a huge office, and they know me personally, as well as the staff. And we know them.” 

That extra level of interaction and accessibility makes it easier for patients to feel comfortable reaching out to the office when they have needs or concerns. Dr. Satodiya and his staff make sure to always get back to patients promptly. 

“They will hear back quickly,” he says. “Either from my medical assistant or I will call them back and talk to them myself. And, if we need to see them, we see them as early as possible, either the same day or the next day.” 

He knows these are important things that patients often find frustrating about their experiences at larger medical offices with multiple providers. Administrative details and goals set by insurance companies or corporate offices, often can be the priority in those types of environments. 

“It’s easy for anybody to set these goals and deadlines and say these are the things we need to focus on,” Dr. Satodiya says. “Then, between all these other influences, sometimes the quality of care for the patient is not the best.” 

Patients definitely notice the difference in the care at Apex Internal Medicine. For example, patient Joe Spoto found out about the Apex office a couple of years ago, and has been with Dr. Satodiya ever since. 

“I’ve stuck with him because he listens to you,” Spoto says. “He doesn’t rush you through your appointment. You’re not just limited to one topic if you have more than one thing going on. And, he’s nice! I’ve had doctors that rush you in and rush you out, but he’s been great. I really appreciate him.” 

Dr. Satodiya understands that providing primary care requires more than a cookie cutter approach. That’s why the office tailors the length of appointments to allow him to have an adequate amount of time with each patient. 

“Especially when we talk about senior care, we do need more time sometimes,” explains Dr. Satodiya. “[The elderly] have a lot of concerns, they are taking many medications and they may have more medical problems. Sometimes 30 or 35 minutes is not enough to address everything that we need.” 

Expert Care For Seniors 

An expert in senior care, Dr. Satodiya understands the common issues many elders face. He helps his patients improve their quality of life and works to keep them under control whenever possible. He sees the treatment of his patients as far more than just prescribing medications. 

“Education also is very important, because just a medication is not going to help them completely,” he says. “I try to make sure [my patients] know about their medical conditions and what else they can do, besides just taking their medication — whether it is diet, physical activity or if there is some monitoring or testing they can do at home — so they can take care of themselves better. We educate them on what to watch for, including potential side effects and how can we minimize their medication doses. That’s always better, because there are less side effects and complications for the patient.” 

Another priority at Apex Internal Medicine is providing resources to patients. For example, some senior patients have limited resources at home or may be living by themselves. Dr. Satodiya encourages them to call and reach out to the office whenever they are unsure of something, and he connects them to information and helpful organizations. 

He says, “We tell them where there are senior centers, community churches and other social places that will make them feel good and help them make new friends, rather than just always staying by themselves.” 

While Apex Internal Medicine sees patients ages 18 and up, the staff often finds that seniors are having more challenges, including navigating insurance, understanding the medication they are taking, as well as scheduling other procedures. 

“Let’s say they need X-rays or labs,” explains Dr. Satodiya. “The younger population can go online and find that stuff by themselves. But, some seniors have limited access to information. I train my staff to help them, give them more options and guide them.” 

Patients can have blood draws, urine tests, blood sugar checks, flu tests, Covid tests as well as electrocardiograms (EKGs) on-site at Apex, which also offers medical weight loss programs. When there is a time sensitive follow-up that needs to be done off-site, the staff will call and help set up the appointment for them. 

“That way it will be easier for the patient to go and get it done, rather than them having to figure it out by themselves,” Dr. Satodiya says. 

He recommends people not wait until they have problems to visit. Preventive care is ideal since small things taken care of early can help avoid future complications. He also says that regular check-ups are important for people of all ages. Even when someone is feeling fine and doesn’t have any symptoms, there could still be underlying conditions that have not reached a level that is noticeable. 

“There are certain undiagnosed conditions in the early stages that don’t have any red flags you can see,” explains Dr. Satodiya. “We encourage people to do their annual check-up. Young adults, seniors
 we live in a very modern society where people don’t have time for themselves. Whether they are doing good or not, they may not know that they have very high cholesterol or high blood pressure and it’s not going to cause any symptoms until it’s something serious like a stroke or heart attack. If they let it go untreated and undiagnosed it could already be causing damage to their kidneys or their heart.” 

Dr. Satodiya also says he tells all of his patients to get more physically active daily, and puts that into practice himself. He walks, rides a bicycle and plays volleyball and badminton to stay active. He also enjoys spending quality time with his family. He recommends everyone get out in nature and do something that makes them feel good physically and mentally, rather than worrying about how many calories are being burned. 

“If you can’t do a lot, just do something!” he says. “It can be something simple, like walking around the house or the neighborhood.” 

Apex Internal Medicine of Tampa is accepting new patients and Dr. Satodiya would like to see more people coming to visit for regular check-ups, not just when something is wrong. 

Apex Internal Medicine of Tampa is located at 10353 Cross Creek Blvd., Suite D, in the Cory Lake Professional Center. It is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. (closed for lunch from noon-1 p.m.), and evening appointments are available. The office accepts several major health insurance plans. To make an appointment or for more information, call (813) 725-4983 or visit ApexIMT.com.

Marimark Mortgage Will Help You Find The Best Mortgage For You! 

(L.-r.) Matt, Mary & Nick Catchur of Marimark Mortgage, located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, can help you find the best mortgage to suit your needs. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

When John Grime started thinking about buying an investment property in 2021, he needed a plan. 

He called his “go-to” mortgage broker, Mary Catchur of Marimark Mortgage in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, just off the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. exit of I-75. John says he’s built years of trust with Mary, as she’s helped him and his wife obtain financing to purchase a home, then refinance it when rates dropped. He knew if he ever bought an investment property, he would count on Marimark Mortgage to provide the financing to make that transaction happen. 

“Mary broke everything down and laid out a good roadmap for me of what the lender would ask for and what I would need,” he says. “Now, here I am, closing on a place.” 

He says that type of honest, straightforward advice is the reason he always counts on Marimark Mortgage and highly recommends Mary. 

“She’s detailed and she’s immediate with information,” John says. “Whether it’s a phone call, a text or an email, Mary constantly communicates.” 

Mary says that’s a hallmark of her business, which she opened in 2006. When she first dipped her toes in the mortgage side of the business, while working for another company, she quickly realized the typical way of selling mortgages wasn’t going to work for her. 

“A lot of people who sell mortgages are sales people,” she says. “They want to sell the rate or sell the payment, but I take a different approach. I’m an educator and a financial person, so I first listen to understand, then figure out what make sense for that person, and then, I explain why.” 

Her financial background comes from both the education and work experiences she had before moving into the mortgage industry. 

Mary received both a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Accounting and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in French from the  University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa. She holds Florida licenses as a mortgage broker, as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and as a real estate Broker. 

She worked as an auditor for “Big Four” public accounting firm KPMG for 13 years, then served as the chief financial officer (CFO) for a real estate company. 

Marimark has recently expanded, as Mary’s sons, Matt and Nick Catchur, have both joined the firm. 

Matt graduated from USF in 2024 with a B.S. degree in Finance. Mary says Matt’s education benefits their clients. 

“Similar to my CPA background,” she says, “the more you know about finance, the better you can understand the products you offer. We can better evaluate our customers and find the best product for them.” 

She explains that a salesperson who doesn’t have the background that Marimark Mortgage has will leave it up to the underwriter to determine if a buyer is qualified for a loan. Mary says this can cause frustration for a buyer who has been pre-qualified by someone who doesn’t fully understand the buyer’s financial situation or the nuances of the mortgage product they are selling. 

Meanwhile, Mary’s son Nick is a fellow real estate Broker who also works at Marimark in loan origination. As a team, this trio can offer multiple services that are helpful to buyers, and bring a greater understanding to the home-buying process. 

Know What You Don’t Know? 

Mary says that beyond their commitment to excellent communication and education, another important skill is to know what they don’t know. 

“There’s so much to know and to keep up on,” Mary says. “The rules and guidelines are constantly changing, and there are so many different products out there. There are a lot of moving parts and everyone’s scenario and source of income is so different, so every person you work with is completely new.” 

For example, she says, income earned by a truck driver is completely different from that earned by a nurse, which is completely different from that of a business executive. 

“Our business background helps us understand how all these people get paid,” she says. “We have to constantly think outside the box, be creative and understand the scenario to put them with the right product.” 

While many buyers are looking for a fixed-rate mortgage, Mary says there are many different options. 

For example, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans offer low down payments and Veterans Administration (VA) loans allow U.S. military veterans to buy a home with no money down. 

Mary also says that those who are self-employed may want to consider a bank-statement loan, where account deposits determine income, rather than pay stubs. 

For investment properties, a debt-service coverage ratio loan doesn’t require a borrower to have a specific income, but instead considers how much money is going to come in from the investment property and whether or not it will cover the principal, interest, taxes, insurance and Homeowners Association fees. 

Marimark also offers reverse mortgages, which allow borrowers over the age of 62 whose home is worth more than what is owed on it to eliminate mortgage payments altogether. 

Mary says Marimark often helps homeowners who want to refinance and get cash out for debt consolidation, renovations or other purposes. Right now, though, many who refinanced their homes when rates were low don’t want to give up that low mortgage rate. In that case, homeowners can add a second loan or home equity line of credit, which Mary says is popular among those who want to use the equity in their homes without having to refinance. 

She also says it’s a misconception that working with her will cost a buyer more than not working with a mortgage broker. 

“Sometimes your bank will have a good product for you, but sometimes they’re not your best option because they only have their own products,” Mary explains. “Your situation might be a little different and you might need a different product. I have several lenders I can go to and search for a product that meets your needs. But, if your bank’s products don’t fit you, they can’t help you.” 

She says she talks with people every day who have special circumstances and that the more she learns about them, the more helpful it is to be able to work with a variety of different lenders. 

“We definitely have more options than a bank can offer,” she says. “There aren’t any extra fees, and you have the advantage of the many more products that we can offer you.” 

Marimark Mortgage’s office is located at 5327 Primrose Lake Cir. in the Tampa Palms Professional Center. For more information, visit MarimarkMortgage.com or call (813) 910- 8020.

Business Briefs – Whole Foods & Aldi Updates, Joann’s Is Closing & Nothing Bundt Cakes Opens! 

The updated site plan submitted to Pasco County for a five-building commercial plaza in the Meadow Pointe area of Wesley Chapel that is expected to include a Whole Foods market. (Source: Pasco County)
Whole Foods Moving Forward? 

In mid-February, updated plans were submitted to Pasco County for a high-end retail center on the long-vacant land north of Aronwood Blvd. and east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel that previously was announced as having both a Whole Foods grocery store and a Life Time Fitness center. Those original plans, filed in March of 2024, were withdrawn two days later. 

The new plans — submitted by privately held commercial developer SJC Ventures — do not mention any of the proposed tenants, but they look similar enough to the former site plan that did include Whole Foods and Life Time for some local news media to assume that those major tenants are likely still part of the new five-building (totalling 160,468 sq. ft.) plans (see site plan, above). 

The new plan calls for “Major Tenant A,” believed to be Whole Foods, occupying a 35,518-sq.-ft. building, with “Major Tenant B,” believed to be Life Time Fitness, in the site’s easternmost 84,500-sq.-ft. building. Other buildings included in the new site plan are a 10,416-sq. ft. “Shops” building adjacent to Major Tenant A, and two additional “Shops” buildings of 16,017 and 14,017 sq. ft. at the southwest corner of the site. 

If ultimately approved by Pasco, which is expected, the new plaza likely won’t be ready to open until 2027. 

Tampa Palms Joann Fabrics Closing? 

Also in mid-February, a judge approved the second declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy by Joann Fabrics & Crafts that will allow the retailer to close 500 of its 800 U.S. stores. 

Among the locations already holding a “Going Out of Business” sale is the Joann’s located at 6234 Commerce Palms Blvd., in the Market Square at Tampa Palms plaza (photo left). 

“Right-sizing our store footprint is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the best path forward for Joann,” the company said in a prepared news release on Feb. 14. “We anticipate the store closures to occur over the next few months, although some stores may close within a shorter or longer time period.” We had not heard at our press time when the Tampa Palms Joann’s will actually close. 

For more information, call (813) 910-8996 or visit Joann.com. 

New Tampa Winn-Dixie Will Become An Aldi! 

We reported a couple of issues ago that the Winn-Dixie supermarket located at 6425 County Line Rd. had closed and was being converted to an Aldi market, since Aldi had purchased all of the remaining links in the Winn-Dixie chain. 

However, Aldi sold 170 of its Winn-Dixie stores to a private consortium of investors in Feb. However, we now have it on good authority from another tenant in the same plaza that Aldi has, in fact, signed a long-term lease for the former New Tampa Winn-Dixie. 

We did not know at our press time, however, when the conversion will be completed or when the third Aldi in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area is expected to open. 

Nothing Bundt Cakes Is Open! 

If your sweet tooth has been acting up, local residents can now get their fix of Nothing Bundt Cakes, which opened in mid-February in the City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center at 16047 Tampa Palms Blvd. W (right photo). 

The new store — the second in our distribution areas (the other is in the Shops at Wiregrass mall) — features the same delicious bundt cakes in a variety of sizes and flavors (with that delectable icing) as the chain’s 600+ other stores in the U.S. and Canada. 

Founded in Las Vegas in 1997 by Dena Tripp and Debbie Shwetz, Nothing Bundt Cakes has been named the #1 Favorite Brand in America, according to Nation’s Restaurant News. 

I got to sample the new Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor on my first visit to the new bakery. I’ll definitely be visiting again soon! 

For more info, call (813) 344-5959 or visit NothingBundtCakes.com.— GN

Everbowl Craft Superfood Is Now Open Next To Publix In The New Tampa Center 

Photos by Charmaine George

Benjamin Burkhalter, the franchise owner of Everbowl Craft Superfood in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza at 19036 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (at New Tampa Blvd.), may look a little young to be an entrepreneur, but he says he recognized a good product when he saw one. 

“I’ve been into eating healthy and working out since my teens,” Benjamin says. “But, when I visited my brother, who was stationed in San Diego (where Everbowl started), I met (founder and CEO) Jeff Fenster and sampled a lot of his healthy menu, so I decided to open a franchise here in Florida.” 

The only other Florida Everbowl of the chain’s 100+ open and coming-soon locations is near the University of Central Florida campus in Orlando and Benjamin says a lot of the existing locations are near or on college campuses — and he is looking to open others in his Tampa Bay-area territory. 

“I liked the look of the stores and the fact that everything is super-fresh and that we have so many different bases for our bowls and smoothies,” Benjamin says. “I just feel like if people try us, they’re going to love it!” 

Photographer Charmaine George (who took the photos on this page) and I sampled a few menu items on our first visit and we enjoyed everything.  

Charmaine absolutely loved her PB Everbowl, which included an açai base, with granola, fresh bananas, strawberries and blueberries with a peanut butter drizzle. We each also tasted a spoonful of other bases, including “Coco Love,” Blue and Mango Majic, Cacao Wow and vanilla. They reminded us of fresh fruit sorbets and frozen yogurts. 

I was in the mood for a post-workout smoothie, so I ordered the PB Cacao Dream, which uses the chocolatey Cacao Wow base, blended with bananas, cacao nibs, peanut butter and almond milk, and Benjamin added a scoop of protein powder. I finished the entire large-size smoothie while I interviewed him.  

Assistant manager Abby Roneker (at right in photo, right) also made us my surprise favorite menu item, the Bruschetta Avocado Toast, which is a thick slice of tasty toasted rustic artisan bread topped with house-made (and truly fresh) avocado spread, marinated tomatoes, basil and a zesty balsamic drizzle. I’m not as big an avocado fan as Charmaine is, but we both loved it! 


Everbowl also offers a variety of lemonades and fruit teas with unique flavors like dragon fruit, strawberry basil and more. For more info or to order online, visit Everbowl.com and please tell Benjamin and Abby I sent you! — GNÂ