New Tampa Aldi Is Under Way

The likelihood of a transformation at the old Sweetbay isn’t the only new thing coming to New Tampa.

In fact, The Walk at Highwoods Preserve area located right across the street Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from the former Sweetbay may be a busy corner in the coming new year.

The busy area already has added three new restaurants — Oronzo Honest Italian (see story on pages 26-27), Michi Ramen and Gu Wei — and an F45 Fitness center this year. It also has seen big box electronics giant Best Buy and home furnishings chain Pier 1 Imports close up shop, potentially giving way to future new tenants.

And, additional Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. businesses — the former Starbucks and Jimmy John’s sub shop — are being prepped for new tenants.

And yes, construction has finally begun on the new Aldi grocery store on the southwest corner of Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. and BBD.

On Nov. 23, crews began tearing down the old Ruby Tuesday restaurant. By Thanksgiving, the 2.36-acre lot, purchased by Leon Capital Group in 2018 for $2.82 million, was mainly home to a mangled mess of metal and concrete.

The Aldi was approved back in January. It will be 19,160 square feet — almost four times the size of Ruby Tuesday — with 106 parking spaces.

Developers of the popular German discount chain also are adding a sidewalk for pedestrians and those who use the bus stop at the same corner. 

There is still no word about when, or if, the once-planned $5-million renovation of the AMC Theater at Highwoods Preserve is happening. 

Unfortunately, the movie industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. In October, AMC warned investors that it could run out of cash by the end of the year. Around the same time, Regal Cinemas shut down all its theaters.

FOR WHOM THE (TACO)BELL TOLLS: Well, it’s official — according to City of Tampa permitting records, the Circle K at the corner of  Doña Michelle Dr. and BBD is expanding, and that expansion will eliminate the Taco Bell and Shell-branded gas station currently attached to it.

Circle K Stores, Inc., which had a pre-application consultation in August looking to redevelop the existing Shell gas station to become a larger Circle K gas station, is going ahead with those plans.

A site plan submitted Nov. 24 shows the current convenience store expanding to a 5,187-sq.-ft. store.

The Taco Bell is being replaced in by five parking spots and a sitting area, as well as a second proposed entrance/ exit behind the convenience store. The canopy over the gas pumps also will bear the Circle K logo.

The AMC Theater, which had to postpone a major renovation project after being been hit hard by Covid-19, and the former Ruby Tuesday restaurant, which will be replaced by Aldi, also are on the east side on BBD.

Sweet! New Tenant Looking At Old Sweetbay

We’re happy to tell you that the one-time Sweetbay Supermarket in New Tampa, closed and abandoned for nearly eight years, is finally on the brink of a much-needed transformation.

Located right across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from the AMC movie theater and next to Home Depot, the property the building sits on is currently under contract and, if things proceed as planned, a new tenant will begin the process of moving in by early 2021.

Who that new tenant will be, and what kind of business might be headed for the long-empty building, however, was still a mystery at our press time.

“I can tell you it has been under contract, but I can’t tell you who,” says John Neukamm, the attorney for KNK Tampa, Ltd., the California-based owners of the building. “Hopefully, within the next few months, you will see some changes up there.”

Neukamm wouldn’t give any hints about what kind of business might be filling the vacant building, which has more than 30,000 square feet of space.

It won’t be a bowling alley, which he confirmed after we jokingly took a wild guess, and Neukamm says it is unlikely to be another grocery-type store, considering that Sprouts just opened a little north of the location and an Aldi has begun construction directly across the street. 

“I think the neighborhood will be happy,” he says. 

Neukamm also says he is confident the buyer will be putting some “major renovations” into the project.

It will definitely need it.

The Sweetbay building closed in 2013 and since then, has been unoccupied while its parking lot has gone through various stages of disrepair, overflowing at times with tractor-trailers and parked storage trucks while also serving as a dumping ground for people getting rid of old furniture and appliances.

Tampa District 7 City Council member Luis Viera and his predecessor Lisa Montelione sicked code enforcement on the property’s lease-holder multiple times over the years.

“It has been a long road for New Tampa with this property,” Viera says.  “Its inactive status has caused many challenges for New Tampa and I am happy that it is under contract and look forward to seeing what comes in here. The fact that this is under contract by itself is a good step for our New Tampa community, as this has been a problem site.”

The property currently is worth $1.5 million, according to Hillsborough County property records. KNK Tampa, Ltd. bought it in 2001 and leased it to Kash n’ Karry for a 20-year term beginning in November of that year.

Kash n’ Karry operated under the lease until June 14, 2006, when its Belgian parent company Delhaize America, Inc., converted it into a Sweetbay.  

But, despite its rebranding, Sweetbay could not compete with nearby Publix or Walmart. When Delhaize announced it would be closing 22 stores in the Tampa Bay area, its New Tampa location was part of that group.

In October of 2013, Jacksonville-based Bi-Lo Holdings, the parent company of Winn-Dixie, paid $265 million for 72 Sweetbay stores, plus the leases to 10 other underperforming Sweetbay supermarkets that had already been closed. One of those leases belonged to the New Tampa location, which had six years remaining on it, but Bi-Lo Holdings declined to do anything with the property other than pay the rent.

Finally, it’s time for something new.

“Probably, by early next year, it will all be coming out; it will be obvious what is going on,” Neukamm says. “It is going to be an asset for the neighborhood.”

We asked our readers on our Neighborhood News Facebook page what they would like to see in the space currently occupied by the old Sweetbay, and they responded.

Some responded jokingly (we assume), by suggesting New Tampa could really use a giant Starbucks (hardy har har, Brandon Maldonado) or a combination pizza, burger, and self-storage facility (also real funny, Richard W. King).

Others were emphatic, with ALL CAPS!!!! (We get it, Chris King, you want a Trader Joe’s and as you said) “NOTHING ELSE IS ACCEPTABLE!!”

King, however, spoke for the most of those who responded. In fact, our readers really, really, really want a Trader Joe’s, even with Publix, Sprouts and soon-to-be Aldi all within walking distance. And, how much do people love their trendy grocery stores? Lucky’s Market, Fresh Market and Whole Foods also all received some votes.

Those other markets didn’t receive as much love, however, as Total Wine & More, which wasn’t too far behind Trader Joe’s when it came to our readers.

You want food and drink, clearly — although a good many folks also want something to do — and we concur! A bowling alley, roller skating rink and indoor go-kart place all received votes, although we were disappointed to see no one suggest a Dave & Busters (JCC) or a live music venue (GN).

Kevin Waters: I would love a Wright’s Deli somewhere in New Tampa/WC. Driving to S. Tampa is too far.

Pam Smith: Go carts, Fresh Market, Armature Works-like venue, Indoor small business venue

Diane Kelly Payne: Quaker Steak & Lube, outdoor music stage, car shows, etc…a fun place to go

Tara Fritsch Schmidt: Luekens Liquors or Trader Joe’s.

Donna Billie: A regular skating rink…not ice.

Lucy Meyer: Trader Joe’s, Fresh Market or Total Wine!

Dannieal Cooper: Indoor go-carts and arcade. Well kept with food and beverages

Kim Channels: A bowling alley or Spaghetti Warehouse

Geraldine Gomez: Kohl’s, Total Wine, PF Chang’s or Trader Joe’s!!! No more storage units!

Armando Rivera: Is a Medieval Brothel a possibility…asking for a friend.

Christie Frederick: A really good seafood restaurant. (There are) none around New Tampa

Doug Smith: A micro brewery!

Nagesh Nayak: Raquetball Court.

Barry Doupnik: Anything!! It’s a dump and an eyesore.

Tim N Catia Notarpietro: Planet Fitness! We need one up here!

Gina Arkell Tim Stokes: Just not another gym.

Richard Spencer: Bowling & arcade. Or trampoline park.

Nicolette Marie: Lucky’s Market!

Ivant Liberty: Cabela’s

Here are some of the other suggestions we received: 

This is how the Crumbl Cookies

As only the third location in Florida, the new location of Crumbl Cookies, next to Zukku-San Sushi, brings unique, delicious and yes, somewhat crumbly, cookies and more to the Wesley Chapel area.

This growing franchise, with 128 locations in 27 states, offers a new variety of flavors every week and so far, we’re trying hard not to become addicted to them. But, with amazing new cookie and “Crumbl Cream” ice cream flavors rotating in and out every week, I can’t be held responsible for what happens when you try them.

The first day the store opened earlier this month, we not only tried giant versions of each of the four opening-week flavors — peanut butter, churro, chocolate chip and double chocolate — we found them to be so delicious and different that we decided to also bring a variety of the store’s “Crumbl Minis” to our granddaughter Rosie’s first birthday party — and yes, they were a big hit. 

The peanut butter cookies are loaded with warm, gooey peanut butter, and the original chocolate chip cookies are packed with tons of equally melty chips. Our favorites, though, were the awesome frosted options — the double chocolate and the churro cookies (truly one of the best cookies I’ve ever tasted), and all of the Crumbls are slightly crisp outside but super-soft inside. 

In other words, I’m not sure I agree with the name of the place, but these cookies are truly decadent, no matter whether they really “crumbl’ or not. 

The day we went to press, I also got to sample our Crumbl Cookies store’s salted caramel ice cream, which also comes in a variety of delicious-sounding flavors like Buckeye brownie,  muddy buddy, raspberry cheesecake and many more.

Crumbl Cookies (25922 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz) is open every day except Sunday. For more info, call (813) 445-6552 or visit CrumblCookies.com and please tell them I sent you! — GN

Smoke-Free Karaoke, Pool Tables & More?

I’m not bragging, but I have spent time in every bar that has opened in the Pinebrook at The Grove plaza on C.R. (aka S.R.) 54. I remember the original Fatheads Pub, Skinny’s Sports Bar and of course, our long-time advertiser, Joe Whiskey’s Sports Bar.

The only reason Jannah and I, until now, haven’t spent more time at Joe Whiskey’s is because it has always been a smoker-friendly bar inside. Well, when bars were allowed to reopen during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic a couple of months ago (under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order), Joe Whiskey’s reopened as a smoke-free bar with a covered outdoor patio for those who still want to smoke. 

Inside, Joe Whiskey’s is now smoke-free, for those of us who want to shoot pool, sing karaoke (with karaoke jock Allan Hudson Brady), play darts or video arcade games and/or watch football (or hockey) games while enjoying a drink at the premium, full-liquor bar with great prices (and with Jessica, one of our favorite bartenders, top left photo above) — without the thrill of having to breathe in second-hand smoke. Allan has a great karaoke list and he’s currently there every Thur.-Sat. evening.  

Joe Whiskey’s (27429 C.R. 54) is open noon-2 a.m. every day. For more information, call (813) 973-8336 . — GN

It’s All About The Water At New Bagel Company

Another small (20-store), but growing chain is the Brooklyn Water Bagel Co., which opened a couple of weeks ago in the plaza just west of the intersection of S.R. 54 (aka Wesley Chapel Blvd.) & I-75 — and, for me,  it is the New York-style breakfast (and lunch) place people in our area have been hoping would open here for a long time.

Local franchise owner Daniel Kurland says the key to everything made fresh at the Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. is the “Brooklynized in Wesley Chapel” water, which is a filtration and mineral-adding system that makes our local water taste much better.

“We even use this great-tasting Brooklynized water in our soda machine and coffee,” Kurland says. “Come on in and taste it for yourself!”

All I can say, after two weeks in business, is that the bagels are “legit” and kettle-boiled before they area baked, and the bacon, egg & cheese (top right, with a seeded “Black Russian” bagel) and Nova Scotia salmon (top left) bagel sandwiches definitely taste authentic.

The omelets are huge and fluffy (and served with crisp hash brown “cakes”) and the selection of hot and cold coffee (served at a coffee station, top center) is amazing!

Try the “Brooklyn Infusion,” which combines vanilla, caramel and Kahlua flavors. There’s even a coffee-flavored ice cube dispenser for you iced coffee fans! 

The Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. (27835 WC Blvd., # 101) is open every day, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. For more info, visit BrooklynWaterBagel.com or call (813) 775-2275 — GN