Despite the fact that itโs been a long, hot summer, the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (NTBC) stayed busy with several ribbon-cutting events in Wesley Chapel.
The first (which we didnโt have room to write about in our July 23 issue) was held in June at Rise Dispensary (top photo), the second medical marijuana dispensary to open in Wesley Chapel.ย
Located at 28053 Wesley Chapel Blvd. (in the former Russellโs Western Wear building), Rise (which has nearly 100 dispensaries in 14 U.S. states, including 18 in Florida) sells โflower,โ edibles, vape cartridges and live resin in Indica, Sativa and Hybrid strains (and some CBD, too) for those ages 21 and older with valid medical cannabis cards and offers both in-store pickup and delivery.
For more information about Rise Dispensary, visit RiseCannabis.com or call (813) 612-6120.ย
Next up was the July 10 NTBC ribbon-cutting event at the new Wesley Chapel branch of FiCare Federal Credit Union, located at 26444 Silver Maple Pkwy.
As explained by president and CEO Denelle Miller (with microphone in the left photo), FiCare started as the credit union for employees of St. Josephโs Hospital in Tampa 60 years ago. But today, FiCare also has branches serving health care professionals in Lutz, Clearwater and Gainesville, with standalone ATMs in hospitals in Dunedin, Clearwater, Bartow, Riverview, St. Petersburg and Safety Harbor. The credit unionโs โContact Centerโ for all of its branches is now at the Wesley Chapel location.ย
โFiCare exists to serve our members,โ Denelle said. โWe are the credit union tailor-made for healthcare professionals nationwide. We serve you with complete financial services, competitive rates, and personal care extending beyond your financial health.โ
For more information about FiCare FCU, visit FiCareFCU.org or call (813) 600-5920.ย
And, last but not least, was the NTBC ribbon-cutting at the beautiful new Laceleaf Med Spa on July 11. Owner Lisa Rezvan (photo right) and her staff (below) showed attendees how they can โEnhance (their) natural beautyโ with aesthetic services like microdermabrasion and others that get rid of age spots and spider veins; a variety of injectables (Botoxยฎ, Dysportยฎ, Juvรฉdermยฎ and Restylaneยฎ); laser pigment removal, skin resurfacing and skin tightening; regenerative medicine such as peptide therapy, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and vitamin B12 injections; and skin treatments such as chemical peels, hydrafacials, RF microneedling and treatments for acne scars and sun damage.ย
For more information about Laceleaf Med Spa, which is located behind (but in the same building as) the new Moeโs Southwest Grill (at 5490 Post Oak Blvd.), call (813) 705- 7277 or visit LaceleafMedSpa.com.ย
Although some folks online will try to convince you that itโs going to be a different restaurant, I can say with full confidence that the building directly west (southwest?) of The Palms Car Wash will indeed be a Steak โn Shake.
Owner Todd Webb and general manager Jason Good were hoping to have the new restaurant open at 5542 Post Oak Blvd. (off Wesley Chapel Blvd.) by the time this issue reached your mailbox, but Todd says he is now hoping to open sometime around the first or second week of September.
โItโs definitely been tough,โ he says. โBut we are confident we will get this place done and open, hopefully soon!โ
Todd, who also owns the adjacent Palms Car Wash (5550 Post Oak Blvd.), says that in addition to Grand Opening specials at Steak โn Shake, he plans to do cross-promotions between the two businesses.
(L.-r.) General manager Jason Good and owner Todd Webbโs sons Wyatt and J.R. canโt wait until the Wesley Chapel Steak โn Shake opens on Post Oak Blvd.ย
โWe do full detailing at The Palms Car Wash,โ he says, โso while your car is being detailed, you can go next door and enjoy a Steak & Shake burger, those famous fries and a milk shake. And, we will have promotions like buy a car wash membership, get a coupon for Steak โn Shake.โ
He says he and Jason also plan to do kids specials on Thursdays afternoons at Steak โn Shake.
โOn Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., weโll have a balloon artist and face painter. Weโll also do a Facebook Live from Steak โn Shake every week, with drawings for about 10 prizes, like a $30 gift certificate for The Palms for a free Car Wash Club, free value meals at the restaurant and more.โ
Todd, who has owned more than 30 different businesses, says he is as excited about Steak โn Shake as he has ever been about any previous business.
โI just want to get it open,โ he says.
For more information about The Palms Car Wash, go get your car washed or visit ThePalmsCarWash.com. Until the Wesley Chapel location actually opens, visit the Steak โn Shake at 17509 N. Palms Village Pl. in New Tampa or SteaknShake.com.
New Food & Beverages At The Mall
If youโve been hoping for some new food and beverage options to open in our area, the Shops at Wiregrass is getting ready to welcome two new places to replace two that closed.
The first isย The Alley Tea โข Cafรฉ โข Lifeย (photo right) at 28211 Paseo Dr., Suite 180, in the former location ofย PhoLicious.ย But, where PhoLicious was more of a fast casual restaurant with Vietnamese cuisine, The Alley is strictly a place for a variety of boba (bubble) tea drinks (although some locations of the 17-store West Coast-based chain do list desserts on their menu, too).ย The Alley is expected to open on or around Aug. 15.ย
Speaking of beverages, the former location ofย Clean Juiceย (and a previous juice/smoothie place) at 28216 Paseo Dr., Suite 170, in the mall is getting ready to reopen asย 3 Natives Aรงai & Juicery, which is a Florida-based chain with more than 30 current locations. What appears to be promising about 3 Natives is that in addition to the usual pressed juices and aรงai bowls, the online menu also includes nice-looking wrap and pressed sandwiches, as well as salads (photo below).ย
According to 3Natives.com: โWe source the finest and freshest ingredients possible for all of our menu items…Whether youโre on a lunch break, looking for a quick snack, or just in the mood for sweet and healthy โ weโve got you. Our diverse, fresh and extremely delicious menu items are made to order and hand-crafted to satisfy.โ
3 Natives also is expected to open later this month but also is looking for members to join the team.
Thereโs a sign out in front of the place with a QR code to scan if youโre interested.
But of course, the new restaurant many people are excited about is Bosphorous, the Turkish cuisine eatery with six existing locations (including one expected to open soon at 714 S. Howard Ave. in Tampa). Unfortunately, according to a spokesperson for the mall, Bosphorous isnโt likely to open much before the end of this year.
We also hope to have an announcement about the replacement for Irish 31 soon.โ GN
Dr. Nicole Mitchell-Toth of Blue Water Dental in the Pebble Creek Collection is an experienced family, implant and cosmetic dentist who has been practicing in New Tampa for 18 years. (Photos by Charmaine George)ย
Dr. Nicole Mitchell-Toth, a highly skilled, caring and dedicated dentist, has been practicing in the New Tampa area since 2006. She offers family, implant and cosmetic dentistry, with an extensive array of dental services โ and has the experience and background to match.
Dr. Mitchell (which is what she says her staff and patients call her, despite her recent married name) graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she received her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Chemistry. She earned her Doctor of Medical Dentistry (D.M.D.) degree from the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Gainesville.ย
After graduation, Dr. Mitchell served in the United States Army, where she was stationed at Ft. Benning, GA, and completed her residency in AEGD (Advanced Education in General Dentistry), as well as the โSpear Curriculumโ in advanced comprehensive dentistry. She earned the rank of Major before leaving the Army.
Dr. Mitchell has received implant training from implant educators and has averaged about 100 hours of continuing education per year for the last 20 years. She also completed the Executive Practice Management Curriculum through the University of Florida.
She opened her first private practice office 18 years ago in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve plaza before moving to her current location in the Pebble Creek Collection in New Tampa in 2020.
Having moved just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit, Dr. Mitchell calls the move, โperfect timing. We were able to complete everything before building materials became scarce,โ she says. โI was very fortunate to be a dentist in Florida, since the relatively lenient restrictions here allowed us to resume seeing patients after only six weeks,โ which was a small amount of time compared to the six months some states shut down their dental offices.
Using AI Technology
During the pandemic, Dr. Mitchell says she was introduced to new technologies that continue to benefit her patients, including both hardware and software that utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI). For example, she has a device that attaches to a smartphone camera, enabling patients to take and then transmit pictures of their teeth to the office for evaluation, eliminating the need for some (but not all) in-person visits.
โItโs not just what we see but also what the AI technology analyzes.โ Dr. Mitchell explains.
In the office, she adds, AI technology enhances dental care by identifying problem areas in photos and X-rays. โThe AI can detect early signs of cavities, allowing me to prescribe medication before they become serious,โ she says. This tech also allows her to create 3D models of a patientโs teeth, which can reveal changes over time, such as gum recession or wear and tear.ย
Dr. Mitchell uses AI technology to show patients where they have problems with their teeth.ย
โWe can use these images overlaid to show the patient how and why things have changed and what they can do to improve.โ
For more than a year, Dr. Mitchell also has been using AI software to analyze X-rays.
โThe software highlights problem areas in different colors (see photo left), making it easier to explain to patients what they need,โ she says. โThis visual aid helps patients understand their dental health and the necessary treatments.โย
Dr. Mitchellโs approach to dentistry is grounded in honesty and openness. She ensures that each patient is fully informed about treatment options and costs, empowering them to make the best decisions for their dental health.
She also emphasizes the importance of education in maintaining oral health. New patients fill out detailed questionnaires about diet and lifestyle to identify potential causes of dental issues.
โYou may not realize it, but what you eat or drink can affect your teeth,โ she says.
The Blue Water Dental team includes three dental hygienists, four dental assistants, three administrative staff members and therapy dogs Max and Mandi.ย
โIn January of 2016,โ says Dr. Mitchell, โwe welcomed to the office these two nine-week-old Maltese-Shih Tzu mix pups, who we named after the Maxillary and Mandibular jaws. These therapy dogs were trained for the purpose of providing comfort and kindness to our patients.โ
The hypoallergenic pups enjoy roaming the office, โbut mostly they enjoy sitting on the laps of patients and getting a good belly rubโ says Dr. Mitchell, who adds that most patients find Max and Mandy to be very calming and comforting.ย
Implant & Cosmetic Services
In addition to general/family dentistry, Dr. Mitchell specializes in cosmetic dentistry and dental implants.
โCreating new smiles is a favorite part of my job,โ she says. Her practice offers a number of cosmetic procedures, including veneers, crowns and teeth whitening. She provides comprehensive assessments and multiple treatment options, ensuring that patients can choose the best solutions for their individual needs.
When it comes to implants, Dr. Mitchell handles everything from individual teeth to complete replacements.
โReplacing teeth can significantly improve a personโs appearance and confidence,โ she says. โDepending upon what the patient wants or needs, the implant process can take from four months to a year.โย
Mandi is one of two hypoallergenic therapy dogs in Dr. Mitchellโs office.ย
Cosmetic services include single-visit permanent crowns, customized cosmetic veneers, specialty orthodontic care with virtual checkups, dental implants and same-day emergency appointments.
Giving back to the community also is important to Dr. Mitchell. She volunteers with Missions Smiles, a program of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Mission Tampa that provides dental care via a mobile unit to underserved areas.
โWe offer care once or twice a month, and sometimes we see patients in the office as well,โ she says. โThis program also assists survivors of human trafficking.โ
Another volunteer effort is with โOperation Stand Down,โ presented by the Chapters Health Valor Program of HPH Hospice in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. This annual event provides comprehensive services to veterans, โmany of whom are homeless and havenโt had dental care in years,โ Dr. Mitchell explains. The event offers a range of services and accommodations, creating a supportive environment for these veterans in need.
Dr. Mitchell has built long-term relationships with her patients, some of whom she has cared for since they were school aged and are now married with children. She takes pride in building these relationships and doing her absolute best to cater to every patientโs needs
For more info about Blue Water Dental, the Family, Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry office of Dr. Nicole Mitchell-Toth (19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite A-1), call (813) 957-5887 or visit NicoleMitchellDMD.com to request an appointment. The office is open Mon.- Thur., 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. on Fri.ย
The Hub at Lexington, in front of the Lexington Oaks community (and Sentosa Lexington Apts.) on Wesley Chapel Blvd. has started to go vertical, but likely wonโt open until Oct. 2025.
If youโve recently driven by the Sentosa Lexington Oaks Apartments on Wesley Chapel Blvd. (in front of the Lexington Oaks community), you may have noticed that The Hub at Lexington โ the 40,000-sq.-ft. dining and shopping center we first told you about back in Oct. of last year, has started to go vertical.
But, donโt get too excited just yet. Co-developer Courtney Bissett-Hayes of Center Connect Development, says that although the walls are now up on Building One and all six foundations for this six-building project are now in place, she still doesnโt expect The Hub at Lexington to open until October of 2025.
โThe project will open as a whole, not in pieces,โ she says. The build-out will take about 13 months and then the tenants will have six months to build out their spaces.โย
Sadly, Courtney, who operates Center Connect with her brother Paul Bissett, also says that no announcements will be made regrading tenants until the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter of 2025.
Even so, she says The Hub at Lexington, like its predecessor, The Hub at Bexley off S.R. 54 near the Suncoast Pkwy., will provide, โExperiential dining & entertainment,โ including 15-20 local and regional restaurants and retail shops. And, as we previously reported, there will be twelve artificial trees (photo from Bexley above) providing shade for the complex, twice as many as at The Hub at Bexley.ย
Courtney also says that even though Shanks Indoor Golf & Barโs website still says the indoor golf experience is coming to the complex, she can neither confirm nor deny that at this time.
โWhat I can confirm,โ she says, โis that our 6.5-acre, $24-million project has been designed as a neighborhood amenity, like the Lexington Oaks communityโs clubhouse, so we are serious about providing something special for the area.โ
She also says that Center Connect plans to build 10 โHubsโ in and around the tri-county area (Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough), with Bexley and Lexington being just the first two. โWe will probably announce the third location fairly soon. All of the Hubs will be in front of well-established master-planned communities.โ
For leasing info at The Hub at Lexington, call Courtney Bissett-Hayes at (813) 340-7936.
When you visit The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel, located off Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Lutz, youโll meet the team of (l.-r.) Alexis, Megan, Scarlette and Maggie. (Photos provided by Primary Care of WC)ย
Scarlette Owens, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, has spent her entire career caring for patients. First, as a nurse in obstetrics and gynecology, then as a nurse practitioner.
With decades of practice in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, the word has gotten out that Scarlette is a knowledgeable, experienced primary care practitioner who listens to her patients and treats them with compassion and care.
When Scarlette found herself at a career crossroads, the timing seemed perfect for her to open a new primary care practice of her own.
So, Scarlette joined fellow nurse practitioner Megan Dudley, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, to open The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel just after Memorial Day weekend of this year. The office is located in the new Cypress Bend Professional Park, off Wesley Chapel Blvd., next to Harley Davidson of Wesley Chapel.
The letters behind their names mean Scarlette and Megan have advanced credentials and participate in ongoing training to treat both female and male patients, ages 18 and up. They have each received a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, earned credentials as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and have earned Board certification as family nurse practitioners (FNP-C) by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board.
Both Megan and Scarlette say they were looking for more flexibility in their work/life balance and thought that opening a new practice, with each of them as part owner, would give them that opportunity.
Megan, as the mom of 10-year-old twins, wanted a schedule that would allow her to chauffeur her kids to soccer games and figure skating practice. Scarlette, after 18 years in internal medicine as a partner at a local Florida Medical Clinic office, was looking to slow down with a schedule that allowed her to work just four and a half days each week.
As a member of the clinical faculty at the University of South Florida, in Tampa, Scarlette says she has trained many nurse practitioners.
โI made a big leap to leave all of that behind,โ she says, adding that she had signed a contract to work for a company that was putting primary care practices inside of Walgreens pharmacies. At the last minute, that company pulled the plug on the practice and told Scarlette they no longer had a job for her. She attempted to return to primary care, but the right fit wasnโt available, so she started working in urgent care for Florida Medical Clinic.
โI loved the crew there,โ Scarlette says. But, she also says that her former patients were tracking her down, asking her where they could see her for primary care again.
โIt was very humbling,โ Scarlette says. โYouโre busy doing your job, so you donโt realize how much your patients appreciate you and want to see you.โ
In addition to Scarlette and Megan, The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel has two employees who are both cross-trained as front desk staff and medical assistants, Alexis and Maggie. Scarlette says she expects them to become the leadership team as the practice grows.ย
Megan and Scarlette look forward to being your primary care providers, too.
There also are two other providers in the office. Fellow Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Patricia Moore, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, is a part-time provider who focuses on womenโs health. While sheโs trained as a primary care provider, Patricia can take the time to have more lengthy conversations surrounding womenโs issues and problems, such as hormones, bladder issues and contraceptives.
And, occupational therapist Irfan Choudhry, OT/PTA, is expected to offer occupational therapy services at the practice starting in a couple of months.
Scarlette and Megan say they are both focused on being available, accessible and good listeners, proactive in decision making and taking care of people.
โSo many people canโt get in to their primary care provider for six months,โ explains Scarlette. Or, she adds, they may have an urgent issue โ such as an infection or low blood sugar โ and theyโre told they can wait three weeks for an appointment or go to the emergency room, because those are the only options.
โThey donโt feel cared for,โ Scarlette says. โI saw it from the urgent care perspective. All these people were there because they couldnโt get into primary care.โ
Telehealth Benefits
So, at The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel, the team has Telehealth appointments available every day. If someone is on vacation and needs antibiotics or has high blood pressure or is having an allergic reaction, they can speak to a health care provider right away.
โWe are small, but thatโs what makes us special,โ says Megan. โWe know our patients expect us to have knowledge and experience but we also want to have kindness and personal interactions. I hope people feel listened to, heard and valued. Thatโs what weโre here to do.โ
Megan says she often has patients she recognizes from her kidsโ school or activities in the community, since she and her husband have lived in Wesley Chapel for more than 10 years now.
โWe live here, weโre raising our kids here, we go to church here and they go to public school here,โ Megan says. โWeโre entrenched in our community, and I love that Iโm home from work in less than 15 minutes.โ
Scarlette says it means a lot to her that her patients continue to seek her out.
โAs a former OB nurse, I have patients who remember that I was the one who told them they were pregnant, and Iโm still seeing them,โ she says. โAnd now, those babies I delivered are all grown up and sometimes I see them, too.โ
One of Scarletteโs long-time patients is Donna, who asked that we not use her last name. She says she first met Scarlette nearly 20 years ago.
โShe is always so responsive and caring,โ says Donna. โWhen I first became her patient,ย she spent so much time going through my chart, making sure she was very familiar with everything. She really listens and doesnโt just run in and out of the room.โย
Donna says sheโs already seen Scarlette at The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel for both an in-person well check and sick visits via Telehealth.
โThe whole staff is so personable,โ Donna says. โThey seem so genuine and caring. And the office is beautiful.โ
The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel accepts many major health insurance plans, Medicare and some plans from the โObamacareโ marketplace. Patients also can self-pay if they donโt have insurance.
The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel is located at 2935 Pearson James Pl., off Wesley Chapel Blvd. It is open Mon.- Fri., 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For appointments or more information, call (813) 991-4243 or visit PrimaryCareWesleyChapel.com.ย
