Johnny C’s Italian Eatery — Delicious Food For Dining In Or Catering! 

Try any of Johnny C’s pizzas and ask for the Mike’s Hot Honey to give it a little extra kick. (Some Photos are by Charmaine George and Gary Nager; others were provided by Erik Ravenna) 

Although it’s only been open a little more than a year, Johnny C’s Italian Eatery, located in the small plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. at Morris Bridge Rd., is already one of our area’s favorite restaurants for New York-style pizza and delicious Italian food. 

But lately, co-owner and chef Erik Ravenna says that he’s become more and more passionate about catering — especially as people are starting to think about the upcoming holiday season. 

Johnny C’s even recently provided breakfast for 400 people at Cypress Creek High in Wesley Chapel. 

Johnny C’s, named for Erik’s partner Pat Ciaccio’s father Johnny (a long-time restaurateur himself), can accommodate parties and events — on-site or at a remote location — of pretty much any size, which may have something to do with the fact that Erik and Pat also used to work together at Saddlebrook Resort, where large-scale on-site catering drove the food and beverage end of the business. 

“I really enjoy doing large catering events,” Erik says, “especially events to help people and worthwhile causes.” 

As we reported in March of this year, Erik, who also lives in Wesley Chapel, became friends with Cypress Creek High (CCH) principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles because he has coached at the school and helped start its athletic booster club, and has always offered to help the school in any way he can. That included not only hosting an on-site pizza-making class (he now also offers cooking classes for individuals and small groups at the restaurant) for CCH’s Exceptional Student Education (ESE) students, he also recently provided breakfast for 400 CCH students and teachers. 

Erik loves teaching kids how to cook and offers cooking lessons for small groups and individual kids. “The kids love learning how to make pizzas and different dishes and then being able to serve what they’ve made to their families,” he says. “I always make it fun for them.” 

But, Erik also has donated food for New Tampa schools and organizations, including Benito Middle School, Heritage Elementary, and the Breast Cancer Awareness program at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. In Feb., he also provided dinner for more than 200 special needs teens and young adults for the Tim Tebow Foundation’s “Night to Shine” prom-style celebration, held at Cypress Point Community Church on Morris Bridge Rd. 

“I do enjoy helping people whenever I can,” Erik says, “but so many of the people I’ve helped also have also become my customers, whether for a dinner with their families or for a large catering. A lot of the people we’ve served at these events may not have known Johnny C’s before, but they definitely do now. We often also get a banner at the schools we help, so even more people find out who we are and where we’re located.” 

When he’s not giving away large amounts of his delicious food for schools and charitable events, Erik still spends most of his days in the kitchen at Johnny C’s and he says that the business has continued to grow in the 16 months or so since it opened. 

The Food 
Catering is a definitely a specialty at Johnny C’s, with everything from great sandwiches to shrimp scampi, chicken parmigiana, garlic knots & so much more available. 

With his New Jersey Italian roots and extensive cooking training and experience, Erik says that although it was never his goal to run a restaurant, he loves the bustle in Johnny C’s open kitchen when the restaurant has a large weekend crowd and even the quieter times, when he can work on tweaking and perfecting his recipes. 

“Our menu hasn’t changed much since we opened,” Erik says, “but I have made minor adjustments here and there.” 

That means Erik is still dusting Johnny C’s pizza crusts with garlic and one of his favorite pizzas — the “Yea, Babe!” — was named after his father-in-law, Grandpa Bill’s favorite saying. The Yea Babe! features pink vodka sauce (instead of traditional red pizza sauce), Italian sausage and mozzarella. The other specialty pizzas on the menu are all named for the five boroughs of New York City, as well as SoHo, but you can get any of the 18 pizza toppings on the menu — from anchovies to sundried tomatoes — on any of the three sizes of pizza and in the calzones. You can even get your pizza made with a gluten-free cauliflower crust, which has become Jannah’s favorite pizza at Johnny C’s, even though she’s not on any kind of gluten-free diet. 

And, although none of his specialty pizzas include it, as so many are these days, Erik does also offer Mike’s Hot Honey in individual-sized mini-tubs and he always asks his new customers ordering pizza if they’ve tried it. “It’s definitely a game-changer,” he says. “It gives your favorite pizza a little extra ‘kick’ and many customers are now coming back and asking for it by name, no matter what kind of pizza they like best.” His fried calamari appetizer also is made with the Mike’s Hot Honey. 

And, while Erik offers a lot of different seafood pasta dishes (“partly because I saw that the other Italian places in New Tampa didn’t offer a lot of it”), other than his Linguini Vongolé (with clams, white wine and butter; it’s also offered with marinara), I can’t eat most of them because the dishes have either shrimp, mussels, or both. Even so, he says his shrimp marinara, his two “Fra Diavlo” dishes (literally meaning “Among the Devil” because of their crushed red pepper “heat”) — shrimp Fra Diavlo and “Frutti di Mare (“Fruits of the Sea,” which has shrimp, mussels, clams and calamari) have all proven to be very popular. “But our #1 seafood dish is still our shrimp scampi,” Erik says. 

Speaking of customer favorites, Erik also says his other top sellers are the Italian meatball appetizer and Momma’s lasagna, but whether you prefer tender chicken or eggplant parmigiana over spaghettini, penne a la vodka, chicken or shrimp Alfredo, ravioli pomodoro or chicken Marsala or piccata, I have no doubt you’ll enjoy Erik’s house-made sauces. They’ve become so popular he also sells the marinara, vodka, Alfredo and Marsala sauces by the quart. 


Co-owner & chef Erik Ravenna puts pizzas in boxes for a catering order. 

The Italian meatballs are a Johnny C’s best seller.

“We also sell a lot of our garlic knots,” Erik says, “but you gotta dip ‘em in the ‘gravy’ (marinara) for the best flavor.” 

Johnny C’s also serves a variety of “grinders” (I call them “subs”), including the Italian — with capicola, salami, ham, provolone, tomato, onion, banana peppers and roasted red peppers, plus creamy Italian dressing — and hot grinders like meatball and chicken parm. 

Try Johnny C’s hand-piped cannolis with crushed pistachio nuts and/or chocolate chips. 

Finish off your meal with delicious hand-piped cannolis. I didn’t know I loved them with pistachios until I had them at Johnny C’s. “They’ll make you forget you’re in Pasco County,” Erik said, even though he knows the restaurant is actually located within the City of Tampa limits. 


Johnny C’s also serves beer and wine (for those 21 & older) and has a great $6.95 kids menu. Among the different specials are “Wednesday is a Pastability,” when you get a second pasta entrée 1/2-off with the purchase of a pasta entrée, and “Thursday Night Out,” when you can buy one entrée and get the second 1/2-off. 

Johnny C’s Italian Eatery (10970 Cross Creek Blvd.) is open for dinner only Mon.-Thur. (4 p.m.-9 p.m.) and for lunch and dinner (11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.) Fri.-Sun. For more info, call (813) 278-8020 or visit JohnnyCsItalianEatery.com. Your Booster Club also can hold its Spirit Days at the restaurant. Call during business hours for details. 

Tampa Bay Home Team Helps Sellers & Buyers With Discounted Commissions 

Joe & Christina Kipping say they rare proud to run their Tampa Bay Home Team real estate office on Cypress Ridge Blvd. like a family, but here they are with their actual family. (Photos provided by Joe Kipping)

Joe Kipping loves his family and he also loves to be a coach. A former high school and college football player himself, he now coaches football for his sons, Joey, 10, and Jaxson, 9. 

But, Joe spends most of his time coaching clients in his role as a real estate agent and broker, and cultivating a business that feels more like a family than a corporation. 

He and his wife, Christina, who also is a real estate agent, own Tampa Bay Home Team. 

Joe started in the industry in 2003. 

“I was doing mortgages, but I didn’t want to be strapped behind a desk,” he says. From his vantage point, he met real estate agents who weren’t serving their clients well. “I can do this better,” he thought, so he pursued a real estate license. 

He started selling homes in 2007, then established the company that would become Tampa Bay Home Team in 2009. After 10 years under the Keller Williams umbrella, Tampa Bay Home Team is now part of eXp Realty. 

“We made the switch to eXp Realty because it offers greater opportunities for Realtors through revenue sharing and stock ownership,” Joe explains, adding that eXp Realty has an innovative model that allows agents to build wealth for retirement during their careers. 

In 2014, Christina was let go from a corporate job in finance and joined Joe in the business. 

And in 2021, Joe’s career came full circle when he opened a mortgage business, called Motto Mortgage Home Team, a local franchise of a Denver-based company that has more than 225 offices in 40 states. 

The office for both companies is located in Wesley Chapel, on Cypress Ridge Blvd. near AdventHealth Center Ice. It includes five more agents, all of whom have been at the company for several years. 

“We’re family oriented,” says Christina. “We’re a small business, and we really do treat clients as family, and our employees would say the same thing.” 

Joe and Christina are native to the Tampa Bay area and moved to Wesley Chapel almost 15 years ago. In addition to Joey and Jaxon, Joe and Christina also have two daughters. Taylor, who is 14 and six-year-old Natalie. 

“I love to educate people,” Joe says, “whether they’re buying now or 10 years from now. I’m a coach at heart. If they buy 10 years from now, I want to be the guy who has been there the whole time, educating them along the way.” 

“We’re here to help people when the time is right,” Christina adds. 

Discounted Commissions 

Joe and Christina say they have stripped their commission fees “down to bare bones” and offer a menu system where buyers can pay as little as 1.5 percent. However, they say, most people choose the 2% option. 

They say that if someone doesn’t see value in a particular service, they shouldn’t have to pay for it. In other words, their options put the consumer in the driver seat. 

Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Home Team’s clients say their lower commission rate doesn’t mean a lower level of service. 

When you list your home for sale with Tampa Bay Home Team, you can rest assured that outstanding photography will always be part of the deal. 

Eric Sanchez worked with Christina to sell his home in Meadow Pointe. He’s lived in Wesley Chapel for 18 years, but recently bought a home in Two Rivers. 

“I was under duress and had to make a quick sale,” he explains. “I was looking for a Realtor who was willing to take less commission and found Christina. It was truly a godsend.” 

Back in 2006, during the local real estate market crash, Eric had tried to sell in Temple Terrace by hiring a full-commission Realtor. That home never sold and he eventually lost it. He wanted to be sure he didn’t make that mistake again.

“(Christina and Joe) have a whole office working hard to sell my home,” Eric says. “They did everything from referring me to contractors who did an excellent job, to helping me pack. There was absolutely nothing the Home Team couldn’t handle for me.” 

Eric received an offer within two weeks and closed on the sale of his home less than four weeks from when it was listed. 

“A lot of things had to fall into place, and Christina handled everything to a ‘T,’” Eric says. “I got premium service — absolutely the full service of what you would expect from a Realtor’s office, with no corners cut – at a discounted rate. 

He says he and his wife, Carmen, speak of them highly every opportunity we get, and refer them to anyone they can. 

“They even have the post-sale saying,” explains Eric. “You’re family now. They have get-togethers and social events, and they invite us. It’s not a business feeling; it’s a family feeling. I don’t feel like a customer; I feel like a friend.” 

Joe and Christina say a couple of things their clients really appreciate include their partnership with Zillow to showcase the homes they market. 

Also, Tampa Bay Home Team has an in-house media department for photography and videography. When they used to outsource photography, pictures were snapped quickly in less than an hour, but now their staff can spend all day getting the perfect pictures to best showcase a home online. 

“Clients like it because they don’t feel rushed,” Christina explains. “This is a big step for them, putting their biggest asset on the market. They want someone to come in and care about it as much as they do.” 

They also say their background in the financial industry and mortgages also is a benefit to their clients. 

“A lot of agents are not trained on the mortgage side,” Joe says. “You want to make sure the person you’re hiring as a listing agent has the background knowledge to know what questions to ask the lender so there are no issues with the mortgage.” 

He says they’ve heard a lot of horror stories about deals that don’t close. “The worst thing is after you’ve made plans, you’re packed up and ready to move, and the deal dies,” he says. 

Guaranteed Offers, Too 

That’s one reason people are tempted by online companies that offer convenience and a sure thing, such as Open Door and Offerpad. But Joe says his company offers a better option. 

Tampa Bay Home Team will make a guaranteed cash offer on your home. 

“We have investors that will give full market value for homes,” Joe explains. “It’s a unique program that gets people a lot more money.” 

He says online companies typically offer about 80 percent of a home’s value. Recently, Joe says a seller got $30,000 more from Tampa Bay Home Team than they were offered from an online source. 

“If consumers go to Open Door or Offerpad, they are not being represented,” explains Joe. “Our fiduciary responsibility is to the client to represent their best interest. Those companies’ responsibility is to their shareholders.” 

He says the most important thing when buying or selling a home is to work with someone who has a track record of selling a lot of homes, with the experience and education to navigate the transaction. 

For example, Robert Holbert and his wife Carrie have 2-year-old twins and a 10-year-old. They are another client of The Home Team who recently moved to Wesley Chapel from New Tampa. They’re also repeat customers who first bought a house with Home Team in 2020. Then, The Home Team helped Robert’s parents move into the area in 2022. 

“Joe is super knowledgeable about the market and has done a great job of keeping the relationship with us,” Robert says. “It’s not just a deal, but he’s been someone we see around town, who has helped us with follow-up questions about schools and when we needed a recommendation to replace our A/C. He’s been available for us, not just for one transaction.” 

Tampa Bay Home Team is located at 2818 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Ste. 150. For more information about Tampa Bay Home Team, contact Joe and Christina at (813) 321-HOME (4663), email info@TampaBayHome.com or visit TampaBayHome.com. 

The professional real estate team at Tampa Bay Home Team also enjoys spending time together outside of work. 

The ExerScience Center Had A Baby! — Zen Powerhouse: A Visionary Creation! 

Doctor of Physical Therapy Lauren Leiva of The ExerScience Center & the adjacent new Zen Powerhouse hot yoga studio off S.R. 54 in Lutz has been a featured speaker at multiple international conferences regarding not just physical therapy, but many other traditional and holistic medical practices. (Photos provided by Dr. Lauren Leiva) 

The ExerScience Center, a revolutionary hub for fitness and physical rehabilitation off S.R. 54 in Lutz, has become a place of hope and transformation under the guidance of its visionary creator, Dr. Lauren Leiva, DPT. 

This state-of-the-art facility has recently expanded to include Zen Powerhouse, a hot yoga and meditation studio next door. With a combined space of more than 3,000 square feet, the center offers a range of innovative therapies, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, infrared sauna, ice plunges, vibration plates and decompression for the spine, alongside its specialized gait training programs. In addition to all of these amazing technologies, the Center has talented therapists for bodywork including cupping, Graston Technique, Dry Needling, Sound Bath, Detoxifying Lymphatic Drainage, Joint Mobilization and so much more! 

Dr. Leiva (right) and her patient Molly at the Spastic Paraplegia conference.

You may know Dr. Leiva if you attended yoga classes in at the Crunch or EōS Fitness gyms in Land O’Lakes. She is a highly accomplished individual with a diverse range of qualifications and expertise in the field of health and wellness. She is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a National Academy of Sports Medicine-certified personal trainer. In addition to these certifications, Lauren also is a master dry needler, fitness nutrition specialist, Graston Technique-certified practitioner, yoga instructor, sound healer, and Neubie practitioner with a focus on Muscular Sclerosis, among other accomplishments. Her extensive list of qualifications and certifications reflects her dedication to providing comprehensive care and support to her clients. Just hear what her clients have to say — and go to Google for many more!!! 

Hear from her clients: “Six months ago, I had the pleasure of visiting the ExerScience Center and I was blown away by the atmosphere and dedication to wellness that Dr. Lauren has created. She uses a combination of healing modalities that best suit her patients’ needs, from traditional physical therapy to personal training, yoga, sauna, cold immersion therapy, weight training and advanced technology — she leaves no stone unturned when it comes to care. I highly recommend The ExerScience Center for anyone looking for health, wellness and healing.” — Patrick Alonso 

Dr. Leiva founded The ExerScience Center in honor of her mother, who was a victim of medical malpractice. 

Patient Patricia Sullivan’s 5-star review says, “The ExerScience center has been life- changing. After four traumatic life events in 2022, I couldn’t sleep. Dr. Lauren Leiva and Kristina are brilliant and the brain tap device helped me get back to REM sleep. They have such love, kindness and compassion. I would highly recommend this center for physical therapy, nutrition, weight loss and other natural methods to help reduce stress. So fortunate to be a part of this center!” 

Founded on the belief to do no harm first after Dr. Leiva lost her own mother to medical malpractice in 2019., The ExerScience Center was established with a vision to combine the passions of exercise and science to utilized evidence-based research. Being a physical therapist and a personal trainer, Dr. Leiva has recognized how these two fields were not only similar but also held immense potential when used in combination. “We believe that achieving one’s best potential required a holistic approach that encompassed both the mind and body,” she says. 

The name “ExerScience” perfectly encapsulated Dr. Leiva’s philosophy. It represented the fusion of exercise and science, highlighting the importance of both in optimizing one’s health and well-being. Her goal is not just to help people recover from injuries or get better physically, but to assist them in reaching their ultimate potential. 

A Focus On Education 

“At The ExerScience Center,” Dr. Leiva says, “we host an internship program and embrace continuing education, understanding the significance of scientific research and the need for continuous advancements in the field. While technology, such as our iPhones, constantly evolves, so do treatment options, therapeutic approaches, recovery techniques, and strengthening methods.” 

Dr. Leiva works hard to stay at the forefront of these advancements, ensuring that her clients have access to the latest research and technology available. 

One of those interns, Izzy D, says this about her experience working with Dr. Leiva: 

Dr. Lauren Leiva & her current crew of interns at The ExerScience Center.

“I have enjoyed my time at The ExerScience Center and learning under the tutelage of Dr. Leiva. I had incredible hands-on experience and eye-opening exposure to physical therapy modalities. The clinic focuses on integrative practices to create individualized treatment (plans) and the best possible outcomes for patients. Dr. Leiva is wonderful mentor who values educational experiences. She exudes altruism, which makes her an exceptional one-of-a kind physical therapy practitioner.” 

Recently filmed for a documentary on Amazon Prime, Dr. Leiva has earned the nickname “The Queen of Biohacking,” thanks to her expertise in utilizing cutting-edge techniques and technologies to optimize human performance. Called “Biohack Yourself,” the documentary is set to be released on Amazon Prime this December and will provide a platform to showcase her top Biohackers, including Robert F. Kennedy, Dave Asprey, Jim Kwik and so many in this discipline to inspire others. 

“Check out the cast on IMDB,” she says. “It’s amazing!!!” 

Dr. Leiva at the IMDB Film Festival, where her documentary film “Biohack Yourself” was premiered. 

Dr. Leiva has traveled the world and is now speaking at conferences to bridge the gap between traditional medicine, plant medicine and the latest technologies. 

Being one of the first medical marijuana card recipients in Florida, she is paving the way through science — researching the effects of ayahuasca (the South American psychoactive typically used by indigenous cultures and folk healers in the Amazon and Orinoco river basins) and other plant medicines on brain waves. 

One of the center’s standout features is a comprehensive program that caters to individuals relearning to walk after various challenges. Whether it’s a stroke survivor, someone recovering from surgery, Parkinson’s disease, or an individual adjusting to a new prosthetic, etc., the gait-training program at The ExerScience Center provides personalized support and guidance. By optimizing energy and movement patterns, Dr. Leiva and her staff enable individuals to regain their mobility with confidence and efficiency. 

Zen Powerhouse 

However, The ExerScience Center isn’t limited to rehabilitation services alone. 

“From pain to performance, we take people through their span of care,” she says, “as I believe it’s never a destination, but a lifestyle of longevity and wellness.” 

Dr. Leiva invites you to experience holistic healing at her Zen Powerhouse hot yoga & meditation studio. 

The addition of Zen Powerhouse, the Center’s new hot yoga and meditation studio, is a testament to our commitment after rehabilitation goals are met. 

“Visitors can now experience the benefits of hot yoga and meditation, both of which promote mental clarity, flexibility and inner peace. The integration of these practices complements the Center’s rehabilitation services, creating a comprehensive approach to optimal body and mind performance.” 

The expanded facility offers a range of other advanced practices designed to support spiritual recovery, physical mobility and overall wellness. The hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber provides a healing environment where individuals can experience increased oxygen levels, which helps promote tissue repair and regeneration. The Center’s infrared sauna aids in detoxification, relaxation and pain relief, while ice plunges offer therapeutic benefits such as reducing inflammation and improving circulation. Vibration plates and decompression for the spine further contribute to the center’s commitment to providing innovative solutions for physical well-being. 

People from all walks of life are drawn to The ExerScience Center’s unique approach. 

Shameless Plug 

“I also recommend stopping in to my husband Jonathan’s store — Leiva’s Jewelry on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (in the New Tampa Center shopping plaza). Let him know I sent you. He has been a part of the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel community for the past ten years and continues to provide beautiful, custom-designed jewelry, as well as jewelry repair services.” 

The ExerScience Center and Zen Powerhouse Yoga & Meditation Studio are located at 24706 S.R. 54 in Lutz. For more information, visit TheExerScienceCenter.com, call (813) 803-7070.

Dr. Lauren & her husband Jonathan Leiva of Leiva’s Jewelry in New Tampa, with their sons Elijah (standing) and Alexander Joseph. 

Updates On Sweet Krunch Chicken, The Bean Shack & An Award 

Sweet Krunch To Replace FJ Express 

As anyone who has visited the Lotte Plaza Market food court can attest, Korean fried chicken places are all the rage here now. With one successful Florida location in Bradenton, one in Ybor City and the newest one in front of the Ballantrae community on S.R. 54 in Land O’Lakes, Sweet Krunch Korean Fried Chicken & Boba Tea (left photo) will look to capitalize on this crunchy new craze when it opens next week in the former location of FJ Express in the Shoppes at New Tampa at 1832 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. just south of S.R. 56. 

Featuring authentic Korean fried chicken, bibimbap bowls, Asian fusion appetizers (like pork potstickers) and boba teas, Sweet Krunch could have a future in our area. For more info, visit SweetKrunchFL.kwickmenu.com or the Ballantrae location at 17788 Aprile Dr., Land O’Lakes. 

The Bean Shack Opens At The Mall 

With the move of Coffee Latitudes to a brick-&-mortar café south of County Line Rd., there’s a new purveyor of coffee in the same kiosk at the Shops at Wiregrass — The Bean Shack (photo right). 

But, it’s not completely new, as Coffee Latitudes owners James and Olga Frank are still supplying their delicious house-roasted coffee to The Bean Shack, which the new owner Ben says has a “beachy” vibe. We hope to update you about everything The Bean Shack has to offer in a future issue. 

Congratulations, My Spice Buds! 

Bindu Grandhi of My Spice Buds receives her “Fulfill Your Destiny” Business Builder Grant award (right) from Tampa Bay Markets. 

Congratulations go out to Wesley Chapel resident Bindu Grandhi, the founder & CEO of My Spice Buds, a local family-owned venture that has been spicing up the local culinary scene with all-natural, vibrant hot sauces (Super Mirchi, Fiery Mirchi, and Tangy Mirchi), which stand out in the market for their health-conscious ingredients and exceptional flavors, drawing from cherished family recipes. 

My Spice Buds was honored with a “Fulfill Your Destiny” Business Builder Grant from Tampa Bay Markets (TBM) at a recent TBM Fresh Market event at the Shops at Wiregrass. Aimed at supporting local entrepreneurs, this program provides crucial funding to take participating businesses to the next level. 

Bindu says, “My Spice Buds is more than just a business; it’s a passion project. This grant not only validates our vision, it also empowers us to continue innovating and expanding our product offerings,” including a new spice blend. For more information, visit MySpiceBuds.com. — GN

For Help With Estate Planning & Family Law, Call Cela Webster Of Chapel Legal! 

Attorney Cela Webster (left) and firm administrator Krista Creech of Chapel Legal in the Tampa Palms Professional Center are happy to help you and your family with wills, estate planning, probate and other family law matters. (Photos by Charmaine George)

When Luis Perez was going through an acrimonious separation from his wife, he hired a divorce lawyer who sounded great — a guy who advertised that he helps men in Luis’ situation. Quickly, though, Luis realized that the lawyer was not going to be a good fit for him. 

“He was young and arrogant and didn’t give me the attention I needed,” Luis says. “I had a lot of questions and I was trying to figure out my life, and it took this guy two or three days to return a phone call. He was always in court. He was always too busy.” 

Luis was traveling home from a business conference when he met attorney Cela Webster of Chapel Legal, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center (off Commerce Palms Blvd.) on a plane. She was friendly and introduced herself as a family law attorney. She handed him a business card and told him to be in touch if he ever needed anything. He says it was a moment of fate, with her knowing nothing about his personal issues. 

But, a couple months after that flight, Luis remembered how kind she was on the plane. He had decided to fire his unresponsive attorney, so he reached out to Cela. 

He says that’s when everything changed. 

“She cared enough to listen to me for a half an hour while I told her everything that was going on,” says Luis. “She was very professional and knowledgeable. I was afraid I was going to lose everything, but she made me feel so comfortable and confident. She gave me a vision.” 

He says it took nine months for the divorce to be finalized. During that time, he says Cela became his adviser, his counselor and an amazing friend. “Every question I had, she would answer,” he says. “She really cares.” 

Luis says she didn’t always tell him what he wanted to hear, but, “she predicted almost to the T exactly how it was all going to play out.” 

Cela’s expertise helped him get what was most important to him out of the divorce. He says the law changed and allowed him to have joint custody of his son. He says if he would have filed for divorce before the law changed, he would have lost his rights. That’s information Cela knew, but his previous attorney somehow never mentioned. 

Cela says she treats all of her clients with that kind of “white glove” service. 

“I’m going to call you back, respond to you and know you by your first and last name,” says Cela. “You’re not just a number to me. I don’t take every client because I like to serve my clients with excellence.” 

She opened Chapel Legal nearly two years ago, after two decades of work as an attorney in both Florida and New York. 

First, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of South Florida and her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Syracuse University College of Law in Syracuse, NY, in 2000. 

She started in family law, working for legal aid and serving as an attorney in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. She also served as Chief of Staff for a judge within that district, learning the ins and outs behind the scenes and writing legal opinions. 

In 2015, she and her husband, Matt, moved their family to Wesley Chapel, near Cela’s hometown of Temple Terrace. Their son Jack graduated from Wiregrass Ranch High in 2023 and now attends the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, NY. Their daughter Eliana is 17 and their son Nathan is 13. 

Upon her return to the Tampa Bay area, Cela went to work for Bay Area Legal Services. Looking for a change of pace, she then served as general counsel for Hernando County for three years. With her wide variety of experience, she says, “I’ve worked on every kind of case on the planet.” 

These days, she is focused on helping families with custody arrangements for children, or modifying arrangements that have already been made. She helps with divorces, adoptions and other family matters, as well. 

Wills, Estate & Probate Services 

Chapel Legal also helps people create a will, designate a healthcare surrogate, set up a power of attorney or guardianship and other important areas of estate planning. 

She has recently added probate to the services available to her clients. This is a court-supervised process for identifying and gathering the assets of a deceased person, paying off their debts and distributing assets to their beneficiaries. 

If you hire Chapel Legal to handle your family law matters, attorney Cela Webster will be certain to review every document and will know all of the case law that could affect your situation.

“One of the key things people don’t know or appreciate is that their estate planning documents are living documents that move with you through life,” she says. “You have to keep updating them.” 

For example, she says you need to change them when you get married, when you get a new job, when you leave a job, if someone in your family passes away, or anytime there’s an important change in your life situation. 

And, Cela says, it’s also important to do it before you actually need to do it. 

“It’s never too early,” she says. 

As the mom of a West Point cadet, she also offers her support to members of the military and first responders. She will prepare estate planning documents for any student at any miliary academy for free. 

“I’ll take care of you,” she says. “I donate my time and my paralegal donates her time.” 

She says for cadets, who are typically right out of high school, these documents are essential — just like for everyone their age. 

Many parents don’t realize that once their child turns 18, they no longer have the right to help them if something happens to that adult child, unless that child has listed them on a power of attorney document. 

So, for example, if an 18-year-old becomes incapacitated in a car accident, their parents have no right to make medical decisions for them, unless the appropriate documents are in place. 

She can help families determine what documents they need to protect them in many different situations. 

Cela also donates her time to the Hillsborough County Bar Association “Wills for Heroes” program, offering free wills, health care advance directives and durable powers of attorney to local first responders. 

She also is a board member with the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association and is excited to give back to students as part of the committee that raises money for scholarships. 

“My number one goal is to help people,” Cela says. “Whether I’m working in public service or federal court, it’s always about serving people.” 

Cela is licensed to practice in both New York and Florida, but she is fully focused on serving families and individuals in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas. 

While many attorneys don’t offer a free consultation, Cela says it’s important to her that people have an opportunity to ask her questions before they determine whether or not to hire her. 

And, as a native Spanish speaker, Cela is happy to work with people who only speak Spanish or who prefer to communicate about the sometimes complicated issues of family law in their native language. 

Her client Luis says that after working with Cela, he’s convinced she’s the best attorney in Tampa and may be the best attorney you’ll find anywhere. 

“I had to experience a terrible attorney to really appreciate her,” he says. “But, her dedication, attention to detail and her love for her craft is undeniable.” 

Chapel Legal is located at 17425 Bridge Hill Ct., Suite 202. If you need help with family law, estate planning or probate, Chapel Legal attorney Cela Webster offers a free phone consultation. For more information, visit ChapelLegal.com or call (813) 524- 6393.