Learning Disabled Adults & Families Attend Community Café Preview

Pat Ciaccio & Nova Mahoney at the Apr. 18 Community Café news conference at the Hilton Garden Inn.  (Photos provided by Kat Mahoney)

At least 30 people — including adults with learning disabilites and their families — were on hand on April 18 when former Saddlebrook Resort general manager Pat Ciaccio and his team presented his 501(c)(3) nonprofit passion project — which he calls the Community CafĂ©. 

The Café, which is scheduled to open on June 15, is located in the 3,200-sq.-ft. former Keeps Carpet Store building on S.R. 54, less than a half-mile west of Morris Bridge Rd. The community/media preview was held at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel.

“The Community CafĂ© will create welcoming spaces and provide workforce training opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” Ciaccio told those in attendance at the media preview. “I know there are other businesses that hire the developmentally disabled, including Publix, but we want to do even more to help them. We want to train them so they can not only have a job, but actually move up to management positions. Nearly our entire staff of 30-35 employees (when it opens) will be people with these special needs who normally find it difficult to find a job.”

The Community Café will be home to a gourmet coffee bar and also will sell ice cream and smoothies and also will feature a retail shop selling T-shirts, coffee mugs and other branded merchandise. The Café also will feature an 1,100-sq.-ft. private event space that will feature artwork (that will be for sale, with all sales proceeds going to the artists) rotating quarterly by physically, intellectually and developmentally disabled professional artists affiliated with Arts4All Florida. 

Sandra Sroka, of Arts4All Florida, which will provide disabled artists’ artwork at the CafĂ©.

Appearing at the news conference was Sandra Sroka, the adult program coordinator of Arts4All, who said that she believes the public will be impressed by the quality of the rotating artwork that will be on display at the Café.

Ciaccio said there also will be entertainment on Friday and Saturday nights featuring performers with special needs. He added that the event space will be available for use by community organizations.

Best of all, each area of the Community CafĂ© will have its own “team leader” among the “Shining Stars,” which is what all of the employees will be called. Only Ciaccio himself and the Café’s top management will not have special needs.  

One of those special needs folks — who you would never know was even on the autism spectrum and who joined Ciaccio at the news conference — was Nova Mahoney, who admitted that without the help she has received in her life, she’d “never be able to speak in front of a large group of people.” Nova also said that what Ciaccio and those who are helping him get the Community CafĂ© kicked off are doing, “Is just so important for people like me that I knew, from when I first met Pat, that I wanted to be part of it.”

Ciaccio also told those in attendance that the Shining Stars will deliver a high-quality food and beverage experience with exceptional guest service in a tranquil, family-oriented, “Team Greater Than Me” environment.

He also said that his goal is to provide cohesive and inclusive workforce training that will offer true advancement opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. “We truly are looking to change the current narrative about special needs adults from awareness to education,” Pat said. “The narrative must be changed.” 

Ciaccio isn’t alone in his passion to help those with special needs. 

Community Café COO Kat Mahoney;

Among the others he introduced at the news conference were Nova’s mom Kat Mahoney of Katbrat Studios (which specializes in digital media and content creation), who has accepted the position of chief operating officer of the Community CafĂ©; John Lombardo of Lombardo Coaching & Consulting; and Darlene Hill of The Leyda Group (which specializes in leadership coaching and human resources consulting). In fact, Kat says, “I’m so dedicated to the Community Cafe because it’s everything that drives me forward in both my personal and professional life” said Mahoney. “Every business decision, every IEP school meeting, every educational and mental health speaking engagement I’ve done over 20 years, has led me to the Community Cafe.” 

As reported last issue, the Community Café also will be led and mentored by a five-person Board of Directors, including Dr. Alexis Dempsey-Doyle, Jodi Gordon, Wasim Kayal, Seth Ravenna and Dr. Mohamad Saleh.

Ciaccio and his leadership team thanked the Hilton Garden Inn and its GM Charlie Whiteacre for graciously agreeing to host the news conference.

“I also would like to thank all my partners and community members who already have reached out to lend support,” Ciaccio said. “It takes a village but together, I know that we can change the narrative!”

For more information, visit CommunityCafeFL.com.

Attorney Derek Usman Is Ready To Fight For You & Your Business!

Attorney Derek Usman (left) of the Usman Law Firm, PA., and his marketing assistant Corinne Ishler, attended the Hillsborough Bar Association’s Judicial Food Festival. (Photo provided by Derek Usman)

When you have a local and approachable attorney like Derek Usman available, calling upon a lawyer for legal help in employment and business matters gets a little less stressful.

Outside of his offices or the courtroom, you may see Derek out and about in the area. He is a proud member of the Rotary Club of New Tampa. He regularly attends Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church in South Tampa’s Hyde Park neighborhood. You might even find him picking up kombucha or cold pressed juice at Nutrition Smart.

“People need somebody they can trust,” Derek says. “A lot of people don’t have someone in their social circles who is capable, ethical and competent to help with legal matters. The average person may only need someone like me once in a lifetime, so it’s important to always be trustworthy.”

After nearly a decade of practicing law in Chicago, Derek has been serving the Tampa Bay area since 2015, when he moved to Wesley Chapel. His Usman Law Firm, P.A., has two offices. The main office is on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa, just south of Wesley Chapel and his newer office is in downtown Tampa. Derek specializes in business law (contracts, labor, company ownership structure, etc.), employment law (workplace disputes) and litigation.

 Derek’s education and experience make him especially well suited to the areas of business and employment law. He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) in 1997. He became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Illinois shortly thereafter. Then, in 2001, he earned his Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) degree from the Northern Illinois University College of Law. After law school, he joined the Comptroller’s Office at the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and, while working there, was able to earn a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation degree, at no cost to himself, from Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT in 2005.

His experience with accounting and taxes helps him spot financial issues in contracts and transactions. “I can check if assets are depreciated, inflated, or valued properly,” he says. “In public companies versus private companies, ownership can be valued in different ways and I can help clients figure out which option is most advantageous for them.”

Your Litigation Specialist

What does it mean to specialize in litigation? It means Derek is capable of serving as a trial lawyer.

“As a lawyer, going to court is common,” Derek explains. “You have to go to court every time you file a motion. But, it’s unusual for business disputes to go to trial. It’s (usually more) economical to settle. But going to trial is something I am always prepared to do for my clients.”

For example, the Usman Law Firm recently emerged victorious in a three-day federal jury trial against Ulta Beauty, Inc., in which Derek was able to win $60,000 for his client in an employment law case. He also has represented Priatek, LLC, a startup company based in St. Petersburg, and two whistleblowers who filed a lawsuit against the Salvation Army.

Derek says many people would prefer to pick a large law firm versus a smaller practice like his for business legal matters.

“The so-called ‘white shoe firms’ — the well-established, large city firms — may feel less risky, especially if money is not an issue,” he says. “But, bigger firms also can mean double or triple the cost without necessarily getting a senior lawyer. You may get the new, less-experienced guy right out of law school.

He adds, “On the other hand, when you go against large companies that have in-house legal teams, they will have their experts for all types of cases. They definitely will have their own trial expert.” Either way, I have gone up against them.” 

The Usman Law Firm, P.A.’s New Tampa location is at 20701 Bruce B. Downs Blvd, Suite 207, and the downtown Tampa location is at 505 E. Jackson St., Suite 305. For more information, please visit DUsmanLaw.com, call (813) 377-1197.

Wesley Chapel Harley-Davidson Has Opened!

All photos by Charmaine George

Congratulations to vice president Gary Bang (shown, top banging the gong that gets tolled every time a new Harley-Davidson motorcycle is sold) and president Preston Farrior (not pictured here) and their entire staff at the beautiful, new Wesley Chapel Harley-Davidson dealership, located at 25245 Wesley Chapel Blvd., in Lutz, almost directly across from Total Wine & More.

The spectacular new two-story dealership offers everything from a showroom floor packed with new and used Harleys (right), a huge service area, an equally large parts department, plus an outstanding “Motorclothes” area.

For those (like me) who have never owned a motorcycle, the new Harley dealership also offers learn-to-ride classes on-site, so you can earn your Florida motorcycle endorsement on your driver’s license and your Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) Basic Rider Course card.

The new dealership even has plenty of room out behind it where those classes are taught, plus a coming-soon trail system, room for expansion and more.

“We’ve been looking to build a dealership out here since 2008,” Bang told me on Apr. 17, the first day the dealership opened. “This is definitely a dream-come-true location for us.”

The retail shop has Harley tank tops, long- and short-sleeved t-shirts, collared shirts and, of course, bike jackets. There are even kids shirts and adorable onesies with tattoo sleeves for babies.

Bang and the crew hope everyone who rides or is interested will come out for the dealership’s official Grand Opening event on Saturday, May 20, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. The Grand Opening will feature food trucks, beer, live music and other entertainment, a huge vendor village and new Harley-Davidson motorcycle will be given away. For more information, call (813) 213-3145 or visit WesleyChapelHD.com.

Updates On Pomodoro/Mama B’s, Provisions, Blush Champagne Bar & Azteca! 

Pomodoro Pizza To Become Mama B’s!

Those of you who are fans of Pomodoro Pizza at 27607 S.R. 56 (in front of Sam’s Club) will be happy to hear that not too much will change when Brenda Bening-Thompson (photo left) and her husband David, who have already owned it for several months, officially change the name of the popular local pizzeria to Mama B’s Pizza.

“We’ll be officially changing the name when our sign outside and new menus come in,” Brenda (Mama B herself) says. “Basically, we’re changing the look of the menu and reducing the number of pasta dishes on it, since some of them haven’t been selling so great.”

She adds, however, that most of Pomodoro’s pasta favorites — including fettuccine Alfredo, lasagna and chicken parmigiana — “won’t be going anywhere.”

For more information, call Pomodoro Pizza at (813) 328-8063 or visit PomodoroPizzaFL.com.

Provisions Coffee & Kitchen To Open New Location

Meanwhile, Provisions Coffee & Kitchen, which was the first tenant to open in the KRATE Container Park at The Grove at Wesley Chapel, has announced that it will open a second location in a new plaza that currently only is home to Abdoney Orthodontics (see photo, right).

The announcement on Provisions’ Facebook page said that additional announcements were coming soon. Unfortunately, we were unable to speak with owner Dana Morris — who also has a Provisions location on E. Bearss Ave., just west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. — about the rumor we heard that the new Wesley Chapel Provisions will serve beer and wine (as the original location on BBD, where Bru Florida Growler Bar is now located, used to serve), as well as its usual coffee drinks. 

We also weren’t able to find out if the new location will replace the location at the KRATEs or if it will be a third location for Morris and her coffee-and-more business. But of course, we’ll keep you posted.

For more information, call or visit either Provisions location — at 5862 Goldview Pkwy. in the KRATES (call 813-803-7787) or at 2816 E. Bearss Ave. (call 813-252-6512) or visit ProvisionsCoffeeFL.com. 

Blush Champagne & Cocktail Bar Opens At The KRATEs

Literally the day we went to press with this issue, the Blush Champagne & Cocktail Bar (photo left) held a brief “soft opening” in anticipation of its full-time opening sometime before this issue reaches your mailbox. 

The Blush Champagne & Cocktail Bar, the second establishment at the KRATE Container Park (the other is the nearly adjacent Blush Wine Room) owned by Felicia andNimesh Desai (not pictured), is an intimate, upscale champagne bar serving sparkling wine from both near and far, champagne cocktails and martinis, and a dozen frozen cocktails, with plans to serve food starting this summer. 

“Until then, you can grab food from the Blush Wine Room and drinks from either of our locations,” Felicia says. “And, just like at our original location, the Champagne & Cocktail Bar will have wines and cocktails you won’t find anywhere else. We’re really excited about the new concept.” 

The Blush Wine Room is located at 5863 Goldview Pkwy., Unit 107, and the Blush Champagne & Cocktail Bar is at 5903 Goldview Pkwy., Unit 101. For more info about either location, call (813) 428-6247 or visit BlushWineRoom.com.

Azteca d’Oro Opening June 24!

As you can see in the ad above, Azteca d’Oro is set to host its Grand Opening in the space (at 2000 Piazza Ave.) at the Shops at Wiregrass previously occupied by Cantina Laredo on Saturday, June 24, with a mariachi band, indoor and outdoor bar with cocktails and more.

Azteca d’Oro promises a truly authentic Mexican cuisine experience in an upscale, but still casual atmosphere. For more info, see the ad or visit AztecaDOro.com.

JD Porter Provides Updates On Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. & More

The map above, by King Engineering Associates, Inc., and provided by JD Porter, has been updated by the Neighborhood News. It isn’t 100% up to date, but it does show most of what is under development and already has been built in Wiregrass Ranch.

As your local community newspaper, one of the questions I get asked most often is “When will Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. (WRB) open from north of Chancey Rd. to S.R. 54 near Walmart (see map)?” 

During a recent interview, Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter provided an answer to this question, as well as to many of the other questions people ask me most often — although not all of the answers are what I would call definitive (at least not yet).

For example, anyone who lives in the Estancia or Esplanade subdivisions in Wiregrass Ranch surely knows that WRB has been fully paved for months, but barricades situated north of Chancey Rd. and by Walmart’s Garden Center just south of 54 have prevented people from legally using it. But, Porter said, that problem should end soon.

“We’re finishing the landscaping and irrigation now,” Porter said. “I can’t guarantee an exact schedule, but it should be fully open by sometime in June.”

As for the Publix supermarket that is ready to begin building behind the Bank of America and Advance Auto Parts at the corner of WRB and 54, Porter said that dirt should begin moving within the next couple of weeks. And, he notes, as far as he know, there still is no plan to close the existing Publix store in the Hollybrook Plaza just east of the intersection of 54 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

What About Next To The Mall?

The other question about Wiregrass Ranch that I get asked most often is about the large plot of land that has been cleared on S.R. 56, just east of the Shops at Wiregrass. Porter confirmed that although that lot was originally intended to be the second phase of the mall, the mall itself changed twice in just the last couple of years and that Porter’s development arm — Locust Branch, LLC — had purchased back the lot from Queensland Investment Corp. But sadly, although the land has been cleared, Porter said that no new development on the site was imminent.

“We’re just getting it pad-ready,” he said. “That is a potential $100-million asset and we are working to bring higher-quality, better users to that site and to make it more of a true mixed-use location.” He added that while he couldn’t yet make any announcements about what is to come to that location, “We have had a lot of talks with interested parties about it.”

Orlando Health Hospital Update

Also getting ready to begin moving dirt in the next couple of weeks is the Orlando Health Hospital, which will become the third hospital in Wesley Chapel when it opens in 2025. Porter said that there also will be a medical office building affiliated with the hospital that he will be able to show plans for soon. The office building will be located “on the fringe” of the planned Town Center in Wiregrass Ranch.

The Latest On Raymond James

Although Porter still couldn’t say when it will actually begin building, he said that the long-awaited Raymond James Financial — which plans to build 400,000-1 million sq. ft. of a large office campus to the east of the Fairfield Inn and the Audi of Wesley Chapel dealership — “has spent a couple of million dollars on site work already and could begin actual vertical construction by as soon as June or July.”  

Cooper’s Hawk & Other Eateries 

Perhaps the most eagerly awaited new building in Wiregrass Ranch is the construction of the new Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant (photo), which is now under construction to the east of the Culver’s on S.R. 56. Porter said he hopes Cooper’s Hawk will open by the end of this year, but we’ll have to wait and see how the construction goes.

He also noted that in the same general area as Cooper’s Hawk, there is another restaurant site available and that he continues to receive “a ton of letters of interest from equal-level restaurant users” for that spot. “Think about what’s near the Cooper’s Hawk in Tampa (on Boy Scout Blvd., near International Plaza),” Porter said. “It could be like any of those restaurants.”

In that case, it could be anything from Eddie V’s or Ocean Prime to Kona Grill and Del Frisco’s, but Porter wasn’t at liberty to say anything other than, “I think the community will be pleased once we’re able to announce something.”

Amberlin Apartments And…

A number of people also have asked about an age 55+ apartment community being built in our area. That community, which has recently begun vertical construction, is called Amberlin at Wiregrass Ranch.

Porter says, however, that there are other communities that also are planned in that large area with frontage on BBD.

And finally, Porter had no update at our press time about when the planned Town Center will begin building, but stay tuned for an update in the “not-too-distant” future.