Story Update: $836 Million For Local Road Improvements? Plus, Our New Online Ads

By now, anyone who regularly drives the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) at S.R. 56 or the new Overpass Rd. exit at I-75 has to recognize that these transportation improvements have helped relieve traffic in the Wesley Chapel area.

And, with new lanes now open eastbound and opening soon westbound on S.R. 54 between Curley Rd. and Morris Bridge Rd., it appears that Wesley Chapel’s biggest traffic problems are continuing to improve.

Even so, I still hear (and see on Facebook) lots of complaints about our traffic issues and the amount of money that is or isn’t being spent to do something about fixing them.

Does $836 million in state transportation improvements sound like nothing has been done?

Almost $530 million of that total has been spent since 2002 on a wide variety of transportation capacity projects serving Wesley Chapel’s 33543, 33544 & 33545 zip codes — and that amount doesn’t include the hundreds of millions more that Pasco and the developers of Wesley Chapel-based communities have spent to improve the roads in and around all of our area’s new subdivisions. Even so, another nearly $187 million of the remaining $300+ million is what has been spent improving the state-owned roadways in New Tampa (nearly $187 million; see below). The remaining $94.5 million has been spent in San Antonio, just north of Wesley Chapel. 

Thanks to our new editorial research contributor (and new local Realtor with Florida Executive Realty) Joel Provenzano, who previously worked for the Florida Department of Transportation (aka FDOT), I am proud to be able to break down just the state funds that have been spent to make traffic less of a nightmare for those of us who live and/or work in and around New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

I do realize that, with the continued explosion of new homes and businesses in our area, more money will need to be spent to keep our area from turning into another Dale Mabry Hwy. or Brandon Blvd. I, for one, however, am happy to not be sitting in traffic as often as I was before all of these improvements were made.

Check Out Our Online Ads!

Over the past few years, as online advertising has infiltrated pretty much every part of our lives, we have had just a couple of online ads on our website — NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net.

But, as the number of visits to our site has grown exponentially the last 2-3 years, I have always wanted to offer local businesses the opportunity to place ads on our site — which now averages 30,000 visits every month — I just wasn’t sure what to charge for those ads.

Well, those rates are now set and the first of those online ads are now up on our site. 

So, whether you want to supplement your print ads or advertise with us online only, call (813) 910-2575 or email ads@ntneighborhoodnews.com.

Nibbles & Bites: Gorkhali Kitchen Wins Michelin’s Bib Gourmand Award!

Although I admit to having missed it when three Tampa restaurants were awarded Michelin Stars last month, I wanted to congratulate the owners of Gorkhali Kitchen, the Tampa Bay area’s only Nepalese-Himalayan restaurant, located in the Cross Creek Center plaza at 10044 Cross Creek Blvd., which was one of only two Tampa eateries to win the Michelin Bib Gourmand award (the other was Psomi, a Greek concept in South Tampa).

Michelin Stars are offered to the best of the most upscale eateries, while the Bib Gourmand awards are given to restaurants with “consistently good quality, good value cooking,” but both awards are presented only after multiple Michelin Guide inspectors make multiple visits and all agree on the restaurant’s quality.

Gorkhali’s Nepalese (and Indian) fare includes the country’s signature Momo dumplings, sizzling Tandoori lamb chops and chicken wings, tender goat dishes and the Nepalese fried rice (with chicken) shown here.

Gorkhali Kitchen co-owners Rajesh Pathak, Reena Widdoes, Poonam Gurung and Menora Panthi have rightfully been inundated with new customers since the announcement.

Gorkhali Kitchen is open every day for lunch and dinner. For more information, call (813) 388-6404 or visit GorkhaliKitchenTampa.com.

Grand Hampton: The Movie Series Makes It To Orlando Film Fest!
Photo provided by Antony Capers.

Speaking of congratulations, I also have to give big props to filmmaker Antony Capers and his talented cast and crew of “Grand Hampton the Movie Series – Super Vita,” which has been invited to the nonprofit Orlando International Film Festival (OIFF) the weekend of July 13-16. 

Capers says, “Being a part of the OIFF is huge, and a great accomplishment. We have no celebrity actors or figures in our movie, we had no production budget, nor any high-end specials effects, but yet myself, and Annette (Simmons-Brown)wrote a movie that had a strong enough story to make an impact.”

Capers & crew, who got to present (photo) and even film a portion of the series at the historic Tampa Theatre in downtown Tampa earlier this year, says that although “Grand Hampton” will be one of about 200 short and feature-length films presented at the OIFF, “I think being in this film festival will help expose our ‘Grand Hampton the Movie’ brand to a wider audience… Hopefully being in the festival, we can get enough eyes on it and possibly get a movie or production deal from Netflix, HULU or a service like that because our story is very unique and different.”

To see all episodes of “Grand Hampton,” visit “Grand Hampton the Movie Series” on Youtube.

Sportsman’s Warehouse To Replace Best Buy In August

Those who enjoy outdoor activities — including hunting, shooting, fishing, camping, boating, outdoor cooking, etc. — will be thrilled to know that Sportsman’s Warehouse is expected to open in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve (in the former location of Best Buy) on (or around) Thursday, August 17. 

For more info, including how to register to win a GMC AT4 truck and outdoor gear package, visit Sportsmans.com.

Azteca D’Oro Is Open At The Shops At Wiregrass!

Although it wasn’t yet open when we went to press with this issue, the opening of the new Azteca d’Oro Mexican restaurant at the Shops at Wiregrass (across from The Living Room; left photo) took place last week, with a Grand Opening event the weekend of June 24-25.

We were planning to visit and take both pictures and video last week, so look for updates on NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net as soon as you receive this issue in your mailbox.

I met with co-owner Victor Ramos and the rest of the Azteca team the day this issue went to press, where I got the only picture I could (right photo) of a fully completed area inside this beautiful new, upscale Mexican dining experience. 

Azteca d’Oro (2000 Piazza Ave., Unit 170) is open every day for lunch and dinner, with Azteca’s “Buy One, Get One” Happy Hour available all day on Sunday and Monday-Saturday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m.). For more information, visit Aztecadoro.com.

Checking Out The Third Annual Rum & Seafood Festival! 

Our congratulations go out to Florida Penguin Productions for putting on a successful third-annual Rum & Seafood Festival at the Tampa Premium Outlets on June 3, despite the constant threat of bad weather that could have caused the event’s cancellation.

A steady stream of adult visitors paid $15 per person to get into the Festival, which featured live music, dozens of vendors — including Siesta Key and Sailor Jerry rums, FishHawk Spirits and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey — and great seafood food trucks like Charm City Eats, Super Grouper, Got Lobstah? and From the Soul to the Sea. Among this year’s highlights were the Crab Races (that I unfortunately missed) and the “rooftop” bar. 

The  North Tampa Bay Chamber received a portion of the event’s proceeds.

Introducing Astro Craft Ice Cream’s New Ice Cream Chef!

This is just a sampling f the delicious flavors at Astro Craft Ice Cream on S.R. 56. (All Photos by Charmaine George).

It was only six months or so ago when we first told you about the new Astro Craft Ice Cream, located in the same plaza on the north side of S.R. 56 as Mellow Mushroom.

Even so, there’s so much new happening at Astro that we knew we needed to update that story.

Still owned by Ferdian Jap and Gio Tran, the co-owners of Zukku-San Sushi (located about a 1/4-mile east of Astro) and Ato at the KRATE Container Park, Astro now has a new ice cream chef — Adrian Carter. Carter, who is proud of his love of ice cream, completed an online course through the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts based in Boulder, CO, and also completed the intensive one-week Penn State University Ice Cream Short Course in University Park, PA, now in its 128th year — where representatives of Ben & Jerry’s, Baskin-Robbins, Blue Bell, Haagen-Dazs and many others have learned the secrets of ice cream making.

New Astro ice cream chef Adrian Carter prepares the signature sundae for June (below, left).

“It’s super-competitive,” Carter says of the course. “But you really learn the best ways to make the best ice cream.”

Carter, who first met the Astro owners at their location at Armature Works near downtown Tampa, is proud of the changes he’s already made to Astro’s already delicious flavors and he promises to continue to add new varieties, starting with the unique new passion fruit-raspberry sorbet, which is made with oat milk, “so it still has a creamy, more ice cream-like texture and taste,” Carter says.

He also has made subtle changes to many of my already favorite flavors at Astro — including adding real bananas to the banana pudding peanut butter cookie flavor (which is still my #1 favorite).

Father’s Day-inspired June signature special.
Ube chocolate chunk ice cream cone.

Carter says that most months, Astro offers a new “signature” creation. For June (which still has a few days left), the Father’s Day-inspired special was the brown sugar whiskey cookie dough (made with a newly upgraded whiskey), with chocolate-covered pretzels, a caramel “flavor shot” and a sprinkle of brown sugar. Also new is the ube ice cream with dark chocolate chunks. Ube is a purple Fillipino yam (sweet potato) with a mellow flavor that blends well with the chocolate.

Astro’s exclusive Cuban ice cream sandwich.
The revamped brownie sundae.

And, despite my concerns, Carter also has begun baking Astro’s brownies and chocolate chip cookies in-house, rather than buying them from Mike’s Pies. I loved the Mike’s brownies, but the house-baked brownies are equally delicious, chewy and decadently dense — so good as the base for a brownie sundae with a chocolate, caramel or honey flavor shot.

One thing Carter didn’t mention changing was Astro’s exclusive Cuban ice cream sandwich (above, right), made with Cuban bread from Tampa’s La Segunda Bakery, pressed around Tampa guava cream cheese or creme brulée café con leché ice cream. So good.

Photographer Charmaine George and I both also raved about the cinnamon snickerdoodle marshmallow ice cream, made with marshmallow Fluff, graham crackers and lots of cinnamon. Charmaine said it “tastes like Christmas.” The seasonal flavor for July is red, white & blue vanilla ice cream, “for the kids,” Carter says, adding that Astro’s mobile ice cream van also is available for catered events. 

Astro Craft Ice Cream (25700 Sierra Center Blvd.) is open Mon.-Thur., noon-9:30 p.m.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. & 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sun. For more info, visit AstroCraftIceCream.com, find the location on Facebook or Instagram.

A dish of the new passion fruit-raspberry sorbet with a honey flavor shot.

Story Update: Wesley Chapel Area Continues To Add More Auto Dealerships

Both Jacobs Mitsubishi of Wesley Chapel (top) and Wesley Chapel Subaru (above) have opened recently, increasing the number of new car dealerships in the Wesley Chapel area to 19 (see chart), with perhaps more still on the way.

Story Update – Although this story already was posted here, it was missing the Volvo showroom that is coming soon to the Shops at Wiregrass, so we’re posting it again now.

When someone asks you what Wesley Chapel is known for, how do you respond? I used to say that we were known primarily for shopping malls and chain restaurants, but that was before the opening of the KRATE Container Park at The Grove gave us more than two dozen new non-chain eateries over the past year.

Yes, we do also have a lot of nail salons, storage facilities, car washes and mattress stores, but until I added them all up, I didn’t realize that there also are now 19 new-car auto dealerships in the Wesley Chapel area, with only one of those — Ferman Buick-GMC on S.R. 54 — having a Lutz address.

The remaining 18 dealerships — with Wesley Chapel Subaru (now open less than two months at our press time) and Jacobs Mitsubishi of Wesley Chapel (open about a month) as the two newest — are actually all located in one of the Wesley Chapel’s three zip codes (33543, 33544 & 33545).

The Subaru dealership on Silver Maple Pkwy. south of S.R. 56 is one of only two Wesley Chapel showrooms still owned by the Fink Automotive Group (the other is the adjacent Volkswagen of Wesley Chapel), headed by Scott Fink (known for his “Where volume makes the difference” TV ads), as the four others previously owned by the Fink group — the Chevrolet, Mazda and Hyundai (and Hyundai’s separate luxury brand Genesis, located inside the Hyundai dealership on S.R. 54) of Wesley Chapel dealerships — were sold to the Oregon-based Lithia Motors, Inc., in 2021. 

Lithia, which also purchased Wesley Chapel Honda and Wesley Chapel Toyota from the Williams Automotive Group in 2019, now owns six Wesley Chapel auto dealerships among its more than 260 nationwide, making it one of the three largest owners of dealerships in the country. 

Despite those dealership sales, Williams retained its ownership of Lexus of Wesley Chapel just south of S.R. 54 on Eagleston Blvd., east of I-75, and its Wesley Chapel Super Center used car and truck dealership on Wesley Chapel Blvd., a mile or so west of I-75.

The other company that owns the most Wesley Chapel dealerships is the Morgan Auto Group, owned by the father-and-son team of Larry and Brett Morgan, which purchased Wesley Chapel Nissan in 2019, Fuccillo Kia of Wesley Chapel and MINI of Wesley Chapel in 2020 and opened BMW of Wesley Chapel in 2022. The four Wesley Chapel showrooms are among about 60 that Morgan — which is either the 10th or 11th (depending upon whose figures you use) largest owner of auto dealerships in the U.S. — owns throughout the Tampa Bay area.

The only other company which owns at least two dealerships in Wesley Chapel is the Parks Automotive Group, which started all of this in 1999 by moving its Heritage Ford (now Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel) dealership from Zephyrhills a few miles to the west on S.R. 54 (to just east of I-75, and the current Kia and Nissan dealerships). 

The Parks group opened Parks Lincoln of Wesley Chapel (located adjacent to Parks Ford) earlier this year, after shutting down its Fiat and Alfa-Romeo dealership (in essentially the same location as Parks Lincoln) in 2020.

According to recent documents filed with Pasco County, Auto Nation, which already opened and operates the Mercedes-Benz of Wesley Chapel dealership on the north side of S.R. 56, has filed plans to open an as-yet-unnamed auto dealership in front of Main Event on the south side of S.R. 56, next to the under-construction Paradise Grills outdoor furniture store. 

Auto Nation, which operates both new and used car dealerships among its 300 locations throughout the U.S. (more than Lithia, but just behind it in terms of sales), is the fourth largest auto dealership company in the nation.

Also opening soon, in the Shops at Wiregrass, is a Volvo showroom, which will not be a full-blown dealership with a service department, but will add even more new car options to our area. 

Pride Elementary Hosts Parent Meeting With Viera, Vaughn & County

At a June 7 meeting at Pride Elementary, (l.-r.) Pride principal Paulette English, Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera, Hillsborough School Board member Jessica Vaughn and School District director of operations Chris Farkas discussed transportation issues at Pride with about 30 concerned parents. (All Photos by Charmaine George).

District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera takes pride in his ability to organize public town hall-style meetings and bring folks together, apparently even when the city isn’t the primary focus of the meeting.

Case in point: Viera contacted District 3 Hillsborough School Board member Jessica Vaughn because a number of residents of K-Bar Ranch had contacted him about transportation issues at Pride Elementary and he felt a public meeting would help at least shed light on some of the concerns of these local residents (including some who live in the Hillsborough County-based developments of Cross Creek and Live Oak Preserve) to work on issues like buses, long pick-up and drop-off queues at Pride and the safety of the students, parents and staff at the school.

Vaughn agreed, and on  June 7, about 30 Pride parents and local residents attended a meeting at the school hosted by Viera, Vaughn, Pride principal Paulette English and the director of operations for the Hillsborough School District Chris Farkas. Also on hand were Rich Reedy, the legislative aide to Hillsborough County District 2 commissioner (and Board chair) Ken Hagan, as well as the School District’s general manager for transportation Laura Hill. 

The residents in attendance were mainly from a group of at least 45 Pride parents who live in the Andover Place apartments, which are located just under two miles from Pride and who had emailed Farkas because they all have to drive their children who attend Pride to school. The reason? As Vaughn explained during her opening comments, a new law passed by the state legislature dictates that students who live closer than two miles to their school are not eligible to be bused.

Vaughn also explained that the issue these parents have been experiencing is common throughout the District at many other schools. Meanwhile, Farkas said that although it is possible for the District to “charter” a bus for a specific group, “there is a huge shortage of bus drivers throughout the District. We’re about 275 drivers short right now, and we only receive about $30 million of the $64 million the District spends on transportation from the state, or about 41 cents of every dollar. The rest has to come from the District’s general fund, which is the same pot of money used to pay teachers, aides and staff.”

Farkas also noted that hiring additional drivers has been a priority for the District, but “when Pinellas County Schools pays their drivers about $4 more per hour than we do, it’s hard to attract more.”

He added, “If enough parents are willing to share the cost of that additional bus, it is possible we could at least look into it.”

Farkas also noted that Hill is responsible for the plan of how to get all bused students to and from school on time, “and we already have to drop kids off at Pride and then the driver has to go right back out and pick up the second group of kids and drop off again.” The buses also have to drop off the first set of kids at home and return to school to then drop off the second group in the afternoon, too.

“That creates another problem,” Farkas said. “If we have to have a third set of kids picked up and dropped off by that same bus, how early in the morning would the first set of kids have to be dropped off at Pride in order for all three busloads get to school on time each day?”

Parents who are driving their kids to school are not allowed to leave them there until 7 a.m., English said. And, Farkas added, “if a bus had to drop off the first ‘load’ of kids at 6:30, we would have to make sure that there was proper supervision for those kids to keep them safe. So, as you can see, it’s a logistical problem for us. It’s not an impossible one to work out, but it is an issue.”

Rec Center To Help?
County Commissioner Ken Hagan’s legislative aide Rich Reedy (far left) discusses transportation issues at Pride Elementary with members of the community at the June 7 meeting.

Reedy mentioned that he believes the new indoor county recreation center now in the planning stages adjacent to Pride would actually help with the number of parents currently queuing in line at the end of each school day once it opens — in 2024 — “because we will have additional parking over what currently is available (on a gravel parking area at Kinnan Park) at that site.” English said that the parking lot for that new rec center also would need to be available for Pride parents in the morning, or the parent queue would be even worse before school starts.

Reedy said he didn’t see why that would be a problem for the county. 

“We already do a lot of co-locating with the School District at other locations,” he said. “Plus, the rec center would not be in use during school hours, so I can’t imagine that would be an issue.”

Others in attendance also wanted the panel to find ways for the county, city and school district to address speeding on KInnan St., including adding more street lights, cameras and even, possibly, a roundabout where Kinnan meets Bassett Creek Dr.

The panel also said that local residents should write to their elected state legislators — State Senator Danny Burgess and State Rep. Fentrice Driskell — to help address the two-mile-radius law and the lack of proper state funding for public schools. Viera said he feels that because of Florida’s private school voucher system, “public education has been abandoned by our state legislature.”