Based on the results of our annual Reader’s Survey:
1 — COLDSTONE Cathy and Chip Byrne have owned the Cold Stone Creamery since it opened on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in 2004, employed hundreds of local kids and delivering thousands and thousands of delicious treats to area residents.
Welcome to Cold Stone, indeed.
New Tampaโs favorite desert joint has a fun and friendly staff that delivers a very rich ice cream, which has so much butter fat that Cathy wonโt even tell us exactly how much.
The ice cream, which is actually made in the back, is scooped onto a cold stone (get it?), and whatever flavors (a heaping spoonful of peanut butter?) and treats (Kit Kats? M&Ms?) your heart desires are folded into it for a frozen delight. Dessert and a show!
Ice cream cakes are particularly hot sellers at the New Tampa store, especially the chocolatey ganache-topped Midnight Delight.
While being located in front of a movie theater ainโt bad for an ice cream shop, what makes Cold Stone your favorite is that it is a high-quality product and a fun place. Just be ready to wait in a line if you plan on stopping by any weekend night!
2. Twistee Treat Twistee Treat is best-known for operating out of a giant ice cream cone, but its variety of soft serve ice cream flavors (including peanut butter and banana!), candy-infused Twirls, sundaes and great pricing make it a favorite.
3. Brusterโs Real Ice Cream Bruster’s is what it says โ real ice cream. When it comes to variety, Brusterโs takes the (ice cream) cake, and what kid in New Tampa didnโt grow up on the Dino sundaes? For a real treat, try a custom-made ice cream pie!
4. Dunkinโ Donuts Dunkin’ may not typically classify as dessert, but as a morning sweet itโs not a bad place to pick up a donut, muffin or coffee, and the addition of Baskin Robbins ice cream to some of our locations helps add to its dessert appeal.
5. The Cake Shop was purchased by Jean Paul Petit about a year ago. Petit, who had previously been the cake and pastry chef at Don Pan International Bakery in South Tampa, has brought a new flair to this local favorite. ย
Head Chef Adrian Luna (left) and owner Steve Fallabella.
Based upon votes cast in our annual Reader Survey, here are Wesley Chapel’s favorite pizza joints.
1 — 900 Woodfired Pizza Steve Falabella says he doesnโt have one secret to his success as the owner of 900 Woodfired Pizza โ he has many.
It starts with the pizza, sure. The New York-style pizza, his best seller, boasts a crispy crust โ a little bit of whole milk when making the dough gives it some extra life โ sauce derived from six different tomatoes and Grande cheese, which he says is the best around.
โItโs all about the cheese,โ Falabella says, and he doesnโt mix any other into his choice of mozzarella to cut any corners.
But itโs also all about the employees. If you wonder why the food โ whether one of 20 different kinds of pizza, specialty pastas like the Tortellini della casa or a big plate or spaghetti or Pesto Genovese โ is always delicious, itโs because itโs probably made by the same people that made it last time.
Head chef Adrian Luna has been with Falabella all eight years he has been at the Shops of Wiregrass, as have those providing top-notch service โ Cynthia, Bryan and Ivan.
โConsistency is crucial, itโs what we do,โ Falabella says. โYou know you are going to get the best quality ingredients cooked in the best quality way, and if you donโt, we will fix it for you in a second.โ
For more information about 900 Woodfired Pizza (28152 Paseo Dr.), call (813) 527-6940 or visit 900degreeswoodfirepizza.com.
2. Amici’s Amici Pizza & Deli dropped to 2nd place in this yearโs Reader Survey after winning the Favorite Pizza in WCโ title last year and thereโs no doubt that the pizza is true New York style and the linguini with white clam sauce is the best (and most authentic) in our area. The new location has been a blessing.
3. Mellow Mushroom Mellow Mushroom definitely has the funkiest decor of all the pizza joints on this list, and it pairs an eclectic environment with equally eclectic offerings like the Funky Q Chicken (BBQ), Holy Shittake (for the mushroom lover), Great White and Kosmic Karma, with a handful of gluten-free pies as well.
4. PizzaMania PizzaMania has never been much lower than the top three or four favorite pizza places with our readers since the day it opened in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza. PizzaMania offers authentic New York/New Jersey-style pizza and excellent veal and chicken parmigiana & other Italian specialties.
5. NY NY Pizza NY NY Pizza lives up to its name, serving up some pretty tasty NY-style pizza lauded for its sauce-to-cheese balance. One of the most popular items is the thin-crust Grandma Pie, with basil, garlic and plum tomatoes. With more than 25 kinds of pizza, as well as wings and sandwiches, NY NY has something for everyone.
6. Blaze Pizza 7. Best NY Pizza 8. Pomodoro Pizza 9. MOD Pizza 10. Fratelli’s
1. CAPPY’S PIZZERIA There is no doubt that Harold Hasselback, the owner of one of the five individually-owned Cappyโs Pizzerias in the Tampa Bay area, has never lost sight of what his City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center location does best.
While some restaurants try to be all things to all people, Cappyโs menu consists mainly of pizza, calzones, salads (like the awesome Greek salad) and beer.
The pizza, which I have described in years past as โthin crust, but not New York-styleโ and โdeep-dish, but not authentic Chicago-style,โ has been among our readersโ favorites since Cappyโs first opened in Tampa Palms almost a decade ago, but had never won the title of โFavorite Pizza in New Tampaโ โ until now.
Itโs a credit to Hasselback and his laser focus on what Cappyโs does best โ delicious food at great prices โ that this long-time favorite (which first opened in South Tampa) has ascended to the top of our readersโ Favorite Pizza list.
But, itโs not a big surprise. The formula of fantastic food (and beer) in a fun, funky, family atmosphere is a proven formula for success โ and now, a Neighborhood News Reader Award! โ GN
2. Taste of New York Pizzeria Taste of New York Pizzeria has been a favorite of yours truly and our readers in New Tampa since it opened, but this true NY-style pizza place has never finished as high in our annual Reader Survey as it has this year. Itโs always, in my opinion, had the best NY-style crust and obviously, many of you agree.
3. Marco’s Pizza Marcoโs Pizza is probably the best of the national pizza chains for my money, even though, like Cappyโs, you canโt call it true NY-style pizza. Also like Cappyโs, quality ingredients is the obvious key as to why so many locals love Marcoโs, and with new locations still popping up everywhere, our readers arenโt alone.
4. Full Circle Pizza Full Circle Pizza has grown in popularity with our readers since new owners Julia and Freddy Nova took over last year, and for good reason. Not only does Full Circle feature authentic Chicago-style thin-crust and deep-dish pizza, it also has delicious Italian specialties like chicken parm and tasty pastas.
5. Precinct Pizza Precinct Pizza has only been open at the eastern end of Cross Creek Blvd. for a couple of years, but despite that somewhat remote location, owner Rick Drury has continued to build his following as a NY-style pizza place that also has great hero sandwiches, calzones, rolls, burgers and pastas.
6. Papa John’s 7. Capri Pizza-n-More 8. Westshore Pizza 9. Pizza Hut 10. Domino’s
AMC Highwoods 20, the target of recent criticism over its appearance inside and out, may be looking at a major $6-million facelift.
According to plans filed by Kansas City-based BRR Architecture with the City of Tampa, the AMC Highwoods 20 location just off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. could be receiving major interior renovations that include an upgraded lobby, new carpet and paint, larger bathrooms and new projection and speaker systems, with roomier recliner leather seating inside the theaters.
AMC Theatres public relations director Ryan Noonan did not confirm any specific enhancements, but did tell the Neighborhood News that โthe renovation process is in placeโ and, if permitting goes smoothly, it could begin sometime around June and be completed by the end of 2020.
A woman who identified herself as one of the AMC Highwoods 20 managers declined comment.
Noonan said that the New Tampa location would likely receive the same upgrades AMC is putting in at many of its other theaters across the country.
โThe new recliner seating is always the star of the show,โ he said.
According to the plans, the renovations on the 82,815-sq.-ft. movie theater would cost roughly $6.6 million dollars.
โThatโs great news,โ said Tampa City Council member, Hunterโs Green resident and frequent AMC 20 patron Luis Viera, whose district includes the theater.
Viera wrote to AMCโs corporate management in November of 2019 stating that the New Tampa theater was โunkempt and not properly reflecting the exterior standards of New Tampaโ and could use some TLC.
Many on social media agreed.
Posters on various platforms shared their horror stories, while others said they would rather drive 20 minutes to see a movie in Wesley Chapel.
Noonan acknowledged that AMC was aware of the bad press the theater had recently received.
โThey have been discussing (renovating) the Highwoods 20 before any of that came to light,โ said Noonan.
An upgrade would be a big boost to New Tampaโs only movie theater, which opened in 1999 and pales in comparison to the nearby and newer Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel when it comes to amenities like food, comfortable seating and offering a more modern experience.
AMC is currently renovating a number of its nearly-700 theaters across the country and has been for the last decade, Noonan said. He said there are less than a handful of new theaters built by AMC each year, with the company instead focusing of renovating its existing properties with better and reserved seating, touch-screen ticketing kiosks, eco-friendly restrooms and a full-service MacGuffins Bar.
Any AMC Highwoods 20 renovations would typically not cause the entire theater to be closed, just certain sections.
Most of the 20 auditoriums will have their current capacities reduced to make room for the larger, more comfortable seating. Auditorium 4, for example, currently has seating for 284, but plans indicate that once renovated, there would only be seating for 140.
โThere will be a 40-60 percent reduction in seating,โ Noonan said. โWith the new seating itโs no longer an elbow-to-elbow experience.โ
Viera said he hopes those that have been unhappy will support the effort to modernize the theater.
โThey are taking the steps to fix it, and I would hope New Tampa recognizes that and supports it,โ Viera said. โI’m thrilled to see this happen.โ
The Light Up The Night event at the Shops at Wiregrass concluded with a candlelight
It seemed fitting that a classic Florida sunset โ vibrant slashes of pink, purple and orange โ marked the beginning of Light Up The Night, an annual event created to raise education and awareness about human trafficking,
The free event, held right around sunset on Feb. 1 on the upper level parking garage at The Shops at Wiregrass by the Pasco County-based Human Trafficking Foundation (HTF), featured musical performances, local vendors, refreshments, activities for children and teenagers, and the Pasco Sheriffโs Mounted Posse on horseback.
Also appearing were survivors of human trafficking, including Edie Rhea, who told those in attendance that she was sexually abused and trafficked from age 8-17 by her motherโs boyfriend, after he convinced her mother to move to Tampa from their hometown of Baltimore, MD.
โMoving us was very smart on his part, because it got us completely away from all our friends and family,โ said Rhea, 51, who now lives in North Tampa and serves as Executive Director of Healing Root Ministry, a faith-based nonprofit that assists female trafficking victims over the age of 18 with housing, life skills training and obtaining GEDs.
Rhea, who at age 12 was impregnated and then forced into having an abortion by a man who had purchased her, found herself on the street at 17 with no education or basic skills after her mother had kicked out her and her trafficker.
She met up with a man named David, who used to buy drugs from her mother, and the two began a relationship.
Today, 34 years later, they are happily married with five children, three adults and two under the age of ten they recently adopted.
โWhen we were first married, I had lots of affairs, because I really believed that every time a man spoke to me, I had to have sex with him,โ said Rhea.
A few years ago, Rhea met up with her former trafficker. They prayed together and she said she forgave him. Weeks later, he passed away, and the experience inspired Rhea to form Healing Root Ministry, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, faith-based organization that provides shelter for those who were once enslaved, as well as โhope, help and healing,โ according to its mission statement.H
Several organizations, including Healing Root, received beneficiary funds from HTF at the event.
โThe whole idea of Light Up The Night was simply that this is such a dark crime,โ said Cpl. Alan Wilkett, HTF chairman and commander of the Pasco County Human Trafficking Task Force.
โThis criminal activity is probably the darkest crime that Iโve ever investigated,โ said Wilkett, 58, who has been in law enforcement for 27 years, โand Iโve had the opportunity to investigate just about everything you can imagine.โ
Wilkett described human trafficking as a โrelatively young crime,โ pointing out that there was no official charge against it for victims like Rhea until the year 2000, when Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.
โSome of the cases weโve seen over the years, and especially having children myself, have been very impactful on me,โ Cpl. Wilkett said. โItโs a broad, encompassing crime that directly affects the fabric of who we are.โ
Cpl. Alan Wilkett, HTF chairman and commander of the Pasco County Human Trafficking Task Force, with human trafficking victim Edie Rhea.
Indeed, said both Wilkett and Rhea, human trafficking is a much more widespread issue today then ever before.
According to HTF, it is the second-largest criminal enterprise in the world, behind drug trafficking, with an estimated 40.3 million current victims worldwide.
Between 15,000-18,000 are trafficked annually into the U.S. alone, and Florida currently ranks third in the nation for calls to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.
The Tampa Bay area, says the foundation, is usually in the top three cities in the state for trafficking.
In 2017, Pasco County became the first โTrafficking-Free Zoneโ in the country. This distinction, given by the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking, intends to send a message to traffickers that they are being watched, thereby reducing the demand for their victims.
โA lot of people believe that this only happens overseas, but itโs also happening here, now, in our own backyard,โ said Rhea, who spends 65 hours every week running Healing Root pro-bono.
Even as the temperature dropped into the low 50s with chilly winds at the event at the Shops, attendees talked with vendors, pledged donations, and enjoyed hot cocoa, popcorn and cotton candy to the backdrop of performances from the Northwest Community Church band and Vessels 360, a Christian-based dance team from Hernando High.
Vessels 360 performed a visceral interpretation of human trafficking, prompting tears from many in the audience, before Cpl. Wilkett handed out checks ranging from $2,000-$5,000 to various organizations who help trafficking victims.
The evening came to a close with a candlelight vigil (photo on previous page) led by Cpl. Wilkett, honoring survivors and offering prayers for current victims. Those without their own battery-operated votive candles thrust their phones in the air, having downloaded candle apps for the occasion.
โโThe strongest thing you can do against hate is bring love,โ said Cpl. Wilkett as attendees circled the stage. โAnd the strongest thing you can do against darkness is bring in the light.โ
For more information about Light Up The Night or to donate or volunteer, go to HTFoundation.us. For more information about Healing Root Ministry, go to HealingMinistry.com. If you suspect human trafficking or are or have been a victim yourself, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at (888) 373-7888.
