Whether or not you were one of the midwestern U.S. natives who lost your minds when it was first announced that Portillo’s Hot Dogs was coming to “somewhere near” the Tampa Premium Outlets, you had a recent chance (on Jan. 26) to check out the Chicago fave in person at the main entrance to the outlet mall.
The Portillo’s “Beef Bus” sat at the mall’s main entrance from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. that day, but a lot fewer people than I expected showed up to sample the Chicago-style hot dogs, chili dogs, crinkle-cut fries and Italian beef sandwiches than I expected, probably because there wasn’t much promoting of it beforehand (at least not that I saw).
When photographer Charmaine George and I visited shortly after the Beef Bus first arrived that day, there were no lines whatsoever, but we immediately posted some pics and announced that even if you didn’t show up that day, you could still grab one of the “BOGO” cards (valid at any Florida Portillo’s, including the closest location on E. Fowler Ave., in front of the University Mall) that the restaurant’s marketing crew was giving away that day. They gave us about 50 of the cards, which we mentioned in our Facebook post and asked our readers/ followers to direct message me to say “I Love Portillo’s” in order to be sent one of the cards in the mail. At our press time, we still had about 20 left, so if you want one, send me an email with “I Love Portillo’s” in the subject line and we’ll mail you one, too, while my small supply lasts!
Our new friends at the Portillo’s Beef Bus don’t know when or for sure where Portillo’s will open (or they at least didn’t say if they did know), but we have now been told by employees of Rock & Brews, which fronts S.R. 56 in front of the mall, that the KISS-inspired restaurant will close by May 1 of this year, when Portillo’s will begin the process of revamping the Rock & Brews building in anticipation of opening the Lutz/Wesley Chapel Portillo’s before the end of 2025.
In the meantime, I hope you will continue to visit Rock & Brews. For more information about Portillo’s, visit Portillos.com. — GN
Neighborhood News Publisher & Local Realtors® Donate A Prize To First-In-Line Sisters!
Raising Cane’s, the Baton Rouge, LA-based fast casual fried chicken chain founded by Todd Graves in 1996 that serves only fried chicken fingers (also available on a sandwich), crinkle-cut fries, Texas toast and cole slaw (below right), opened as previously announced in the print editions of the Neighborhood News on Jan. 28 at 25952 S.R. 56, Lutz, next to Rock & Brews. And, based on the crowds that were still filling the parking lot more than a week later, we know people are excited about it!
Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I were there on opening day and we also attended the restaurant’s soft pre-opening VIP event on Jan. 27 — and I have to say that we were all pretty impressed. Yes, the menu is simple, but it’s done right — the chicken fingers are lightly seasoned (NOT at all spicy!), super-crispy outside and moist on the inside. The fries also are crispy and tasty (and seemingly not seasoned, other than lightly salted, which I appreciate), the Texas toast is legit and the cole slaw is creamy and has just a hint of sweetness.
If you only like spicy chicken, this is not the place for you, as even the Thousand Island-style “Cane’s sauce” offers no heat at all. But, if you like your chicken extra crispy and tasty, Raising Cane’s is definitely worth visiting!
As for opening day, 20 of the first 100 people in line (photo) on Jan. 28 received free Raising Cane’s for a year, but yours truly was saddened by the fact that Wesley Chapel residents (and sisters) Scarlett Sponberg and Fallon Fields (photo below), who arrived before 3 a.m. on the 28th in order to be first in line, were not among those “Grand Prize” winners.
Even though Raising Cane’s marketing rep Stephanie Wielinski (in red in photo below) made it clear to everyone on line that being first didn’t guarantee receiving one of the top prizes, Realtors® Chad and April Emory of Emorys Rock Realty (visit EmorysRockRealty.com) and I didn’t think that was fair, so we went ahead and purchased enough gift cards to cover one year of free Raising Cane’s for those dedicated young ladies
(l.-r. In top photo) Neighborhood News publisher Gary Nager, Scarlett Spongberg, Fallon Fields & Realtor® April Emory of Emorys Rock Realty)
Scarlett did receive a nice gift basket for being first in line, but April, Chad and I felt that just wasn’t enough for her and her sister!
Raising Cane’s gets props for providing a check for $1,000 to Wiregrass Ranch High (photo below), which brought along its cheerleading squad and other athletes to celebrate the donation.
For more info about Raising Cane’s, call (813) 559-3590 or visit RaisingCanes.com — and please tell them I sent you! — GN
Instructor Allison Martin leads a Reformer class at Euro Pilates, which is located just south of County Line Rd. off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa. (All photos by Charmaine George)
The new year is here, and if your resolution is to prioritize your health and start 2025 on a strong note, Euro Pilates has the expertise and community support you need to improve your flexibility, strength and overall well-being.
Euro Pilates, established in a different location in 2007 and now located behind Walgreens at the southeast corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and County Line Rd. in New Tampa, is a studio specializing in Pilates and flexibility training. Owner Maria Ivanova brings a wealth of experience to her role, having a background as a professional gymnast, as well as a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Sports Education & Movement from Moscow University in Moscow, Russia. Maria also has served as a USA Gymnastics National Team coach and national judge, working with elite athletes both in the U.S. and internationally.
Maria is an advanced Stott Pilates (see below for more information about Stott Pilates)certified Master Instructor, a TRX trainer and was the first Total Barre-certified instructor in Florida. Stott Pilates, which was created in 1988 by actor/entrepreneur Lindsay and former dancer Moira Merrithew (Stott was Moira’s maiden name), is designed to restore the spine’s natural curves, rebalance muscles, and improve core stabilization. TRX (which stands for “Total Resistance Exercise”) training, developed in 2001 by former U.S. Navy SEAL Randy Hetrick, utilizes suspension equipment to build strength and flexibility. And, Total Barre combines ballet barre exercises with Pilates principles, strength training and yoga for a full-body workout.
Maria takes pride in the unique combination of training disciplines she offers at Euro Pilates.
“My clients get more personalized training than at some of the other Pilates studios out there,” she says. “I believe that helped us survive Covid.”
During the pandemic, Maria and her daughter Ania, who also worked at the studio at the time, pivoted to offering Zoom classes. Although Ania now lives in Denver, she remains actively involved in the business by teaching online classes.
Maria’s journey to Pilates is deeply personal. “I was born in Russia with severe scoliosis (curvature of the spine),” she says, “I became involved in gymnastics at an early age, which helped with that condition. I moved to Australia with my family at age 15.”
Euro Pilates owner Maria Ivanova also provides private Pilates lessons at her studio.
Maria began her Pilates studies in 2001, after moving from Australia to Tampa. She says she was looking to improve the performance of the athletes she was working with through specific strength and conditioning exercises when she found Pilates.
“I wasn’t as involved in doing gymnastics myself at that point,” she says, “so when I decided to try Pilates, I immediately felt its benefits. Two sessions later, I was hooked. I wanted to do more, so I became certified.”
Euro Pilates offers both individual and group Pilates classes utilizing a variety of equipment. Unlike many Pilates studios, Maria’s group classes are capped at five participants, allowing her and her fellow instructors to provide nearly individualized attention. She doesn’t categorize her classes by levels but instead works with each client based on their abilities, even in her small group settings.
For beginners, the studio offers a special package of three one-on-one sessions for $135. To ensure a solid foundation, new clients are required to complete at least two private sessions before joining the studio’s semi-private or group classes. Please visit Euro-Pilates.com to see availability and to secure your spot.
“Euro Pilates doesn’t sell memberships,” Maria says, “which is one of the things that makes us unique.” Instead, clients can purchase individual sessions or packages of multiple sessions, which come with a discount. Maria’s goal is to make Pilates safe, fun and accessible for all.
She explains that she has three types of clients. “Most of our clients are either athletes who have had an injury and need rehabilitation, or someone who has had surgery and needs rehabilitation, although we also have clients who participate in Pilates to strengthen their bodies, so they can prevent injuries in the future. Regardless of how they get here, I give them 100%. I try to help them, and in most cases, if they do the work and stick with it, the results are amazing.”
Speaking of amazing, here is what two of Maria’s clients are saying:
“I have been going to Euro Pilates for seven years and have gone from constant back pain to almost no pain. I credit Maria with this transformation. Everyone who trains there is welcoming and the classes are genuinely fun.” — Kathleen C
“The Reformer, chair, barre, yoga and combination mat classes offered at Maria Ivanova’s Euro Pilates studio in New Tampa are my favorite antidote to aging. Since I began Pilates exercises, my posture is improved, my core is strengthened and my muscle tone is coming back. Combined with the mental focus required to maintain balance and correct form, Pilates has become my most reliable weapon to combat fatigue and stress. Maria is Stott Pilates trained and you’ll be in good hands with her and her professional, dedicated and expert staff. My husband was so motivated by my positive experience that he has also started Pilates in search of relief from years of back pain. We tell everyone we know that they will love their time and effort at Euro Pilates.” — Lisa D
What is Stott Pilates?
Lindsay and Moira Merrithew and their team of sports medicine, fitness experts and physical therapists, created Stott Pilates to be a more modern version of traditional Pilates, which was first developed and brought to the U.S. by German-born Joseph Pilates in the late 1920s; he patented 26 different apparatuses to use during Pilates training.
While it follows the principles of regular Pilates such as breathing, concentration, and movement, Stott Pilates focuses more on the alignment of the posture. Regular Pilates training will have you work with a flat back, but Stott Pilates uses the natural curvature of your back and several specialized pieces of equipment are integral to the Stott Pilates practice.
The “Reformer,” for example, features springs, ropes and pulleys to provide a versatile full-body workout. Adding a “Jumpboard” to the Reformer offers an enhanced aerobic experience. The “Barrel,” another common tool, is a curved, padded structure designed to strengthen the core and improve spinal alignment. Among the variations, the “Ladder Barrel” and “Stability Barrel” cater to different levels of challenge.
(l.-r.) Allison, Maria & fellow Euro Pilates trainer Cecilia Little are all certified to teach on all of the Pilates equipment at the studio.
Another noteworthy apparatus at Euro Pilates is the “Cadillac,” a piece of equipment designed by Joseph Pilates himself. Named after the luxury car brand, the Cadillac comes in two forms — a full version and a more compact wall unit. Both support a wide range of movements and exercises. In addition, the “Chair” is perfect for those who prefer or require seated positions but also is adaptable for advanced, high-intensity workouts. And finally, “Mat” Pilates can be done while using only a mat and various other gym equipment such as fitness balls, weights, resistance bands, etc. This is typically used when someone doesn’t have Stott equipment at home and is taking an online class.
The staff at Euro Pilates also is highly trained and certified. For example, Cecilia Little, who was diagnosed with Cervical Spondylosis in 2013 and was advised to try Pilates as part of her treatment, says she quickly fell in love with the method and pursued Mat and Reformer courses. After moving to the U.S. in 2016, Cecilia furthered her education by completing additional courses on Pilates equipment such as the Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels. She is now a fully certified instructor with eight years of teaching experience.
Fellow Euro Pilates instructor Allison Martin first joined the studio as a client. She became an instructor through Maria’s encouragement.
“Allison has a background in dance, track and cross country, as well as powerlifting,” Maria explains. “I saw her love for Pilates and approached her to become one of our trainers.”
Allison holds an American Council of Exercise (ACE) personal training certification and became a certified Stott Pilates instructor in 2021. She says Pilates has taken her body and her fitness to a new level.
Among the different individualized classes provided at Euro Pilates are “Silver Group Classes” which include Stretch and Reformer Express, focusing on control and precision. The “Gold Group Classes,” such as Reformer and Combo, are ideal for clients familiar with Pilates principles and equipment. All classes are 50 minutes, except for Reformer Express, which is 25 minutes. More information about each of these options, along with scheduling and pricing, can be found on the studio’s website.
Euro Pilates is located at 20743 Center Oak Dr. in New Tampa. For more information, visit Euro-Pilates.com, call (813) 756-4000 or see the ad below.
Wiregrass Ranch Developer Is Still Waiting To Finalize The Agreement With Pasco County Before Proceeding With His ‘Downtown’
The planned 1,500-seat concert hall and five-story parking structure (far left) planned in Phase One of The Legacy at Wiregrass Ranch, which developer JD Porter says will be the true downtown for not just his development, but all of Pasco County. (All maps & renderings provided by Wiregrass Ranch)
When it was announced back in December that Pasco County had reached an agreement in principle with Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter and his Locust Branch LLC development company on Phase 1 of Legacy at Wiregrass Ranch — the 30-acre area set aside by Porter to serve as his uniquely urban downtown — Porter and his chief operating officer Scott Sheridan thought that it would only be a matter of weeks before they would be able to begin moving dirt.
But now, more than six weeks (at our press time) after that agreement in principle was reached, Porter and Sheridan — in an exclusive sit-down with yours truly — said they are still waiting.
“We need to get Phase 1 of Legacy at Wiregrass going now,” Porter said. “We’re trying to time the opening of the downtown area — with all of its office and retail — with the opening of the Orlando Health hospital (the largest in Wesley Chapel, which is expected to be done in early 2026). We estimate that if we get started right away, Phase 1 of Legacy could be completed within a few months after the hospital’s opening.”
Sheridan added, “The good news is that we already have most of the infrastructure needed for Legacy in place. We’re ready.”
For anyone who hasn’t heard, Pasco’s Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the “term sheet” for Legacy at Wiregrass Ranch — where the financial plan for what Commission chair (and Dist. 3 commissioner) Kathryn Starkey called “Pasco County’s downtown” on Dec. 10.
The map above shows the location of Legacy at Wiregrass Ranch between S.R. 56 and Chancey Rd. The two maps below are turned on their sides (north is actually to the left instead of up in both) to show Legacy’s proximity to the under-construction Orlando Health Hospital complex, which is actually located south and to the east of Legacy.
Part of the agreement announced in December are ad valorem tax incentives for the developer of $50 million total, spread over 30 years, to offset the $85 million in Wiregrass Ranch’s investment in public infrastructure for Phase One alone. Sheridan and Porter estimate that the construction costs for the entire Legacy project are between $400-$500 million.
Sheridan said that Wiregrass Ranch, the 5,100-acre cattle ranch owned by Porter and his family, which is less than 40% developed at present, already provides a tax base of $1.5 billion, with nearly $11 million annually in county operating revenue. At buildout, he says, that tax base is projected to be as much as $6 billion, with about $50 million in annual revenues for the county.
Among the elements planned for Legacy’s first phase (of 130 acres total set aside for the two phases of Legacy) are 150,000 sq. ft. (in two 75,000-sq.-ft. buildings) of office space, adjacent to the 150,000 sq. ft. of office space (in one 90,000-sq.-ft. and one 60,000-sq.-ft. building) now under construction on Orlando Health’s campus, next to the hospital. “Quite honestly,” Sheridan said. “That 300,000 square feet of office will look like one large master development.”
Sheridan also noted that Wiregrass Ranch and an unnamed partner also is developing an additional 100,000 sq. ft. of office space in two buildings to the west of Wiregrass Ranch Blvd.
One of the most important parts of the first phase of Legacy is a $37-million, five-story parking structure with about 1,500 spaces to serve the office buildings, retail and 150,000-sq.-ft. “eatertainment” complex, all within walking distance of each other, as well as of a planned 150-room hotel and 820 multi-family apartments. If you’ve ever been to the new Midtown Tampa, Legacy at Wiregrass is about 30% larger. The hotel and apartment buildings also are expected to be four and five stories tall.
“This type of density is definitely urban,” Sheridan said. “It’s not suburban sprawl, because we’re doing on 30 acres what Pasco usually puts on 100 acres.”
‘Eatertainment’ Galore!
The part of the agreement for Legacy announced in December that yours truly is most excited about is the 150,000-sq. ft.. “Eatertainment” complex. Sheridan says that this area will include an Armature Works-style food hall, upscale retail stores, some “jewel box” standalone restaurants, a concert hall with about 1,500 seats immediately adjacent to the parking structure, plus a hotel, conference center and public art.
And, although neither Sheridan nor Porter were willing to name any of the potential tenants or operators they’ve spoken with to put restaurants in Legacy, both mentioned having conversations with operators of restaurants on Water St. in downtown Tampa, Beach Dr. in downtown St. Pete and other upscale dining areas.
The above rendering and those below show the urban look and feel of Legacy.
“Legacy has been designed by Torti Gallas + Partners,” Sheridan said, “the same firm that designed GasWorx in Ybor City, the Silversaw apartments (next to the Hyatt Place Tampa-Wesley Chapel hotel) and many of the most beautiful mixed-use projects across the country. And, they told us that Legacy at Wiregrass is unique in its location, planning and design.”
Porter added, “Most of the time, when projects like these are approved, the developer first has to put in the infrastructure, but most of that is already in place in Legacy. We’re ready to begin building as soon as we get the final word from the county that we can begin.”
To which Sheridan added, “We don’t need another County Commission vote. All we need is for the Planning & Economic Development department to finalize the agreement.”
He also noted that until the agreement with the county has been finalized, “We can’t finalize deals with the tenants we’ve been talking with for the retail and restaurant spaces. But, as soon as we’re able to close those deals, we know the community is going to be excited about them.”
To which Porter added, “These are not going to be the same retail strip centers with the same type of tenants that you see everywhere else in Pasco.”
Sheridan also says that residents in the multi-family apartments will not be parking in the main garage structure. Instead, they will have their own parking structure. At the Dec. BOC meeting, Dist. 5 commissioner Jack Mariano requested that some of those rental units be converted to townhomes for “workforce housing,” but still voted to approve the Legacy agreement in principle without any such conversion being promised by Sheridan or Porter.
“And, even though they’d have to cross S.R. 56 to do so, Porter said, “students and staff from the Porter Campus at Pasco Hernando State College can even walk to Legacy.”
He added, “We’re not just doing the same thing everyone else in Pasco does. We want this to be the kind of place people are drawn to for years to come.”
Wiregrass Ranch Update
The Orlando Health construction is moving along nicely, and the $300-million hospital complex, which sits on 47 acres at the corner of S.R. 56 and Wiregrass Ranch Blvd., just south and east of Legacy, will include 102 beds when it opens and 300 when it is built out.
Porter and Sheridan also mentioned that although Pasco had yet to finalize its deal with Sports Facilities Companies of Clearwater to take over the management of the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, “The county picked the best possible operator to take over.,” Porter said. “It would just be nice to hear that the deal is finalized, because, in our agreement for the land we donated for it, the county (which has been managing the Sports Campus since buying out the management contract of RADDSports in 2023) was never supposed to be managing that facility.”
Porter also said that with the success of Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant on the north side of S.R. 56 (at Lajuana Blvd.), “we’ve been having some pretty serious negotiations with a number of restaurant operators — some successful Tampa Bay-area operators and some top-level chains” — for the restaurant pads adjacent to Cooper’s Hawk.
Hey, Wesley Chapel! When your Feb 18 Wesley Chapel Issue #4-25 arrives in your mailbox, please note that an old story about Chicken Guy! is under the headline above on pg. 42 of that print edition. Below is the correct story that was supposed to run. I apologize to Rita’s Wesley Chapel franchise owners Antoine & Idalice Stokes and to developer Beat Kahli’s entire team at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel for this unforgivable boo-boo!
Avalon Park Wesley Chapel (APWC)’s downtown area is continuing the community’s tradition of great open-to-the-community events. Case in point — on Jan. 24, franchise owners Antoine and Idalice Stokes of Rita’s Italian Ice in the first APWC downtown building celebrated the store’s official Grand Opening with a ribbon cutting and a free Italian ice and frozen custard giveaway that attracted hundreds of well-wishers and frozen treat fans, as the line wrapped around a large part of The Flats at Avalon Park Apartments building for most of the afternoon.
That event, which also included a DJ, a fire truck from Pasco County Fire Rescue, District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman and the Cypress Creek Cheerleaders, as well as a Justice League-themed inflatable from Luc’s Inflatables for the kids, was paired with APWC’s first “Fourth Friday Food Truck Rally” event. At least four food trucks were on hand for this first rally, including Pane Piatto Pizza, Taco Holic, Westchase BBQ and Nacho Wagon. APWC, which continues to have individual food trucks in the downtown area on many Mondays and Thursdays, will host its next Food Truck Rally on Friday, February 28, 5 p.m.-8 p.m., which will include (please note that others may still be added) Logan’s Smoke House, Wich Press and Tampa Burger Company.
For more information about Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s downtown (4424 Friendly Way), visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com
