The Pampered Peach Wax Bar Offers A Unique Spa Experience

When my husband — Neighborhood News editor Gary Nager — asked me if I would be willing to write a Business Feature story about The Pampered Peach Wax Bar, located next to Dickey’s BBQ on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., I agreed, even though I’ve rarely had my eyebrows and lips waxed and never had my underarms or private area waxed.

I was even happier to take on the assignment when I found out that even though The Pampered Peach specializes in waxing for virtually every area of the body (more on that below), it also offers other services, like amazing facials, all of which use only the finest organic products from Farmhouse Fresh for all of its services.

“We chose Farmhouse Fresh because the products are amazing,” says manager and licensed cosmetologist Amanda Gonzalez. “They’ve been recommended by Oprah (as well as actresses like Lisa Kudrow, Marlee Matlin and country music star Reba McEntire) and The Pampered Peach founder Jessica Kustron is now using Farmhouse Fresh products at both her corporate-owned and franchise locations.”

So, even though I didn’t end up having any waxing services performed, I do feel that I got a wonderful, full spa experience at The Pampered Peach when my aesthetician Nikki gave me the most relaxing deep-cleansing facial (called the “Glow Your Age” mini- or full facial) I’ve ever received. 

First of all, The Pampered Peach of Wesley Chapel, which currently is one of only six locations (five in Florida and one in Long Island, NY; the Wesley Chapel location is owned by C&S Waxing LLC, a partnership between Jonathan Smith, Anthony Cintron and Michael Grande), has more of a salon feel than most sterile-feeling med-spas — even though it is immaculately clean — with soft peach walls accented in green, black and white, and with fun music playing in the lobby area, and more soothing spa music playing in the facial treatment room, all of which provides a perfectly inviting atmosphere for whatever service you choose.

“We fell in love with the name, the branding and the organic experience,” Jonathan says, adding that they’ve been so happy about how the business has been going that they’ve committed to opening four more locations in the area this year. “And, with Amanda’s five years of experience in the waxing business and her ‘angel hands,’ we knew she could bring a high level of expertise to an already-great business model.”

Nikki and Amanda offer outstanding waxing and facial services at The Pampered Peach Wax Bar on BBD Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. (Photos by Charmaine George)

For example, Amanda adds, “I have learned how to do — and teach — proper self-care after a waxing procedure, which eliminates the razor burn and ingrown hairs associated with shaving. Plus, it lasts for weeks, instead of just a day or two.”

Amanda also says that the core values at the Wesley Chapel location are to deliver effective and painless wax services in a cozy, fun environment. “Our wax techniques using the best all-natural, organic and vegan products to give our guests an amazing, smooth result.”

There definitely are differences between The Pampered Peach and other companies in the industry. “We offer three types of patented waxes — hard, soft and sugar — while most others only offer hard and soft waxes,” Amanda says. 

Not  For Women Only

All of the pricing for the huge variety of waxing services available at The Pampered Peach is on display on the wall when you walk in. Services include ingrown hair treatments, pre-wax numbing, v-steam “vajafacials,” full-body wax, services for specific areas of the body (everything from bikini to stomach), as well as facial wax services for everything from brow laminations and cheeks to nose and sideburns.

Amanda says that even though women still make up the majority of their clients, more and more men are utliizing waxing services for their chest, back, shoulders and even full body. There’s even a “Manzilian” wax service offered. 

I have to admit that even though I was apprehensive, even nervous, about starting a waxing regime, after enjoying my facial so much and being educated by Amanda and Nikki about how their waxing services work and how much healthier they are for my skin, I’m actually considering giving it a try.

And, I’m not alone in raving about The Pampered Peach of Wesley Chapel. At our press time, even though the location has only been open three+ months, all 31 Google reviews are five stars and a client named Stefanie who happened to visit the same day I did said she usually goes to the South Tampa location but that both locations are better than anyplace else. She was so happy with her painless bikini wax that she decided to also get her eyebrows done. 

The Pampered Peach’s menu of services also gives you pricing for one-time services for guests and “drop-ins,” VIP Monthly Memberships and VIP Annual Memberships. Among the current specials are a first-time Brazilian for only $19, 20% off all first-time facial clients, and unlimited Brazilian waxing for just $49 per month.

The Pampered Peach Wax Bar’s Wesley Chapel location (2653 BBD Blvd., Suite 102) is open Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sat. and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sun. It is closed Monday. For more info, call (727) FL-PEACH (357-3224) or visit PamperedPeachWC.com.  

Another Starbucks for Wesley Chapel?

According to permitting requests filed with Pasco County, the Grove at Wesley Chapel has begun the process of adding a Starbucks to its ever-evolving footprint.

The new 2,566-sq.-ft. Starbucks will be constructed on the north side of Wesley Chapel Blvd. on the parcel of land immediately west of Brooklyn Bagel Water Co. and King of the Coop.

The new location of the iconic and omnipresent Seattle-based coffee chain is just 1.1 miles west of the Starbucks on S.R. 54.

According to our count, it will be Wesley Chapel’s fifth Starbucks location.

Big Or Small, Taylor Gardner Gutters Meets Your Home’s Needs

Many big builders in the area, as well as individual homeowners that need gutters or repairs, choose the crew at Taylor Gardner Gutters. (Photo: Taylor Gardner Gutters)

If you’re like most homeowners, you probably haven’t put a lot of thought into your home’s gutters. 

 They generally aren’t admired by your neighbors while sitting out by the pool, like a fence might be, or like when you’re enjoying a cold drink in the driveway while basking in the glory of your perfectly manicured and green lawn.

 But, those gutters might just be more important to your home than any of those other aesthetic changes you can make to the outside of it.

 At Taylor Gardner Gutters, there is nothing more important, or serious, than making sure homes are equipped with the best gutters possible, because without them, the foundation of your house is susceptible to water damage that can create big problems down the road.

“I tell customers that gutters are the least expensive thing you can do to your home to improve the quality of the look of the home and quality of the life of your home without spending a fortune,” says Taylor Gardner, the owner of Taylor Gardner Gutters since taking over from his father Ed in 2019. “A fence can be five grand easy, and new floors can cost you $5,000-$10,000. But, new gutters? The average is $1,500-$2,000, tops.”

Why are gutters, which Taylor Gardner Gutters can customize, install and repair, so important? Well, Taylor says there are many reasons, but one of the most important ones is that they take the downpour from those heavy Florida rainstorms and redirects the water away from your house. 

Without gutters, the chance of water creating a river between you and your neighbor and settling at the base of your home’s foundation are much greater. When saturation occurs, the water gets under the house, and can cause the wood or laminate floors in your house to pop, or pucker up.

The water also can bring erosion to the side of your home, which can cause cracks in the stucco and window ledges, and form unsightly trenches.

“Gutters will protect the integrity of your foundation, and that’s the important thing,” Taylor says.

Sarah DiMonarco, a Tampa-based Realtor, was referred to Taylor Gardner Gutters by a friend and hired Taylor and his crew for a house she was flipping.

Sarah was so impressed with the work and the price that she recommended the company to her friends and clients, and even her roofer.

When she had her gutters installed, the crew rerouted her downflow. 

“I asked why they were doing that, and they said it was because the water was washing dirt out to my driveway,” Sarah says. “They made sure it was redirected where it should be going. I’ve been very happy, and the price was right.”.   

At Taylor Gardner Gutters, Taylor and his five crews take the job seriously and set out to prove that not all gutter companies are created equal.

The company offers a thicker gauge aluminum than many of its competitors, which prevents the gutters from ever buckling under the weight of the water. 

Taylor’s crews use rivets instead of screws. Unlike screws, rivets are made of aluminum and won’t rust.

 “Most of our competitors use screws,” Taylor says, “and unless they are zinc-coated screws, they will rust. But, zinc-coated screws are more expensive than rivets, so no one does that.”

Rivets also are a stronger way to hold things together, and Taylor says he tells his customers to consider how airplanes are constructed. “They are riveted together,” he says, “and there’s a reason for that.”

However, what may separate Taylor’s company from its competition more than anything is the warranty. He says he offers a lifetime no-leak — and no questions asked if it ever does leak — warranty. Taylor says he is unaware of any other gutter company that offers a lifetime warranty.

And, for the best results, Taylor recommends an aluminum, seamless gutter system. While he says a handyman may be able to throw gutters on your house, they are probably using vinyl gutters purchased from a big box store.

“I never paid a lot of attention to gutters, but they are kind of like crown moulding,” Sarah says. “They really do enhance the look of the home.”

A Legacy Of Honesty

Taylor learned the gutter business from his father Ed, who started Gardner Gutters back in 2000 but passed away following a long battle with cancer in 2020. Ed was highly regarded for running his business with honesty and dignity, and Taylor says the business he now runs strives to continue much of what his father taught him.

Taylor, who did a tour of Iraq while in the Marines for nine years and earned a Business Administration (B.A.) degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, afterwards, took over completely in 2020 after Ed passed away. Gardner Gutters was rebranded that year as Taylor Gardner Gutters.

He says the business was flagging at the time, but now is booming. Taylor opened a new office in Land O’Lakes, added more crews with new equipment and trailers, and has pivoted to working with builders on new construction, especially in the busy Wesley Chapel area, to help the company grow.

Taylor says the fact that his company is trusted by big builders like GL Homes and David Weekley Homes, suggests that Taylor Gardner Gutters does exceptional work using the best quality materials. It also offers free estimates.

And following in Ed’s footsteps, Taylor is hoping to build a following by sending out salespeople who are there to build relationships and explain the need for gutters, not just sell them. In many of New Tampa’s communities and some of the older ones in Wesley Chapel, most homes built 20 years or more ago or so were built without gutters, but many have added them because, well, it’s just smart.

“I don’t hire a salesperson to be a salesperson, I hire them to be an educator,” Taylor says. “They have to understand (our business) to be able to explain it to the customer, and not just give a sales pitch.”

So, if a customer is complaining about a flower bed against the side of the house flooding or cracks on the outside of the house, the company offers solutions.

“If necessary, we’ll tell them you need gutters or you are going to have a serious problem,” Taylor says. “That’s not a sales pitch, it’s just the honest truth.”

In addition to custom gutter installations and repairs, Taylor Gardner Gutters, which is proud to be veteran-owned-and-operated, also provides screen room installations and window replacements.

Taylor Gardner Gutters is located at 6202 Land O’Lakes Blvd. in Land O’Lakes. The store hours are Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, visit TaylorGardnerGutters.com or call (813) 515-0844.

Plan Your Weekend For SR 56 Disruptions

S.R. 56 will be closed to all traffic at I-75 from 11 p.m. Saturday, April 30 to late afternoon on Sunday, May 1 as crews prepare to place the interchange into the new Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) traffic pattern.

No traffic will be allowed to travel through the work zone across I-75. S.R. 56 traffic will be detoured a variety of ways:

Eastbound SR 56: Eastbound S.R. 56 traffic will be detoured to the northeast on Wesley Chapel Blvd. (C.R. 54) to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., then south on BBD back to S.R. 56. Additionally, the right turn lanes on the south side of S.R. 56 at Grand Cypress Blvd. onto eastbound SR 56 will be closed and the left turn lanes at Grand Cypress Blvd. on the north side of SR 56 will be closed to prevent travel onto EB SR 56. The eastbound S.R. 56 ramp onto southbound I-75 will be open; any traffic traveling on eastbound SR 56 past Grand Cypress Blvd. will be forced to enter southbound I-75.

Westbound SR 56: Westbound S.R. 56 traffic wanting to cross I-75 will be directed north on BBD to SR 54, then southwest on C.R. 54 (Wesley Chapel Blvd.) to S.R. 56.  Any westbound S.R. 56 traffic between BBD and Cypress Ridge Blvd. will be directed to U-Turn at Cypress Ridge Blvd. to head back east on S.R. 56 to BBD and follow the remainder of the route outlined above.

Access to I-75: Available at the S.R. 54/CR 54/Wesley Chapel Blvd. interchange north of S.R. 56 or BBD interchange south of S.R. 56. The only access to I-75 will be from eastbound S.R. 56 onto southbound I-75.

Northbound I-275 and northbound I-75 to SR 56: Access will only be open onto eastbound S.R. 56. The northbound I-275 (Exit 59) and northbound I-75 (Exit 275) exit ramps to westbound S.R. 56 will be closed. Drivers wanting to go west on S.R. 56 will continue north past S.R. 56 and use I-75 Exit 279 to SR 54/CR 54. At the bottom of the ramp, turn left and go southwest on Wesley Chapel Boulevard/C.R. 54 to S.R. 56 and S.R. 54, west of I-75.

FDOT says to expect periodic backups. on the Exit 279 ramp to westbound C.R. 54 (Wesley Chapel Blvd.), so northbound I-75 drivers wanting to go west of I-75 on S.R. 56 might consider using Exit 270 (the New Tampa exit) to BBD and continue traveling north on BBD to SR 54/CR 54 (Wesley Chapel Blvd.) or take alternate east to west routes.

Southbound I-75 to SR 56:

  • Detour Route to S.R. 56, east of I-75: Use Exit 279 to S.R. 54/C.R. 54. At the bottom of the ramp, turn left and go east on S.R. 54. Turn right onto BBD and go south to SR 56.
  • Detour Route to S.R. 56, west of I-75: Use Exit 279 to S.R. 54/C.R. 54. At the bottom of the ramp, turn right and go southwest on Wesley Chapel Boulevard/C.R. 54 to SR 56.

When the traffic pattern switches to the DDI on May 1st, it will not be at full-capacity until closer to project completion (summer 2022) as the contractor will have additional work to do to open an additional through-lane on both eastbound and westbound S.R. 56 and an additional turn lane from the northbound exit ramp onto westbound S.R. 56.

During the above closure period, two ramps will be available to use at the I-75/S.R. 56 interchange: the eastbound S.R. 56 entrance ramp onto southbound I-75 and the northbound I-275/I-75 exit ramps onto eastbound S.R. 56. All other traffic wishing to use the I-75 / SR 56 interchange will be directed via detour signage to use the I-75 interchange at SR 54/CR 54.

The Grill At Morris Bridge Making Major Menu Changes!

When The Grill at Morris Bridge opened on Cross Creek Blvd. (next to Publix) in late 2021, many locals raved about having a locally owned sit-down dinner place that wasn’t a chain. Others said it was a little pricy for what it was and some even (incorrectly, in one editor’s opinion) complained that the portions were small.

Well, owners Frank and James Gouveia heard the calls and they’ve been working with new chef Wally Dawson (who previously was the Executive Chef at Roy’s and at Lake Jovita Country Club) to revamp The Grill’s menu, reducing the prices on many menu items, adding a few new goodies and removing some items altogether. The Grill also has put additional emphasis on a great, reduced-price Bar Menu.

Frank, who spent a lot of years in the wine distribution business, also promises some lower-cost glasses and bottles of wine, and the new Happy Hour (Tuesday-Friday, all day until 6 p.m.) features a number of specially-selected bottles for just $28, as well as $4 draft beers and $5 Corazon tequila, Spring 44 (indigo) gin, Svedka vodka, Benchmark bourbon and Bacardi rum drinks.

Cacoila paprika-braised pulled pork sliders
Linguiça sausage pizza

The bar menu includes Cacoila paprika-braised pulled pork sliders, an outstanding blackened chicken sandwich (usually served with fries, but I get it with delicious sautéed broccolini), “smash” burgers and a variety of crisp-crust, oven-baked pizzas. Our new favorite of these is the slightly spicy, slightly salty linguiça sausage pizza , although the curiously named Route 140 pizza combines the same linguiça with banana peppers and onion. You also can dress up your own cheese pizza with a variety of veggies, meats and extra cheese.

There are a number of items that Frank treated me, Jannah and photographer Charmaine George to on our most recent visit — items that are so new, they hadn’t even been added to the menu at that point, but they’re awesome.

Bacon-and-parmesan-crusted mahi-mahi
Blackened shrimp fettuccine Alfredo

Mine and Jannah’s favorite was the bacon-and-parmesan-crusted mahi-mahi, served on a bed of asparagus, fried capers and roasted red potatoes, with a lemon butter sauce. The crust is thick and crispy, but not overpowering and Frank and Wally said that the mahi will cost about $22, which — take my word for it — is a bargain.

Another new entrée that Jannah and I didn’t get to sample (because of my accursed shellfish allergy) but Charmaine raved about was the blackened shrimp fettuccine Alfredo. She said the sauce, pasta and shrimp were all spot-on. Wally and Frank also promised that other new menu items will be announced shortly — possibly as soon as by the time this issue reaches your mailbox.

The only thing that could make some of our favorites at The Grill at Morris Bridge even better would be lower prices. 

Among those favorites are the most authentic-tasting Caesar salad I’ve had in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel, the grilled pork chop (served with fingerling potatoes, sautéed Brussels sprouts and Romesco sauce), the 8-oz. grilled filet mignon (there’s also a tasty 12-oz NY strip and Frank says a ribeye might be added) and the chicken & broccolini (with rigatoni, diced chicken, garlic, broccolini and lemon cream sauce) and the true New England clam chowder.

Our favorite desserts are the creme brulée and the chef’s cheesecake (try either one with the perfect cappuccino or regular coffee) and The Grill also has “New Tampa’s Best Sunday Brunch” with tasty egg dishes (including a variety of Benedicts), brioche French toast and more, and the kids menu has four different items all priced at just $9.

“We don’t want The Grill to be just a ‘special occasion’ destination,” Frank says. We want it to be an affordable, family-friendly place you’ll want to visit every week.”

The Grill at Morris Bridge (10920 Cross Creek Blvd.) is open every day except Monday for lunch and dinner. For more information, call (813) 388-5353, visit TheGrillat MorrisBridge.com or search “The Grill at Morris Bridge” on Facebook.