Thatâs how Wesley Chapelâs Jon Kramer described the KRATE at the Groveâs Grand Opening on June 4, while sitting in the shade holding a beer as his wife Faith sipped on a sangria. Their dogs, Marley, a 5-year-old Golden Doodle, and Maverick, a 6-year-old Labradoodle, also enjoyed the shade.
Developer Mark Gold promised KRATE would be cool. And on June 4, thatâs what he delivered.Thousands â maybe 8,000 or so, according to one estimate, but no matter your guess, the number was many more than expected â swept up and down the rows of converted shipping containers. Some sat and listened to music, children got their faces painted and frolicked on the playground, and slowly but surely the large crowd completely drained many of the 18 open restaurants of their tasty contents. leaving the owners and their employees with no time to catch their breath.
Miguel Calvo, who owns Chamo Bites, lives five minutes from the KRATE at the Grove, and had to run home four times to get more food to restock his container. At the end of the day, he was moved, maybe even a little shaken, by the outpouring of support. He called it âlife-changingâ and showed off an arm full of goosebumps.
It was the kind of festive event that Chappies have been yearning for.
âThis is the best thing to ever happen to this place,â said Jon, who has lived just a few footsteps away from The Grove for 22 years. He has watched what was once nothing but a strip mall sprout from the ground, then wither and nearly die, until Gold showed up and promised to save it.
When Gold and Co. crossed the finish line at the Grand Opening, Jon and Faith were there to celebrate with them.Twice, in fact. The Kramers came in the morning, and then returned again in the evening.
And, get this â in between, they drove to downtown Tampa to have a drink at Sparkman Wharf, the trendy, smaller container park that opened along Channelside Dr. in 2018.
And, while Wesley Chapel may still not be quite as hip as downtown Tampa, itâs clear to Jon that Sparkman Wharf is now officially Tampa Bayâs âotherâ container park.
âKRATE blows it away,â he says. âThey have a few bars and food and nothing else. Here, there is that and local artisans and local shops. Itâs just better.â
That will be music to Goldâs ears. On numerous occasions, due to the delays and hurdles, the developer has referred to the nearly three-year KRATE project as âMission Impossible.” But, he never doubted that once it was completed, it would be a big hit.
For everyone who hasnât yet tried Frammi American Grille & Italian Food, located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. just north of I-75 in New Tampa, I only have one question â Why not???
For those who loved the burgers at the old Oakleyâs Grille, which Luca and his wife Erika took over nearly four years ago, Frammi does still serve those award-winning burgers, crispy fries and other American favorites, but Luca and Erika have brought, as he says, âthe genuine cuisine that you find in the homes of Italians, in the everyday kitchens of Sunday family lunches.â
Luca, who is from southern Italy, and Erika, who is from the north of the boot-shaped country, have each contributed their favorite recipes of their respective regions to Frammi, which was changed from Oakleyâs during the pandemic â and folks from New Tampa and beyond have been rightfully thrilled with the results.
âWe import many ingredients in our dishes from Italia to maintain authenticity,â Luca says, âand all Italian and American dishes are prepared from scratch, so please realize that cooking fresh food from scratch takes time.â
And, speaking of fresh, Luca adds, âWe apologize if we donât always have your favorite dishes, but we donât freeze anything and our quantities are limited.â
So, Whatâs New?
Luca has definitely committed to expanding both the Italian and American sides of his two-sided menu. Our favorite new American dish is the fried chicken sandwich, which is a full breast filet, lightly battered and flash-fried to golden crisp on the outside, but still incredibly juicy on the inside. When you add in those perfect fries (which are included), you really canât go wrong.
But, as much as we love Frammiâs American food (the chicken fajitas, which really are more like fajita meat soft tacos, are pretty great, too), itâs the always-amazing Italian fare that keeps bringing us back. And, Luca says the Italian menu items are definitely from both the north and south of his native country.
My favorite from Lucaâs southern region is probably still the linguine alla vongole (with clams, diced tomatoes, parsley, extra virgin olive oil, red hot crushed peppers, white wine and garlic) and Jannahâs favorite is the parmigiana di melanzana (eggplant parm), but the new, lightly spicy pasta Amatriciana (rigatoni with fresh tomato sauce, pancetta, diced tomatoes, pecorino Romano cheese, red hot peppers and parsley) is an amazing addition.
Italian SaladSalmone PastaMinestrone SoupKamikaze PastaAmatriciana Pasta
Our favorite dish from Erikaâs northern region is the ragu di salsiccia (penne with Italian sausage ragu (onions, celery, carrots, tomato sauce, Italian sausage and red wine), although the Black Angus beef ragu also is outstanding, and the lasagna (made with bechamel sauce, instead of ricotta) is both authentic and a best-seller.
One of the other dishes from the Italian side of the menu that we tried recently but hadnât gotten to sample before is the vegetable soup (with carrots, onion, celery, potatoes, extra virgin olive oil, parmesan cheese and rosemary), which Luca says is like real Italian minestrone, but not like the red broth-based minestrone you may have had at other places.
We also enjoy the bruschetta (diced tomatoes, garlic and extra virgin olive oil on crisp Italian ciabatta bread) and the meatball sandwich, which are Lucaâs famous authentic fried Black Angus meatballs topped with mozzarella cheese, but with a side of tomato sauce for dipping, instead of served on the sandwich itself. The mixed Italian salad is a huge portion of romaine and iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, carrots, hard-boiled eggs and fresh imported mozzarella cheese served with Italian dressing. The hot pressed Cuban, spicy Italian and mufaletta sandwiches proudly include Boarâs Head meats, and include a free soda if you order one of them on Saturday.
Other daily specials are served Tuesday-Saturday â Burger Tuesday, Chicken Wednesday (both specials include a free soda), Philly Thursday (get $1 off the ribeye or chicken cheesesteak and fries) and Healthy Friday (all salads are $1.50 off).
And, while we rarely leave room for dessert, the tiramisu and Nutella crepes are great options and Frammi also offers beer, wine and soft drinks.
Frammi (17631 BBD) is closed on Mon. but is open Tues.-Sat, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and noon-8 p.m. on Sun. Call (813) 523-5075, or visit Frammi.com. Delivery is available through DoorDash, Mobile Meals and Uber Eats.
According to permitting requests filed with Pasco County, the Grove at Wesley Chapel has begun the process of adding a Starbucks to its ever-evolving footprint.
The new 2,566-sq.-ft. Starbucks will be constructed on the north side of Wesley Chapel Blvd. on the parcel of land immediately west of Brooklyn Bagel Water Co. and King of the Coop.
The new location of the iconic and omnipresent Seattle-based coffee chain is just 1.1 miles west of the Starbucks on S.R. 54.
According to our count, it will be Wesley Chapel’s fifth Starbucks location.
Tiffany Colin is hoping to become the first Pasco County girl to run a sub-12-second time in the 100m since 2016, when Pasco Highâs Alfreda Steele did it. (Photos: Charmaine George)
Cypress Creek High track and field coach Steven Rivers loves coaching, but as his team showed up for the first day of practice in 2021, he was contemplating making this his last season.
Then he saw Tiffany Colin, and she was running. Her stride was a little unrefined, but it was graceful, fluid and, heck, maybe even special.
âI saw her and I got mad,â Rivers says, with a wide smile. âI had one foot out the door and this girl had the nerve to show up here. I called my wife and told her this new girl could be really really good, and she said, âWell, it sounds like you have another adopted daughter,â and she hung up the phone.â
What Rivers has is the fastest girl sprinter in Pasco County.
Colin, a junior, has posted the countyâs fastest times in the 100- (12.19 seconds), 200- (25.09) and 400-meter (58.9) races this season.
When the Class 3A, District 7 meet is held at Cypress Creek on April 28, Colin will be favored to win all three events. The top four finishers in each event advance to the Class 3A, Region 2 meet, which will include teams from speed-rich areas like Lakeland, Orlando and Tampa.
Rivers says Colin also currently has the top times in the 100 and 200 in the region, but now is the time of the season to begin shaving time off.
She has lowered her 100 time from 13.17 as a freshman to 12.19 (and has run a 12.14 wind-aided time as well), and has taken more than two seconds off her 200 time.
Most remarkably, Colin ran the 400 for the first time this season and posted a 1:01.79. The second, and only other, time she ran it a few weeks later, she did it in 58.9 seconds.
âItâs probably my second favorite race, next to the 100,â she says of the 400m.
Heading into districts, Colin is hoping to become the first Pasco County girl to run a sub-12-second time in the 100m since 2016, when Pasco Highâs Alfreda Steele was dominating the local scene and winning state championships before competing at the University of Miami and nationally.
Rivers coached Steele, and a few other speedsters currently in college, and thinks Colin could be next. Especially if she can get her 100 time under that 12-second mark.
âShe has an outstanding work ethic, and is just a joy to coach,â Rivers says. âAll those kids in college are there because they wanted it. They beat me to practice. They didnât complain. Thatâs Tiffany.â
Colin was rezoned to Cypress Creek after spending her freshman year at Wiregrass Ranch, where she golfed, played basketball and ran track for fun after winning the county middle school title in the 100.
She has golfed since she was six years old, learning the game at the First Tee program at Tampaâs Rogers Park. She played a number of junior circuit tournaments and even qualified twice, she says, for the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) State Championships.
Colin and coach Steven Rivers share a laugh at a recent workout.
However, during quarantine, her dad Eddy showed her a YouTube video of the day in the life of Texas Tech track athlete Rose Njoku. Colin was fascinated, and decided then she wanted to run track in college. She even practices in a Texas Tech t-shirt these days.
While she also golfed this past season for the Coyotes, Colin says she is hanging up her bag so she can focus on getting faster.
âI like golf, but not that much anymore,â Colin says. âWhen my dad showed me that video, it opened my eyes. I was just like, âOh man, I want to run track seriously.ââ
Rivers says he knows she will reach her goals, because of the one time she failed to do so. After going undefeated last year in the county, she fell behind against stiffer competition in the 100 at the District meet and even wiped out at the finish line trying to stretch forward, ending her winning streak
Rivers says Colinâs competitive fire burned like he hadnât seen it burn before.
âShe was mad; Iâve never seen her like that,â Rivers says. âShe lost, and she shouldnât have lost, and she knew it. She was hot, and I was laughing because I loved it.â
Colin doesnât have any college scholarship offers yet, but Rivers says he has had some feelers. When she asks why no colleges have called, he tells her that while she has garnered some attention, she hasnât done enough yet.
âNot yet,â he says. âBut, if she keeps working hard, itâs going to happen.â
Kathy Wasserman was looking for a new place to work out just as Burn Boot Camp was opening its doors in New Tampa for the first time roughly four years ago. She jumped on one of the grand opening offers and has been a member ever since.
âThey offered a free 30 days, and, by the end of the 30 days, I was hooked,â says Wasserman, a Tampa Palms resident. âNot only were the workout programs well thought out and varied, but the community of people is the nicest group of people I have ever worked out with.â
Owner Tammy Henrici deserves some of that credit. When she took over Burn Boot Camp, located in the Big Bear Plaza off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. between BayCare and Mahana Fresh, in September 2021, Covid had sucked some of the life out of the gym.
Tammy Henrici
Now, with new equipment and trainers and under her direction â Henrici even leads some of the 45-minute boot camps herselfâ the place is popping again.
âThereâs increased energy and enthusiasm from the trainers,â Wasserman says. âI have never enjoyed working out more.â
Henrici is a self-described workout buff, who has been a member of many gyms over the years. She joined the Burn Boot Camp in New Tampa shortly after Wasserman did and found it just as satisfying.
So, she decided to buy the New Tampa franchise.
âI was addicted. I was so excited about going the next morning I couldnât sleep,â Henrici says. âI have been in the corporate world for 40 years and working out at Burn gave me the confidence to make a change in my life. When I saw how Burn can change peopleâs lives, I knew I had to own one to finally help other people realize their potential, too.â
Henrici used to work in IT for a major health company, and now focuses on fitness. She is a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)- Certified Personal Trainer and also is a second-degree black belt in Krav Maga Martial Arts.
Burn New Tampa offers a combination of strength training and high intensity interval training (HIIT) in each 45-minute camp. On Sundays, a protocol is released online and through an app explaining what lies ahead for the next week. No two workouts are the same, says Henrici, so no matter what days you come, the workouts will be targeting different parts of the body and range from strength to cardio.
Wasserman says she goes to 5-6 classes a week. There are other people like her, while others show up 2-3 times a week. Thereâs literally something for everyone, Henrici says, and anyone of any skill level can get something out of each boot camp.
âWe meet each member at their level of fitness,â says Henrici. âWe have some people who have never worked out before. We have some former collegiate athletes. We have moms and dads, people who are young and not so young anymore. No matter your background, we push everyone to do 1% better than the day before.â
Henrici says she has built a family atmosphere at Burn New Tampa, and Wasserman says that is probably what she likes most about it.
âThere is a level of inclusiveness and positivity you donât normally see in gyms,â Wasserman says. âEveryone seems happy to see each other and work out next to each other. They high-five each other. Thereâs a positive, competitive nature I havenât seen at other places.â
But, donât mistake that camaraderie for being part of an easy workout. The workouts at Burn New Tampa are anything but, Henrici says. There are a variety of weights and resistance bands, along with foam jump boxes, a boxing bag and other equipment that keeps you moving from station to station.
For those who donât work out due to creaky knees and sore joints, Burn has a floating floor which cushions the jumps and lessens the impact on your body. And, if you canât jump, trainers can provide modified techniques.
âThe floor was the initial physical thing that attracted me to the gym and it makes a big difference in a workout,â Henrici says.
Burn New Tampa offers camps six days of the week, with multiple camps â usually some in the morning and some in the early evening â each day of the week and two on Saturday morning. For four of the camps during the week, Burn New Tampa offers a complimentary âchild watchâ room (Burn is not a licensed day care provider, however). All the camps are open to both men and women, although Henrici says that her current members are predominately women.
The goal is to provide physical improvement via weight loss and muscle gain which, in turn, help decrease the need for a variety of medications you may be taking, as well as mental improvement by providing stress-reducing and endorphin-releasing workouts.
âThatâs why so many members say this is their âhappy place,ââ Henrici says proudly.
About The Burn
Burn Boot Camp is a franchise with more than 330 locations across the U.S. All of its trainers are NASM CPTs (Certified Personal Trainers) and also have to be CPR-certified, including the four at Burn New Tampa. But, they also need to have the energy to run a boot camp and get to know each and every memberâs needs.
âNo one is a number, and we take pride in providing personal attention to every member,â Henrici says. âWe can be giving Jane form correction while calling out to those at the next exercise to get three more reps in and addressing the entire camp about how much time is left, all at the same time.â
Burn New Tampa offers 6-, 12- and 18-month memberships, as well as month-to-month memberships. There are Camp Packs (5-8 camps per month) and Fit Cards, which are good for a year. Wasserman, who travels to visit her children in Nashville and Chicago, loves that Burn has universal memberships so her membership can be used at any Burn Boot Camp facility in the U.S.
If it all sounds too good to be true, Burn New Tampa is currently offering a 7-day complimentary trial for you to try it out and see for yourself.
With so many fitness options, Henrici thinks Burn New Tampa is the best choice because she says it is the total package.
âWe provide unlimited 45-minute camps a week,â she says. âWe offer 1:1 Focus Meetings with the trainer to set goals and monitor them. We also provide nutritional guidance. Members can also access daily virtual workouts when they canât make it to the gym.â
The Focus Meeting is to help define what a member wants to get out of the boot camps. And while there are no certified nutritionists at Burn, the trainers do recognize the importance of a proper diet when it comes to being in shape and asks members to track their food intake in an app. They will suggest increases or decreases in their fat, carb, and protein intake.
âWe arenât focused on the scale but rather on the inches, fat loss and muscle gain,â Henrici says.
The Burn Boot Camp app allows members to check in to camp for the child watch room, trainer and workout schedules for the week as well. And, the support from other members, Henrici says, is unrivaled.
âYour best friend may be here waiting for you.â
Burn Boot Camp New Tampa is located at 17512 Doña Michelle Dr., and is open Monday-Friday, 5:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m., and 4:15 p.m.-6:30 p.m.; and 7:45 a.m.-10 a.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit BurnBootCamp.com and check under âLocationsâ or call (813) 563-6700.
