Rain, Admission Fees Can’t Put A Damper On R&B Night At The KRATEs 

The crowd for the R&B Only Night at the KRATE at The Grove Container Park on June 28 was still building as the music started. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

 For everyone on local Facebook community pages who claimed that not just the R&B Only Nights, but also the KRATE at The Grove Container Park itself, were “over,” let’s just say that, in the words of Mark Twain, “the reports of (their deaths) are greatly exaggerated.” 

On June 28, neither the heavy rains that started shortly after the gates opened at 5 p.m. and continued off and on for two+ hours and kept the music from starting promptly at 7 p.m., nor the new $5 pre-sale (and $10 day-of) admission fee that was implemented for the first time for that evening could “dampen” the enthusiasm of the people who have loved the R&B event for more than a year now — nor keep them away. 

While waiting for the rain to subside, the Grove’s VP of operations Vance McAllister told the Neighborhood News that there were already about 3,000 pre-sold tickets at $5 a pop when the online sales shut down at 11:59:59 on Thursday night. 

“Although we really have no idea exactly how many people attended these before, since we didn’t sell tickets or control entry to the event,” McAllister said, “we heard estimates of as many as 8,000 people at the May event, so we knew something had to be done. We love this event as much as the people who have been showing up for it do, so we knew we had to do something to keep it safe for everyone.” 

A couple of issues ago, we mistakenly told you that the R&B Only Nights at the KRATEs were being produced by Tim Hancock’s Jazz Tyme Productions, but that was an unintentional mistake on my part. 

The R&B Nights actually are being produced by Nico Brown of Nico Brown Productions and Nico called me to let me know of my mistake before the news hit that he was going to begin charging admission fees to attend his super-popular R&B Nights beginning with the June 28 event. 

Nico Brown 
(Source: Nico Brown Productions Facebook page)

Since the moment he announced on Facebook that he was going to start charging admission, Nico had been dealing with a lot of backlash but even more support, especially from The Grove management and the KRATEs. 

On June 28, with virtually no one yet in attendance after 6 p.m. (when previous R&B Nights were normally already packed) and with the rain coming down hard, then subsiding, then pelting him (and anyone else outside) again, Nico was still hard at work setting up the event — knowing that not only was the rain eventually supposed to end but also that he had at least 3,000 people who pre-paid the $5 admission fee by the night before to enjoy his first paid R&B Night. 

When the rain did finally break for the remainder of the evening sometime after the intended 7 p.m. start time, Nico and his crew were scrambling to get the sound equipment set up for DJ Control. By sometime after 7:30, DJ Control not only got the music started, he also introduced saxophonist Marlon Boone, who got the early attendees going right away with some jazzy R&B sounds. Later in the evening (although we weren’t still on hand to verify it), DJ Psycho and guest vocalist Rubi Mar also were expected to hit the main stage. 

But, everything else that both Nico and The KRATEs promised on their respective Facebook pages would be different about this first paid R&B Night also came true: there were 22 Pasco Sheriff’s Deputies on hand and the only way to get into the event was through the gates, which had plenty of tennis-ball-green-shirted attendants on hand to either take the $5 prepaid tickets or sell $10 day-of admissions. In addition, there was a clear path set up down the center aisle between the KRATEs on both sides between the stage and the admission gate (photo below left) and another blocked off path behind the first sea of personal chairs brought in by those early attendees. 

Did anywhere near the estimated 8,000 people who attended in May or the 3,000 who prepaid their admissions end up showing up? I can’t answer that. All I can say is that those who were there seemed to once again have a great time, enjoying the music and each other, checking out the food from the KRATEs and dancing. 

In other words, it was still very much R&B Only Night at the KRATEs, so don’t miss the next one on Friday, July 26, 7 p.m.! 

Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital Begins Vertical Construction 

Photo by Joel Provenzano 

The Florida “state bird,” also known as the “tall construction crane” (photo) has been seen making its home at the corner of S.R. 56 and Mansfield/Wiregrass Ranch Blvd., as the foundation of the third hospital to be located in Wesley Chapel — Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital — has now begun vertical construction. 

The 46.78-acre parcel, appraised at more than $9 million (at the northeast corner of the traffic signal), has seen activity for a while now, ever since the sign was put up announcing the hospital’s pending construction back in April of 2023. A little over a year later, the vertical components of the building are beginning to take shape. 

For large sites, such as a new hospital (and its two affiliated medical office buildings) now under construction, it typically takes a while to start seeing progress, as the land clearing, brine fill dirt, grading, drainage and underground utilities typically take up a significant amount of time. But now, the poured concrete foundational columns and the hospital’s elevator & stair shafts, of at least part of the first floor, are visible at the site. 

Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch, which is expected to open sometime in 2026, will be constructed in multiple phases — the initial main building will be built first and then, the “Future Phase 2” for the areas to each side of the main building. There’s also an area in the rear part of the main building where the hospital can be expanded in the future. Ultimate buildout would bring it to around 300 beds total, which will make it the largest of the three hospitals in Wesley Chapel. The hospital’s parking lot will flank both S.R. 56 and Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. The natural wetland towards the rear of the property will remain untouched. 

In April of this year, Orlando Health filed additional plans for two standalone medical office buildings — one that will be 90,000 sq. ft. (called “MOB 1”) and the other 60,000 sq. ft. (“MOB 2”), with additional parking in part of the “Future Phase 2” area along Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. (east of the main building). 

The vertical construction of the hospital comes on the heels of the announcement in Aug. 2023 that Florida Medical Clinic — with 55 locations and 350 medical providers in 40 disciplines — had merged with/ been purchased by Orlando Health and has been rebranded as “Florida Medical Clinic – Orlando Health.” 

The new hospital joins Advent Health Wesley Chapel and BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, which are only 2.5 and 4 miles away, respectively. From a real estate perspective, the trio of local hospitals, plus the planned Johns Hopkins All Childrens Hospital (located off I-75 at Overpass Rd.), and the establishment of two locations for treating cancer patients — Moffitt Cancer Center at the Advent Health site and Florida Cancer Specialists (see story on pg. 12) — has made the Wesley Chapel area a hub for nearby medical care. This already has put Wesley Chapel on the map and will continue to bring everyone from young families to aging retirees to our area for that convenience. 

Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute Getting Closer To Completion 

The exterior construction of the new Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute building (also known as The Medical Center at Wiregrass Ranch) on the south side of S.R. 56 (at Hueland Pond Blvd.) is nearing completion. It is expected to open to patients later this year. (Photo by Joel Provenzano) 

Across from the Daybreak Market & Fuel gas station project, on the southwest corner of S.R. 56 and Hueland Pond Blvd. (north of Sand Dune Rd.), next to Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care, is a two-story, 56,559- sq.-ft. medical office building being constructed by Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS). This building will add yet another medical specialty space to Wesley Chapel, and specifically to the Wiregrass Ranch development. 

This project has been a few years in the making. The meeting with the county for this site first took place in 2021, with permits being started in 2022 and an official ground breaking with the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (NTBC) in September of that year. 

But now, this 6.13-acre site, which appraised at more than $2 million, is looking well under way (see photo above), with most of the vertical exterior walls in place and the site fully buzzing with construction crews. And, based on the story we ran in early Oct. 2022, FCS plans to occupy 45,000 sq. ft. of the two-story building, which will make it larger than the 28,000 sq. ft. of space dedicated to the Moffitt Cancer Center at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, which opened in May 2021. The remaining space in the Medical Center at Wiregrass Ranch is for lease. 

The site map for the Medical Center at Wiregrass Ranch. (Source: Pasco County)

FCS originally came to Wesley Chapel in 2019 — to a small building in the Cypress Glen Professional Park (off Cypress Ridge Blvd., north of S.R. 56) — where the group quickly earned a good reputation from its patients for the staff’s compassion and respect. 

Florida Cancer Specialists isn’t new to the game either, as the company has been operating for 40 years and has 100+ locations. 

According to its website, FLCancer.org, “Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute has a national reputation for excellence in oncology, hematology and cancer research. With over 250 physicians and nearly 100 locations, we are committed to providing Wesley Chapel and (the nearby area) with world-class cancer care close to home.” 

The website also says that, the new building, “will include 27 patient exam rooms, 69 infusion treatment chairs, as well as an on-site laboratory, pharmacy, PET/ CT imaging and radiation oncology services. Patients will also have opportunities to participate in clinical trials research as well as care management services.” 

Although we did not receive confirmation of all of this information in time for this article, the FCS website also states that, “Board-certified medical oncologists Ayman Barakat, MD, Uday Dandamundi, MD, Eva Gupta, MD, Richard McDonough, MD, Shilen Patel, MD, and Ramya Pinnamaneni, MD, will provide care to patients at the new Wesley Chapel clinic.” 

At our press time, we did not know the expected opening date of the building, but we believe it will be sometime later this year. 

Bainbridge Wesley Chapel Apartments Begin Construction On S.R. 56 

Although we understand how many local residents feel about additional apartments coming to Wesley Chapel, here is news about yet another new rental community now under construction in our area. Located on the south side of S.R. 56, just east of the entrance for the new Wesley Chapel community of Woodcreek (see map), is a 19.81-acre site, with an appraised land value of more than $11 million, that currently is being filled with dirt and graded by an army of bulldozers (photo). The site is being prepared for the Bainbridge Wesley Chapel apartment project, which will be bordered on the west side by the Wyndfields Blvd. extension that also is currently under construction. 

Bainbridge — which is being developed by PCCP, LLC, and the Bainbridge Companies, LLC — will be one of the largest apartment complexes in Wesley Chapel, as it is planned to be a “Class A” community comprised of six four-story buildings (with elevators) and a total of 411 units, consisting of 145 one-bedroom units (with 820 sq. ft. of living area), 202 two-bedroom units (1,237 sq. ft. each) and 64 three-bedroom units (1,470 sq. ft.). 

Unique to this particular apartment complex are the number of garages, many more than what most apartment communities offer. Bainbridge will feature both attached and detached garage spaces, 160 total, in addition to 536 regular parking spaces. Of those garage spaces, 32 actually will be tandem (2-car) garage spaces, something not normally seen even in townhome communities, much less apartments. 

The project’s website states that, “The units will offer residents high-end interior finishes, including stone countertops in the kitchen areas, stainless steel appliances, in-unit washers & dryers, shaker cabinets, nine-foot ceilings, oversized walk-in-closets, smart thermostats, keyless entry and vinyl plank flooring. On-site amenities will include an expansive clubhouse with indoor/outdoor club rooms with social areas, TVs and fire pits, as well as a resort-style pool with a sun deck and grilling areas, a fitness center, on-site storage spaces and a dog park.” 

According to the plans, a new right-in/ right-out driveway with a right turn lane will be provided off S.R. 56 as the community’s primary entrance. A secondary entrance to Wyndfields Blvd. also will be constructed so vehicles will have an option to exit there, directly to the future traffic signal for Wyndfields Blvd. at S.R. 56. 

Bainbridge Companies has developed more than 60 apartment communities in five states, including 50 in Florida, with Bainbridge at Sunlake being the closest to us. 

For more information, visit BainbridgeWesleyChapelApts.com. 

Daybreak Market At Wiregrass To Be The Largest Gas Station In Wesley Chapel? 

The current state of construction at Daybreak Market Wiregrass. (Photo by Joel Provenzano) 

On the SE corner of S.R. 56 at Heuland Pond Blvd., something is coming that many of us haven’t seen in this area or may not be familiar with at all — Daybreak Market at Wiregrass which will sell “76®” 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 “The Ice Box” and indoor/ outdoor seating and tables for food time, plus fully digital touch screen fuel pumps. 

According to the company’s 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. 

The map shows the locations of Daybreak, FCS and 7-11 (Google map modified by NN) 

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 Sam’s Club’s 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, there’s 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. 

For more information about Daybreak Market, visit DaybreakMarketandFuel.com.