In the Dec 10 issue of New Tampa Neighborhood News (see below), we said that both Shake Shack and Chicken Guy! Were expected to open by one day this weekend, but as of today, both restaurants have told us that the expected openings of both fast casual eateries is now not expected until one day next week, with exact opening dates not yet set by either one until they receive their Certificates of Occupancy from Pasco County, pending final inspections.
Stay tuned to our Facebook page and the December 24 Wesley Chapel and January 7, 2025, New Tampa issues ofĀ Neighborhood NewsĀ for updated opening dates for these hotly anticipated eateries.
Chicken Guy! & Shake Shack Both Expected To Open On Or Around December 13-14!
The long-awaited opening of the Tampa Bay areaās first-everĀ Chicken GuyĀ location was scheduled at our press time on or aroundĀ Saturday, December 14Ā (please check our āNeighborhood Newsā Facebook page regularly for a more precise opening date). Chicken Guy (top photo), founded by celebrity chef Guy Fieri and restaurateur Robert Earl, currently has a dozen locations, going up quickly to 18, including our āCypress Creekā location at 25769 Sierra Center Blvd.
The āMayor of Flavortownā menu features hot and āO.G.ā mild crispy (or grilled) chicken tenders (and āBig Biteā sandwiches), plus salads, fries, American slaw, mac & cheese and shakes (sound familiar?), although it does also sometimes feature āLimited Timeā offers ā such as pepperoni chicken parm sandwiches and chopped cheese & chicken egg rolls, fried chicken dumplings and more. The āBoss of Sauceā also offers everything from Nashville hot honey to avocado crema and many more sauces created by the Chicken Guy himself!
Now with an expected opening on or aroundĀ Friday, December 13, less than a 1/4-mile from Chicken Guy, is the Wesley Chapel/Lutz location ofĀ Shake Shack,Ā in the former slot occupied byĀ Wendyās,Ā at 25600 Sierra Center Blvd. (photo left). In addition to its variety of burgers ā from black truffle to avocado bacon ā as well as 100% ViennaĀ® beef hot dogs, Shake Shack also offers (surprise!) crispy chicken sandwiches and bites, crinkle cut fries and shakes (including limited time shakes like Christmas Cookie and Apple Cider Donut), but with the added bonus of vanilla or chocolate frozen custard, which also can be included in your root beer or CreamsicleĀ® float.
For more info, call (813) 696-6752 or visit ShakeShack.com.Ā ā GN
Dr. Brian Wilson of Tampa Palms Psychology is happy to offer consultations inside his office in the Tampa Palms Professional Center (above) or virtually vis Telehealth (photo below). (Photos by Charmaine George)Ā
Because his Tampa Palms Psychology ā the practice of Brian Wilson, Ph.D. ā continues to grow, Dr. Wilson recently moved to the Tampa Palms Professional Center off of Commerce Palms Blvd. just south and west of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. exit off I-75.
The new office is just a half-mile from his previous workspace, where patients met with Dr. Wilson in a private room at a co-working office. He made the move to the new space in April.
āItās a very quiet, warm, upscale and relaxing environment, right on a lake,ā Dr. Wilson says, adding that while he enjoyed his previous location and the opportunity it gave him to grow, itās nice to have a more personal and permanent space.
āI have my own dedicated office now,ā he says. āI designed it myself. Itās a better space, with better furniture, and much homier.ā
He says heās had his eye on the Tampa Palms Professional Center for many years, but when he opened his practice in 2021, the Covid pandemic made virtual or Telehealth sessions the norm, instead of in-person visits, so it didnāt make sense for him to have a full-time office at that time.
Now, many people prefer to meet with Dr. Wilson in person, although he says about half of his patients still choose to meet virtually. āI let my patients decide,ā he says. āSome providers are insisting on in-person and others on Telehealth, but I do whatever works for my patients.ā
He says he has some patients who are disabled or have other reasons why they canāt leave the house, so heās happy to meet with them via private, secure videoconferencing.
Dr. Wilson has been practicing since 2003 and now has two decades of experience. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Psychology from the University of Florida in Gainesville and earned both his Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. He also completed a psychology residency at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Hospital.
Whether you meet him in person or online, Dr. Wilson helps adults navigate lifeās difficulties, especially when it comes to job stress, relationship problems, depression, anxiety, or any number of other issues.
āI have the benefit of having worked in a variety of settings, so I feel comfortable taking on a lot of things,ā he says. He considers himself to be a generalist who can address a wide variety of concerns with adults. He does not, however, counsel anyone under the age of 18.
He commonly helps people who are experiencing PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and has years of experience helping military veterans.
Dr. Wilson also is experienced in helping those who have serious or life-changing medical issues and are learning to cope with a new reality, as well as the mental health problems that develop as a result.
Another area of expertise for Dr. Wilson is geriatrics ā helping older adults. This could be people who are caring for a spouse who is ill, or those who are realizing that the transition into retirement is not what they thought it would be.
His two decades of experience includeĀ primary care and community mental health, psychiatric patients in mental health facilities, residential and outpatient PTSD treatment, geriatric mental health and health psychology. Dr. Wilson is licensed to practice psychology in both Florida and Minnesota, and is a member of the American Psychological Association.Ā
He says the best approach for those who are beginning the search for a trusted therapist is still to get a recommendation from a friend or family member. āThatās probably the best referral you can get,ā he says.
But if you donāt have a word-of-mouth reference from someone you know, he says to do an online search, choose a few therapists, try to talk to a few of them and āgo with your gut.ā
He says that, of course, you should always check with the Florida Department of Health to be sure the provider you want to work with is appropriately licensed and has no disciplinary actions or malpractice claims.
This can be done by searching āFlorida Department of Health License Lookupā online.
āBeyond that, those of us [practitioners] who are thoughtful will always be happy to schedule a no-charge, no-commitment phone call to see if weāre a good fit,ā he says. āDonāt schedule with someone without at least first having a conversation about their approach.ā
While Dr. Wilson says he is primarily aĀ private pay provider, he does accept patients with original Medicare and will provide a receipt to anyone who needs to submit an out-of-network receipt to their insurance company. He says some insurance companies, but not all, will cover about 50 percent of the cost of treatment.Ā
Fellow professional therapist Dr. Brian Doane of Tampa Bay Counseling Services is quick to say that he thinks very highly of Dr. Wilson and doesnāt hesitate to recommend him ā for example, if he has a patient whose spouse needs counseling, too.
āIf Iām working with someone and they say, āMy spouse is looking for a therapist,ā heās the first person I send them to,ā Dr. Doane says, noting that itās an important referral, since Dr. Doane will continue working with that personās spouse and has a vested interest in both parties getting good help.
āDr. Wilson is super compassionate, very ethical, and all the things that you want in a therapist,ā Dr. Doane says. āHe also has a really nice balance between being very kind and compassionate, while also being assertively direct. He also knows the timing of when to be direct, providing honest feedback at a time when the person is able to receive it.ā
Tampa Palms Psychology is located at 5331 Primrose Lake Cir., Suite 245, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center. For appointments with Dr. Brian Wilson and more information about the practice, call (813) 491- 9343 or visit TampaPalmsPsychology.com.Ā
Owner Mark Birkin invites you to check out his Birkinās Steakhouse & Sushi Bar on N. Florida Ave. in Lutz.Ā
When we first showed and told you about Birkinās Steakhouse & Sushi Bar, located on N. Florida Ave. in Lutz (a little north of W. Bearss Ave.) back in June, the then-new restaurantās main dining room was the main attraction ā and it definitely attracted an upscale clientele that appreciated owner Mark Birkinās selection of prime steaks and fresh sushi.
The restaurant has done so well that Mark decided that the sushi bar side ā which previously was where live music was played when the restaurant was the āLAā (Lutz-Area) Hangout (and the Twisted Rooster after that) ā needed and deserved an upgrade so that his ever-growing roster of customers wouldnāt have to deal with a wait on the weekends.
Well now, with more than 100 additional seats in a variety of both cozy four-top and larger 8-10-top booths, as well as a few large round tables, Mark and GM Doug Scagliola say the revamped Birkinās sushi side is quickly becoming the location of choice for many of their regulars.
āItās only been open three or four weeks,ā Mark said at our press time, ābut we already have people requesting to sit in the sushi bar area.ā (Note- Now that the weather is cooler, Birkinās also-all-new, large outdoor patio with its own huge bar area, is sure to become another hotspot for his customers.)
The guess here is that the remodeled section also will help increase sales of Birkinās outstanding fresh sushi ā from basics like California and Rainbow rolls and thick-slice tuna, yellowtail and salmon sashimi to more exotic options like Caterpillar Roll (eel roll topped with avocado and eel sauce), Giant Buda Roll (tempura shrimp with mayo, crab, smelt roe and avocado, all deep fried and topped with eel sauce and spicy mayo), to my new go-to, the Yummy Roll (with crispy baked fish, tempura crunch and roe, topped with avocado, eel sauce and spicy mayo; above photo). Birkinās doesnāt yet have as large a variety of sushi as some Japanese restaurants, but perhaps the best thing about it is that you can still order from the restaurantās full menu on the sushi side.Ā
It was Happy Hour (Wed.-Fri., 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m.) during our last visit, so Charmaine, Jannah and I shared a few of the Birkinās Happy Hour food specials. We all loved the steak kabobs, made with filet tips and grilled onions and peppers (top photo) with house-made chimichurri sauce ($10 for two kabobs). Charmaine raved about the tangy seafood ceviche (which I couldnāt sample because itās made with shrimp), served in a martini glass (left photo), for only $6. And, we all enjoyed the crispy potato wedges with blue or peppercorn sauce (I preferred the latter), also for $6. Thereās also a Big Burger for $10 and tenderloin sliders for $12, plusĀ Happy Hour California, spicy tuna and a couple of other rolls for just $6 each.Ā
Save room for dessert, because Birkinās has a delicious Baileyās Irish Cream cheesecake, an apple crumble and brownie with vanilla ice cream and more.Ā
And, Birkinās definitely has your bar favorites covered before, during and after Happy Hour, when select glasses of wine, specialty drinks (including a house old fashioned and āFlorida Ave.ā margarita) and favorites like Titoās, Jack Danielās, Four Roses, Captain Morgan and Herradura Repo tequila are all just $8.
If youāre planning a holiday party, Birkinās even has a private room that seats up to 24 people.
The restaurant also will be open both Christmas Day and for New Yearās Eve, so why cook when you can make any holiday a little more special at Birkinās?
Birkinās Steakhouse & Sushi Bar (16411Ā N. Florida Ave.) is open 3 p.m.-11:30 p.m. on Wed.; 3 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Thur.-Sat. & 3:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. on Sun. (itās closed Mon. & Tues.). For reservations (which are suggested, but not required, except when booking a party) & more information, call (813) 374-8002 or visit BirkinsSteakhouse.com.Ā
The North Tampa Bay Chamber has had a busy week. On Tuesday, the Chamber introduced its new Board of Directors for 2025. President & CEO Hope Kennedy gave Board member Jamie Hess of Computer Emergency Room her President’s Award for “all of his help with events and finding the Chamber a new office, in addition to his regular Board duties.” And, outgoing Board chair Roberto Hiller of Signarama New Tampa gave Lisa Moore his “Chairman’s Award” for her “outstanding commitment to the Board.” Also introduced on Tuesday were new Board Chair Angelique Lenox of Tampa Family Health and her entire 2025 Board:
Chair Elect Ton Benge of Benge Development
Treasurer Jamie Hess of Computer Emergency Room
Vice-Chair of Economic Development Chad Emory of Emorys Rock Realty
Vice-Chair of Membership Lisa Moore of Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel
Vice-Chair of Governmental Affairs Jennifer Batchelor of Pasco County Schools
Immediate Past Chair Roberto Hiller of Signarama New Tampa
Will Atkins of Cinn-Credible Cinnamon Packets
Tye Fowler of SGD Communications
Ryan Fink of Volkswagen of Wesley Chapel
Dr. Davina Jones of Pasco Hernando State College-Porter Campus
Justin Keeney of Fifth Third Bank
Richrd Matte of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel
Jean Carlo Penaloza of Cat’s Meow Tampa Photography
Albert Verile of Sharpline Investigations
Ralph Sevelius of Boardwalk Wealth Solutions
Chuck Sullivan of McFarland Gould Law
Troy Stevenson of Tampa Bay Mobile Billboards
Then, on Thursday, the Chamber announced its Finalists for its 2024 Celebrating Excellence Awards:
Integrity Award ā Main Event Wesley Chapel, Pepin Academies & Scenthound Lutz
Collaboration Award ā San Antonio Federal Credit Union, New Tampa Family YMCA & Metropolitan Ministries
Inclusivity Award ā Main Event Wesley Chapel, Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel & Turner Construction
The 2024 Chamber Award winners will be announced at the Chamber’s Celebrating Excellence Awards event onĀ Tuesday, January 16, 2025,Ā at the Pasco Hernando State College Performing Arts Center (8657 Old Pasco Rd., Wesley Chapel 33544). The cost to attend is $60 per person.Ā For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.
Dr. Sam Jureyda welcomes the local community to his Radiance Orthodontics, located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, off the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. exit off I-75. (Photo provided by Dr. Jureyda)Ā
Two decades ago, about 85 percent of dentists owned their own practices, but times have changed drastically.
The New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas have not escaped the national trend of more dental and orthodontic offices being owned by corporations, instead of the practitioners themselves.
But, Sam Jureyda, DMD, says heās not interested in selling his Radiance Orthodontics, although he frequently gets offers from corporations wanting to buy his practice.
āDr. J,ā as his patients call him, opened Radiance Orthodontics more than eight years ago to provide orthodontic treatments for kids, teens and adults, primarily using braces and Invisalign aligners to move teeth and correct bites. The practice is located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. exit off I-75, near the New Tampa Recreation Center.
When patients visit Radiance Orthodontics, they always see Dr. Jureyda personally. He enjoys getting to know the families who entrust their care to him, and considers his patients to be family.
āIn an era of big box stores,ā Dr. Jureyda explains, āweāre still a mom-and-pop.ā
He says he wouldnāt even consider giving up the time he spends caring for each individual in his practice in order to meet the demands of corporate dentistry.
āWe value the relationship we build with our patients,ā Dr. J says.
Before moving into private practice in 2006, and subsequently opening Radiance Orthodontics in 2016, Dr. Jureyda taught graduate-level orthodontics at the University of Buffalo, NY. Prior to that, he earned a Doctorate of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, a Certificate of Specialty in Orthodontics from the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, DC, and completed a clinical fellowship in Orthodontics from the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Department of Orthodontics.
His education includes years of studying facial biology and growth dynamics, and his practice has allowed him to treat all types of patients, even thoseĀ with the most complicated orthodontic needs.Ā
Heās also pleased to have been recognized again in 2024 by Tampa Magazine as one of the Tampa Bay areaās top dentists, as voted on by dentists across the region.
His peers have recognized that his education and experience make him one of the areaās best.
His commitment to private practice allows him to maintain a lower volume of patients and spend more time with each person who comes in, which means that patients at Radiance Orthodontics get customized care from an orthodontist who is invested in them personally, whether they choose treatment via traditional braces or Invisalign aligners.
āThere are so many factors that go into a decision about an appliance that you may wear for 18 months or more,ā says Dr. Jureyda. āI am always happy to go over all of that information so that you can make the right choice about the treatment plan that is best for you.ā
These days, general dentists are more frequently also offering aligners. But, Dr. J offers a deeper understanding of the dentofacial orthopedics involved in aligning teeth and jaws over a lifetime, whether itās during the early years of childhood growth or even in older adults.
Getting a second opinion from Dr. Jureyda is completely free and may provide additional avenues for treatment or a lower cost than other options.
āWeāre seeing so much inflation right now, which is stretching families,ā says Dr. Jureyda. āRadiance Orthodontics is a small business and we are in touch with whatās happening in our community. We try to walk that fine line between meeting the demands of running a business and keeping our fees affordable and payments flexible for our patients.ā
He promises reasonable fees that avoid the need for coupons or complex payment structures.
He suggests that anyone who wants to learn more about his practice search āRadiance Orthodonticsā for his online Google reviews. All 160+ of the officeās reviews on Google are five stars and speak to the way Dr. J cares for his patients.
Nicole Shuts moved to New Tampa about two years ago. Her sons already had braces, so she needed to find an orthodontist to continue their care. She says the first one she went to ādidnāt feelĀ quite right,ā so she kept looking and ultimately found Radiance Orthodontics.Ā
āAs soon as I walked in and met Dr. J, I was really impressed with his demeanor,ā she says. āHeās very calm, very intelligent, he knew exactly what problems my sons were facing, and his recommendations were conservative, but on point with what we needed.ā
She says one sonās bite was really bad and his molars werenāt even touching. She wanted to bring him to Dr. Jureyda, but she also wanted to double-check her instincts, so she conferred with her sonās previous orthodontist.
āI told her about the people we interviewed and their proposals,ā Nicole explains, āand she steered me toward what I was feeling, which made me super happy because at that point I liked Dr. J already.ā
Nicole says the proof is in the results.
āItās a joy to me that he can chew his food better,ā she says of her son. āItās been two years and weāre very happy. We wouldnāt change anything.ā
Nicole also is happy with her other sonās treatment, and appreciates that Dr. J sees her youngest daughter every few months to see if itās time to start treatment for her yet, as well. Those ongoing consultations are complimentary, as Dr. J keeps an eye on her growth.
āI really appreciate that,ā Nicole says. āI know heās trustworthy and heās not pushy.ā
Carmen Mitchell and her 15-year-old daughter, Kali, are both in treatment with Dr. Jureyda. Carmen explains she didnāt have braces as a child and her deep bite was causing breakage in her teeth. To prevent further breakage, her dentist recommended Invisalign. And although the dentist gave her a fair price for those aligners, she didnāt feel that the office was fully prepared for the details of the specialty treatment.
But, it was totally different when she saw Dr. Jureyda for a free consultation.
āHeās very knowledgeable and gets to know you as a patient,ā she says, āand then he makes sure the service heās providing is tailored to you.ā
When her daughterās dentist suggested an orthodontic evaluation, she knew she would bring her to Dr. Jureyda, too.
āI like the way he talks to her as the patient,ā Carmen adds. āSheās involved in her own care, which is important.ā
Supporting The Community, Too
As a former educator, Dr. Jureyda makes it a high priority to support students and educators in our community, and Carmen says she wants to support Radiance so he can continue to do so.
Not only is Radiance Orthodontics a long-term business partner of all of New Tampaās public schools (and some Wesley Chapel schools, as well), he also awards scholarships each spring to a graduating senior at both Wharton and Freedom high schools. These scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the community through volunteering. Last year, he also offered scholarships to seniors at King and Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate high schools.
āI often recommend people go to Radiance,ā Carmen says. āI tell them, āGo, get a quote. Youāll probably fall in love with Dr. J and the staff while youāre there.āā
Radiance Orthodontics offers Invisalign and braces for kids, teens and adults of all ages. To schedule a free consultation, text or call (813) 972-1100. For more information about the practice, located at 17427 Bridge Hill Court, Suite A, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center or visit MyRadianceBraces.com.
