The current state of construction at Daybreak Market Wiregrass. (Photo by Joel Provenzano)Ā
On the SE corner of S.R. 56 at Heuland Pond Blvd., something is coming that many of us havenāt seen in this area or may not be familiar with at all ā Daybreak Market at Wiregrass which will sell ā76Ā®ā branded gasoline.
Daybreak Market (see map) is a new convenience store concept where some of the things the company touts include $0.99 any-sized coffee or fountain drinks (with even lower Grand Opening prices), a beer cave called āThe Ice Boxā and indoor/ outdoor seating and tables for food time, plus fully digital touch screen fuel pumps.
According to the companyās social media page, Daybreak Market opened three new locations in Florida just last year and there are nine locations in Florida, including three in Port Charlotte. The closest one to our area was just opened this year at the corner of S.R. 54 at South Branch Blvd. (near the Suncoast Pkwy.) in Odessa, where oddly, the pumps and store face away from the main road.Ā
The map shows the locations of Daybreak, FCS and 7-11 (Google map modified by NN)Ā
The 1.73-acre corner parcel in Wesley Chapel has most of its major vertical construction already completed, as the reinforced concrete fuel pad area, canopy supports and convenience store building have all taken shape. The store will be just under 5,000 sq. ft. but there will be a lot more pumps/fueling positions than at any other gas station in our area, which according to the plans we reviewed and our visit to the site, appears to be up to 24 regular fueling positions (gas nozzles).
If that number is correct, Daybreak Market & Fuel will easily be the biggest gas station in Wesley Chapel, as even the RaceTrac down the street and Costco near the Tampa Premium Outlets each only have 18 fueling positions total, and it would be double Samās Clubās 12.
Originally, there was a Circle K that was going to be on the other side of Heuland Pond Blvd. (between S.R. 56 and Sand Dune Rd.) years ago, but the permits for that project expired at the end of 2017.
Instead, Daybreak Market Wiregrass will be just the second gas station in the Wiregrass Ranch development, as the 7-Eleven at the intersection of Mansfield Blvd. and Wiregrass School Rd., which opened last year, was the first.
And now, thereās a new medical office building under construction in the previously planned Circle K location by Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (labeled as FCS on map). See page 16 for that story.
This is just a small sampling of the 100% organic produce sold at the Nutrition Smart store at 1821 BBD Blvd. in Wesley Chapel.Ā (Photos by Charmaine George)
If you think the Wesley Chapel Nutrition Smart (located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. just south of S.R. 56) is a store for vitamins and supplements, youāre not wrong.
And, if you think thatās all the popular store carries, youāre not alone.
But, if youāre one of those people who thinks Nutrition Smart is only a place where supplement fanatics stock up, youāre missing out on all that our areaās original āgreen grocerā has to offer.
āA lot of people come in expecting just vitamins, but theyāre impressed by what they see,ā says Fausto Soriano, the storeās general manger. āThatās definitely a misconception.ā
Nutrition Smart offers fresh, organic produce, natural grocery items and refrigerated and frozen food, from dairy (including raw milk) and eggs to meat, bread and healthy snacks.
Fausto says that many of the storeās customers do all of their grocery shopping in the store, which also includes the largest selection of supplements in the area, plus vitamins, bulk foods, sport nutrition, health and beauty items, pet care, household products and more.
Fausto says itās not on a huge scale like you would find at a large grocery store, but there is a little bit of everything, and Nutrition Smart offers something other stores donāt.
General manager Fausto Soriano checks out a customer at the register.Ā
āAll of our fresh produce is 100% organic,ā Fausto says. While other stores stock both organic and non-organic products that are sold right next to each other, at Nutrition Smart, āOur customers donāt have to worry about buying conventional products by mistake.ā
Fausto also says that at his store in particular, many people believe in an āeat firstā philosophy where they make healthier food choices now instead of needing supplements later.
Customers seem to like the storeās organic, fresh chicken and grass-fed beef, and get a wide variety of unique products at Nutrition Smart that arenāt available anywhere else. For example, he says, raw milk from a Florida dairy farm is extremely popular.
āEvery Tuesday, we get a fresh delivery of raw milk,ā he says. āCustomers line up waiting for the milk to arrive.ā
The store also is able to offer mom-and-pop brands from nearby vendors, too, including locally made raw honey.
Local desserts are delivered fresh to the store from Dade Cityās Hillbilly Farms Bakery. Tampaās Samiās Bakery delivers fresh breads, wraps, cookies and desserts every Thursday. Both bakeries offer specialty items such as low-carb and gluten- free desserts and bakery items.
Other unique products include a variety of trending supplements, such as those derived from mushrooms and shilajit, a resin from the earth that reportedly can help with hormone balance and other functions. The store also carries a large variety of CBD products.Ā
Wesley Chapel Nutrition Smart stocks a huge selection of natural vitamins, supplements, CBD and beauty products…and more! (Below) You canāt beat Nutrition Smartās selection of local, raw honey.Ā
Fausto adds that the Wesley Chapel location of Nutrition Smart is the number one store in the state of Florida for selling the energy drink Celsius.
āWe are known in the area for having a huge Celsius selection,ā he says. āWe have all the new flavors first, and the biggest variety of flavors, along with one of the most aggressive prices.ā
He says he and his staff, including assistant store manager Joe Geier, pay attention to trends in the industry to be sure they know what customers want. When vendors pitch new products to the store, they watch for commonalities. Many customers also read articles and often ask for certain new products or ingredients.
Joe has been with the company for six years and was previously a vitamin manager. He and Fausto, who has been with Nutrition Smart for 15 years, are among about 24 store employees in the Wesley Chapel location. Definitely not a big chain, Nutrition Smart has just two other locations ā in Port St. Lucie and Pembroke Pines.Ā
āOur vitamin staff is super knowledgeable,ā says Fausto. āA lot of them have been doing this for 15 or 20 years. They focus on individualized service for each customerās unique needs. Weāre not just trying to sell a product. We want to hear what their needs are and hopefully gain their trust so theyāll come back in the future.ā
Itās a service they have been providing for 15 years now, since the Wesley Chapel location of Nutrition Smart opened in 2009.
āWe were the first in this area to provide these products,ā Fausto says. āWeāve been here since before Wesley Chapel was a destination.ā
Introducing: Divine Leaf Vegan
Ā
If you like freshly-made vegan wrap sandwiches and fresh fruit smoothies, you have to visit the Divine Leaf Vegan counter at the Wesley Chapel Nutrition SmartĀ
āItās been awesome to have them,ā says Fausto. āThereās not a lot of vegan restaurants or options in our area, so itās worked out well. Iām not vegan and I buy stuff from there allĀ the time. They have a really good ranch sauce they make from scratch, and I buy a full-size bottle because my kids love it. Itās phenomenal.ā
Fausto adds that the partnership is great because people who find out about Divine Leaf through its own social media often become Nutrition Smart customers as they discover the store, too.
Making Health More Affordable
Nutrition Smart offers many discounts and coupons, including a 20% -off coupon in this issue. In addition, active and veteran military members, first responders, nurses and teachers all receive 10 percent off their purchases all day, every day. On Tuesdays, seniors (ages 55 & older) also receive 10 percent off. Shoppers also can sign up for Nutrition Smartās text club by texting āWESLEYā to (866) 603-3532 for exclusive offers.
Pam T. is a Wesley Chapel Nutrition Smart shopper who recently wrote a review. āLove this little health food store,ā she says. āItās my go-to every week. With great rewards and coupons, the prices are not painful. I love that all the produce is organic. Great selection of most items I need on a week-to- week basis.ā
Nutrition Smart is located at 1821 BBD Blvd. It is open MondayāSaturday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m., and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sunday.Ā For more information, visit NutritionSmart.com, call the store at (813) 341-4444, or see the ad below for the coupon that will get you 20 percent off your purchase.Ā
(L.-r.) Medical assistant Emily Peterson, Dr. Holly Ouillette and medical receptionist Yousra Boumansour welcome the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel communities to the new Elite Womenās Care office located just north of S.R. 56 near I-75 in Wesley Chapel. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Board-certified gynecologist Holly Ouillette, M.D., recently opened Elite Womenās Care in Wesley Chapel in the Cypress Ridge Professional Park, located east of I-75 and north of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel.
Dr. Ouillette is passionate about helping women, building relationships with her patients and providing excellent care.
She is the only provider in the Wesley Chapel office of Elite Womenās Care, which also has offices in Spring Hill and Clearwater. Dr. Lauren Juyia and a nurse practitioner see patients at those locations.
The practice is physician-owned by FastMD, a multispecialty group that also owns Florida Advanced Spine & Orthopedics. Dr. Ouilletteās husband, Dr. Ryan Ouillette, is part of that group, as is Dr. Juyiaās husband, Dr. Rushad Juyia.
In November, Dr. Ouillette was hired by FastMD to bring Elite Womenās Care to Wesley Chapel. The practiceās new office shares a building with Florida Advanced Spine & Orthopedics (photo below).
She says that being the sole provider in the office helps her build trust with her patients.
āWhen you come in, you will always see me,ā Dr. Ouillette explains. āNever a nurse practitioner or a physicianās assistant. Itās always going to be me.ā
Elite Womenās Care offers comprehensive and specialized care for women from adolescence to menopause. This includes well-woman exams, family planning (e.g., birth control counseling and intrauterine device, or IUD, placement), plus care for abnormal bleeding, painful periods, ovarian cysts, fibroids, breast concerns and follow-ups for abnormal pap smears.
Dr. Ouillette also treats women experiencing pelvic pain, endometriosis and polyps. She offers menopausal and perimenopausal care, including hormone replacement therapy, non-hormonal therapy and treating urinary incontinence.
When surgery may be required, she offers minimally invasive and robotic surgery.
Dr. Ouillette is trained in and has previously practiced obstetrics (OB), but her Elite Womenās Care office doesnāt offer obstetrics.
āWe see people who are trying to get pregnant and, once youāre six weeks postpartum, you can come right back to seeing us,ā Dr. Ouillette says. āWe just donāt see you while youāre actually pregnant.ā
She explains that with only two doctors in a group covering three geographic areas, itās not feasible for Elite to provide OB care. Patients who are pregnant are referred to an OB practice during pregnancy.
āThe benefits to the patient of going to an office thatās just gynecology is that we wonāt have to leave (a GYN appointment) to go do a delivery,ā says Dr. Ouillette. āPatients are being seen on time and not having to wait while the doctor is delivering a baby. We also donāt have to hold spots open for OB patients, so itās easier to get in here.ā
She also says that patients currently can get in to see her in the Wesley Chapel office for same-day appointments for acute issues.
About Dr. Ouillette
Dr. Ouillette was introduced to the medical field at a young age because her mom was a nurse.
āI always knew I wanted to be a doctor,ā she says. āAnd, when I did the OB/GYN rotation in medical school, I liked it.ā
She says gynecologists develop a special relationship with their patients.
āWhen someone comes in with a gynecology issue, itās not something thatās easy to talk about,ā she says. āI like making patients feel comfortable.ā
While sheās new to the Wesley Chapel area, Dr. Ouillette grew up nearby in Oldsmar. When she was attending East Lake High, her family moved to Michigan, and she ended up staying there for college.
Dr. Ouillette first earned her Bachelorās degree at the University of Michigan in Dearborn, followed by earning her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit in 2012. She then completed residency training at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, where she was named Outstanding Resident Surgeon by the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. After residency, she received additional training in minimally invasive surgery at The Womenās Hospital of Texas Pelvic Restorative Center, also in Houston.
Dr. Ouillette and her husband then moved back to Detroit, where she spent the last several years teaching residents and taking care of an underserved patient population at Ascension St. John Hospital.
āI always wanted a big family,ā she says, and to that end, she and her husband now have four children ā ages six, five, three, and one-and-a-half.
The family moved to Land OāLakes from Detroit for the career opportunities afforded to both doctors. They didnāt anticipate working for the same group, but the more Dr. Ouillette looked at work options, the more appealing working for FastMD seemed.
āWith four kids ages six and under, I was trying to find a little slower pace,ā she explains. āI would love to still be doing everything I was doing in Michigan ā OB, GYN, teaching and academics ā but it seemed like it would be too much right now.ā
Patient Beverly Stiles says Dr. Ouilletteās extensive experience is apparent. Although she was a patient of Dr. Juyiaās in Brooksville, when Beverly couldnāt be seen in a timely manner, the staff suggested she go see Dr. Ouillette in Wesley Chapel.
āI instantly fell in love with her,ā Beverly says. āSheās very professional and her staff is so nice.ā
Beverly explains that she had a complicated issue, but Dr. Ouillette researched it both before she saw her, and then again, after that appointment. Beverly says she felt comfortable voicing her concerns and having extensive conversations about treatment options, including changing her mind about surgery when her symptoms changed.
āI could talk with her,ā Beverly says of Dr. Ouillette. āSheās very one-on-one. She has tremendous training, expertise and professionalism, and sheās also easy to talk with. Thatās what you want in a physician.ā
She also describes the Wesley Chapel office as āsparkling clean,ā and that the staffās communication has been excellent and that itās been easy to get an appointment.
āIf youāre looking for a gynecologist, sheās the one you want to see,ā Beverly says.
Dr. Ouillette says she strives to build strong relationships ā like the one she has with Beverly ā with all of her patients.
āThe biggest thing is personalized care,ā she says. āYouāll see the same faces every time you come in. Youāll see the same medical assistant (Emily Peterson), who knows all of the patients by name. We strive to know our patients well, so that when you call and ask a question, we know who you are. We take the time to listen to all of our patientsā concerns.ā
Elite Womenās Care is located at 2309 Crestover Ln. For more information or to make an appointment, call (352) 345-4456 or visit Elite-WC.com.
We told you in our last issue that Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery (in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms) was getting ready to close, but until a week or so before our press time, the cupcake chainās local link was still open, with no formal announcement from owners Marissa and Justin Dewdney as to when it would close.
Well, that fateful day (for those of us who loved those moist cupcakes and unmatched icing) did finally come and we already know that the Palms Pharmacy, located next to Smallcakes at 17008 Palm Pointe Dr., was planning to take over the bakeryās space.Ā
āItās going to take a while,ā Palms Pharmacy owner and Doctor of Pharmacy Shahida Choudhry told the Neighborhood News. āWeāre looking at several months to build the space out and get it stocked.ā Of course, the independent Palms Pharmacy is still open next door during the build-out, with its chain-matching (or beating) prices and unmatched customer service.
Shahida, never one to take it easy, also recently opened The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel ā with an outstanding team of three nurse practitioners, led by Scarlette Owens, APRN, FNP-C (formerly of Florida Medical Clinic in Tampa Palms) ā at 2935 Pearson James Pl. (off Wesley Chapel Blvd. in the new Cypress Bend Professional Park in Lutz (photo), next to Wesley Chapel Harley Davidson).
For more information about Palms Pharmacy, visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com or call (813) 252-9063. For The Primary Care of Wesley Chapel, visit PrimaryCareWesleyChapel.com or call (813) 991-4243.
Retro Dogs Co-Owners (l-r) Gisella Latorre, Gisella Troncozo, Luis Latorre and Samantha Latorre (Photo by Charmaine George)
As youāre receiving this issue, the KRATE at The Grove Container Park recently finished celebrating its two-year anniversary on June 8, but the lineup of restaurants and shops at the KRATEs continues to evolve.
One of the biggest changes is that The Chicken Boss, the fried chicken concept opened last year by The Bacon Boss HQ owners Josh and Christy Norland, has closed. The Norlandsā announcement on The Chicken Bossā Facebook page said, however, that āselect menu items from The Chicken Boss will find a new home at The Bacon Boss HQ.ā
Meanwhile, the Chicken Boss will be replaced at the KRATEs by Indian Street Kitchen, the faster-food concept from owner Harry Patel at Persis Indian Grill, the instant hit that opened earlier this year next to Double Branch Brewing & Bites in the Village at The Grove.
āWeāll be serving every type of Indian street food at the new location,ā Harry told me. āCome see and taste what we have to offer.ā Although he wouldnāt give me any hints as to what the menu will include (āItās not finished yet,ā he said), a quick Google search revealed that samosas, those crispy, delicately spiced potato-filled pastries that are amazing at Persis, are the most popular type of Indian street food. Harry did say that Indian Street Kitchen should be open soon., although it weas not yet open at our press time.
Meanwhile, theĀ Sausage King,Ā located in the second space occupied byĀ TJās Hot DogsĀ (TJās was the original tenant in the Chicken Boss space at the KRATEs), has closed just a few months after opening and has now been replaced byĀ Retro Dogs. Retro Dogs is owned by Seven Oaks residents Gisella Troncozo and Luis Latorre, and their daughters, Gisella Latorre and Samantha Latorre (photo, above), and features a make your own hot dog station, a new hotdog being added every week, French fries, milkshakes and beer.
The hot dogs at both TJās and Sausage King were great, but hopefully, Retro Dogs will hang around a little longer.
Although not located in the KRATEs,Ā Hangry Joeās Hot Chicken & WingsĀ is expected to open in the former location ofĀ King of the CoopĀ at the front of The Grove, next toĀ Brooklyn Water Bagel Co.Ā
Like King of the Coop, Hangry Joeās specializes in Nashville hot chicken sandwiches (photo, left), plus wings, shakes and waffle fries. With 21 franchise locations (including the nearest to us at 5347 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills, photo below), and restaurants in Korea and Dubai, Korean corporate owners Derek Cha and Mike Kim have a simple premise ā āto deliver the finest chicken sandwich in town.āĀ For more information, visit HangryJoes.com.
And finally, congratulations to new TrebleMakers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant (6034 Wesley Grove Blvd.) owner Jason Scott, who recently took over from original owners Jamie and Joe Hess and Lee Bevan.
Jason is an accomplished pianist who both played and booked the dueling pianists at TrebleMakers, and he is working hard to revamp the service and experience at the restaurant before trying to figure out what changes to make to the menu. He has started with new $8 lunch specials offered Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
