Category: Business

Partners In Green — Teamwork Creates Curb Appeal

*Partners in Green says they can get your lawn that special shade of green with their high-quality products and eliminating problems before they become too big.*

Roy Harris and Alex Kocker know all about the big business of lawn care. In fact, it’s how they met, and decided to start their own company, Partners in Green, in 2014.

Prior to that, both men worked for different companies. But, when those companies merged, Harris and Kocker actually became office mates.

“We became friends,” Harris says, “and then we started talking about the things we would do if we started our own business. We were like, ‘Hey man, we can do this job just as good or better than what people were doing and offering at the time.’ That’s what made us decide to go into business together.”

Located in New Tampa, Partners in Green now has more than 1,000 clients and, despite that growth, is still run like a small business. Harris and Kocker now have seven employees — five field technicians, one sales and marketing employee and an administrator — and continue to attract new customers eager for better lawn care.

“We just felt like if we bring good customer service, use high quality products, don’t cut corners, are honest and try to protect people’s investments, we would be able to take a step above the rest of the competition,” Harris says.

While volume is a crucial for the larger companies, Harris says focusing on doing thorough work and building their business through word of mouth and is the key to their growth. That personal touch is where they felt they could compete in a highly competitive, nearly $100-billion industry.

“We have been very happy with their services,” says customer Joanna Brown. “The regular monthly technician is knowledgeable and takes great care in his work. We recently had some challenges with the lawn and they took care of fixing things quickly.”

Partners in Green focuses on what Harris says the company does best —fertilizing your lawn, shrubs and trees while keeping the pests at bay. It leaves the lawn cutting and tree trimming to other companies.

“We won’t change,” Harris says. “We’ll stay with this concept because it’s been working. It’s what we do.”

Some of the services Partners in Green offers include:

• Fungus control

• Pre- & post-emergent weed treatments

• Chinch bug and general insect control

• Granular lawn, shrub & palm fertilization

• General insect control

• Spraying of beds & pavement weeds

When it comes to fertilizing lawns and administering herbicides, Harris says every precaution is taken. His technicians are appropriately protected and clients are kept abreast of the applications and when children and pets can be allowed to get back on the lawn.

“We follow only the Best Management Practices (BMP),” Harris says. According to the Partners in Green website, the BMP is a guide produced jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services and the University of Florida, to name a few.

Partners in Green does not use banned chemicals or provide services outside of what is recommended in the BMP guidelines.

Partners in Green, named for the expected relationship between the company and the customer — “it can be a team effort,” Harris says — also will take care to treat your yard only when it is needed. The company’s technicians use only the amount of fertilizer, herbicide and insecticide recommended by the manufacturer, and will not douse a yard in an effort to complete a job more quickly.

Many times, a spot treatment at the beginning of a fungus outbreak or a budding insect invasion is all that’s required.

“We make sure to use only the treatment on the area (where) it’s needed,” Harris says. “And, we make sure everything we use is safe. We’re very careful not to contaminate any water supply or make anyone sick.”

Partners in Green offers free estimates, and will work with each customer to identify their lawn care needs.

And, the company won’t hesitate to recommend another course of action for your lawn. Honesty is a big part of what Harris says helps keep customers happy.

Sometimes, lawns are so overridden with weeds that spraying won’t help them. If Partners in Green can’t turn the lawn around, the company won’t take the job or your money. In times like those, the technician might suggest getting your irrigation system fixed or your yard re-sodded first. “Then, give us a call back, and we can help preserve that,” Harris says.

Of course, the No. 1 tip Harris suggests for keeping your lawn, shrubs and trees healthy is water, water, water.

“If you really want to maintain a healthy and beautiful lawn, you have to water the lawn the proper way,” he says. “Make sure the irrigation system is up to par, all of the zones are running properly and efficiently, and that everything is getting enough water — but not too much water.”

If all that is done, Partners in Green can do the rest, with treatments that can stop emerging problems in their tracks. Issues, like crabgrass, can be dealt with using pre-emergent treatments and pesky and painful fire ants can be treated by applications that can protect you for a year.

In between treatments, Partners in Green will be there to deal with any problems as well.

“In our industry, at the end of the day, all companies are trying to make money and be successful, and believe me we have the same goals as well,” Harris says. “We just feel we do it a little differently. The quality of work is important to us. The customer service is important to us. That’s why we’re growing.”

Watergrass resident Frank Santarelli and his wife Jessica are among the company’s satisfied customers. “We genuinely don’t have enough good things to say about Partners in Green! We tried 5 different companies before we finally found Partners in Green – our only regret is that we didn’t find them sooner! Every other company would show up spray some generic formula and leave never really caring about the health or condition of our yard or landscaping. One company even cost us thousands in sod replacement because they simply weren’t treating our yard properly.

For more information about Partners in Lawn lawn care or to get a free estimate, visit PartnersinGreenFL.com or call (813) 451-7330.

Business Notes: Refillables In WC

The area’s craft beer options continue to grow.

Bru Florida Growler Bar held its Grand Opening last week.

Located in the space previously occupied by Buttermilk Provisions across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, Bru Florida Growler Bar had been open with limited hours for about six weeks.

Customers are welcome to come in and enjoy a pint or two of beer, cider, kombucha or even nitro beer and coffee. They also can get all those things to go in 32- and 64-oz. growlers, which owner Christian Brugal says is part of the reason he opened his first Bru Florida Growler Bar in Citrus Park a few years ago — offering the convenience of bringing craft beer home for those who don’t have time (or don’t want) to sit in a bar.

Brugal says that many craft breweries don’t bottle or can their beer and only sell it from kegs.

While getting growlers filled is now available at most bars, it typically involves just filling the growler from the bar’s beer tap. But, Bru Florida Growler Bar is a rarity in that it has three counter-pressure growler stations, which helps extend the to-go beer’s freshness. Bar, manager Ashley Simon (photo on previous page) says a sealed growler can retain its freshness for a month; otherwise, once opened, it only lasts a day or two.

Meanwhile, Brugal says another unique aspect of the new bar is its emphasis on local beer. While other brewpubs and bars carry local and other craft beers, Bru Florida Growler Bar only carries Florida-brewed beers. “We’re the only ones who do that,” says Brugal.

On the day we strolled in, there were 15 beers on tap, from breweries located all over the state, like Jupiter, Royal Palm Beach, Dania Beach, Orlando, Miami and Tallahassee. Also represented were Dunedin, St. Petersburg, Brooksville, as well as Wesley Chapel’s Double Branch Artisanal Ales. New beers from new breweries in different Florida cities are rotated in and out. For more information, visit at BruFL.com or call (813) 328-4721.

FILL ME UP PART II: The Walmart Supercenter is filling its parking lot right off BBD with a new 16-pump fuel center and a 1,605-sq.-ft. convenience store. If stocked like previously built Walmart fuel centers, the convenience store will offer your typical fare of grab-and-go deli items, snacks, cold beverages, a walk-in beer cooler and coffee.

*If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, visit the Lufka Wesley Chapel refillables store in the Cypress View Square plaza on S.R. 56.*

LUFKA IS OPEN!: Speaking of bringing in your own container to get it filled with your favorite stuff, a new concept to Wesley Chapel is now open at the Cypress View Square plaza on S.R. 56 (home to the popular Capital Tacos).

Lufka Refillables Zero Waste Store has taken over the space in Cypress View Square formerly occupied by E’s Barber Shop at 27221 S.R. 56.

Lufka was originally created by Tampa’s Kelly Hawaii and her husband Parosh. They opened their first store in Seminole Heights in the summer of 2019, and their second store in South Tampa in November of 2020.

Wesley Chapel’s Danielle Howard, who also owns The Salt Room in Wesley Chapel (2718 Windguard Cir.) and at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills, co-owns the Wesley Chapel Lufka with her mother Gail Howard. “Danielle discovered it, and I just jumped in,” Gail says. “Now I get to work with my daughter.”

Essentially, Lufka (Polish for “Barrel”) is where you can bring in your empty containers of household cleaning, bathroom and laundry products, to name a few, and have them refilled at the store, which bills itself as Tampa’s first “refillable, eco-friendly and sustainable bath, body, kitchen and D.I.Y. supplies company.”

The store has everything from laundry detergents to shampoos and conditioners, and from after-shave lotions to facial scrubs and from body lotions to a variety of soaps. Most of the products are organic, but all of them are healthier than the alternatives you usually buy in traditional stores, and come without a long list of chemical ingredients.

Lufka encourages reducing your carbon footprint by reusing and refilling containers with eco-friendly products.

Although it is currently open, Lufka Wesley Chapel is hoping to schedule a Grand Opening later this month.

For more info, call (813) 596-9376 or visit Lufka.com.

MORE BOWLS?: Also moving into Cypress View Square is Green Market Café, which is taking over the old Batter & Dough space at 27225 S.R. 56. Green Market Cafe offers a variety of healthy bowls, salads and wraps, as well as soups and frozen yogurt, all of which is locally sourced and affordable. It already has locations in Trinity, Clearwater, Seminole and Oldsmar. For more information, visit GreenMarketCafé.com.

craft beer Lufka

Bubba’s 33 In Wesley Chapel Adds More Italian-Inspired Fare

I have been a fan of Bubba’s 33, located next to its sister restaurant, Texas Roadhouse (just east of the S.R. 56 exit off I-75), since before the location officially opened at the end of 2019. We attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Bubba’s 33’s first Florida location in September of that year, and even though we didn’t get to sample any of the delicious food at that event, there was a great energy that day that I have personally seen flow through the restaurant’s management, employees and patrons ever since.

Our first sample of the Bubba’s 33 menu came in December of that year and the burgers, wings, pizza and other predominantly sports bar-oriented fare we were given that day gave us a pretty good idea of what to expect — always-made-from-scratch food at very fair prices, with great adult beverage prices, too.

New managing partner Joe Vergona has only been with Bubba’s 33 since January of this year, but as a fellow New Yorker, he and I were both excited to see Bubba’s recently expand its Italian options beyond its not-quite-New-York-style (but still delicious) tin-crust pizzas, which definitely are made with fresh ingredients and served extra crispy (the way I prefer).

“We have added an Italian-style meatball appetizer,” the native Brooklynite says, “as well as both a chicken parmigiana sandwich and a chicken parmigiana pasta option. They’re all already doing very well.”

And for good reason. The Momma’s Homemade Meatball starter offers three nice-sized beef-and-pork meatballs in a semi-spicy tomato sauce, covered with melted cheeses and served with spot-on garlic bread for dipping up the extra sauce and cheese. It definitely has been added to mine and Jannah’s ever-expanding list of Bubba’s favorites.

I haven’t sampled the chicken parm pasta dish yet, but the sandwich is a generous portion of breaded chicken strips, topped with a slightly different-tasting tomato sauce and mozzarella and provolone cheeses (I might order the pickle slices served on top on the side instead), plus a generous portion of crispy French fries (or your choice of sides, including fresh broccoli, sweet potato fries, mac n’ cheese, chili and more).

Speaking Of Favorites…

Although we had tried several of Bubba’s pizzas before, on our most recent visit, Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I were all really excited about The Dickie V pizza, named (of course) for long-time college basketball commentator and Tampa Bay-area resident Dick Vitale.

This zesty, flavorful pizza includes Italian sausage, a hint of cherry peppers, fresh basil, grated parmesan cheese and a garlic buttered crust. As Dickie V himself would (and the menu does) say, “It’s awesome, baby!”

And, for every Dickie V “Pizzas for Victory” sold, Bubba’s 33 donates to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, so it’s a super-tasty way to support a worthy cause.

Other Italian-oriented items on the Bubba’s 33 menu include strombolis (the “Super” version includes pepperoni, salami, Italian sausage, Canadian bacon, mozzarella, provolone and marinara; there’s also a meatball stromboli), garlic knots (with marinara and cheese dipping sauces), “Crooked” fried cheese, really good lasagne and even an Italian chopped salad (with salami, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, smoked turkey and mozzarella).

Other great pizzas on the menu include an Italian margherita (with smoked tomatoes and basil), the Meaty Meaty, the fresh veggie and the pepperoni. There’s even a goat cheese arugula option I’ve never tried.

And, I also really love both the grilled ribeye and the Signature ribeye Texas Roadhouse-inspired steaks. The Signature is marinated in a Starbucks® espresso blend and both steaks are hand-cut and served with two sides.

Our other favorites include the crispy traditional and boneless wings (try the raspberry chipotle or Habanero Heat sauces), the California chicken (grilled chicken with avocado and pico de gallo), bacon grind double-patty and half-pound Angus beef burgers, the bacon mac n’ cheese and Charmaine also offers a happy shout out to the chipotle chicken and shrimp pasta.

A True Community Partner

Bubba’s 33 also is one of our area’s best community partner eateries, offering fund-raising events to local PTAs and other nonprofits, and working with the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, where there’s a Bubba’s 33 MVP of the Month board honoring young athletes, as well as AdventHealth Center Ice and more.

“We really do have something for everyone,” Joe says proudly, “so come check us out!”

Bubba’s 33 (26340 Silver Maple Pkwy.) is open Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.; and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 522-5090 or visit Bubbas33.com.

Bubba's 33 food Italian

Visit My Friend Lavern At Her New Clip Art Hair Studio In Wesley Chapel

When I last checked in with my friend Lavern Houston at the beginning of 2020 (before the Covid-19 pandemic shut everything down), I was singing her praises as a Master Hairstylist (and part-time therapist, at least for me) at the Great Clips salon on S.R. 56, across from the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Well, after that Great Clips location closed for good a few months ago, Lavern considered taking her skills to another Great Clips salon in South Tampa, but chose instead to open her own studio in the “Blo N Go” building in the Summergate Professional Center, located directly north of the Sam’s Club on the north side of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, less than a mile east of I-75.

Her Lavern’s Clip Art studio is modern-looking, cozy and private and she still offers both her great hairstyling services and her always attentive ear.

And, while she says she does plan to add hair coloring services at her new location, she currently is only offering shampoo, style, bang and beard trim and blow-out services, but she has been doing a great job on my hair for more than a year-and-a-half (not including the time when Great Clips was temporarily closed during the pandemic) and is equally comfortable with women’s and children’s cuts and styles for seniors as she is with men’s haircuts — and her prices are always extremely reasonable.

For my money, Lavern is equally as adept at listening as she is at styling hair, so whether you want to talk about what’s happening in your work or personal life or just want her to get your style exactly the way you like it (or both), her styling and conversational skills and natural warmth will make you feel right at home — and you’ll always end up looking your best.

“I have more than 15 years of experience,” she says. “My goal is to listen to what my clients need to create an everyday hairstyle that looks good and is easy for them to maintain.”

*Our editor has been getting his hair cut by Lavern for more than a year and a half and is always happy with his results.* ***(Photo: Charmaine George)***

So, whether you’re looking for a tight fade, pixies, blunt bobs or layered cuts, Lavern has cut it all. And, although she has only been open in her new studio for a few months, she already has all five-star reviews (18 of them) on the Booksy.com app, where you also can book an appointment with her. In other words, don’t just take my word for it:

“Lavern is the best!,” says client Charles W. on Booksy, adding that she, “takes the time to understand the look you’re going for. The whole family only lets Lavern cut our hair and highly recommend your family do the same.”

Diana L., another reviewer on Booksy, says, “We love Lavern! She does a perfect job cutting my three sons’ hair and my husband’s too.”

If you still need a little more incentive to give Lavern’s Clip Art studio a try, with the coupon in the ad on pg. 31 of this issue, first-time customers can save $2 off any haircut, which start at just $20 for men and women, and $18 for seniors and kids ages 12 & under.

Lavern’s Clip Art Studio is located at 2241 Twelve Oaks Way, Suite 102 (Salon Suite #2) and is open Tues. & Wed., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m. on Thur.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Fri.; and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sat. For appointments or more info, call (813) 599-8924 or download the “Booksy” app and type in “Lavern’s Clip Art.

hair cut Hair Salon lavern

Pasco Dental Adds Former Wharton State Champ To Fold

*The staff at Pasco Dental on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel includes (l.-r.) Dr. Ben, Dr. Dan, office manager Trisha and assistant Jan.* ***(Photos: John C. Cotey)***

In almost every medical-related field these days, one visit to the doctor could mean multiple trips to see multiple specialists. Sore throat? Bad back? Throbbing knee?

Specialist, specialist, specialist.

And, dentistry usually is no different, which is why Daniel Hwang, D.D.S., of Pasco Dental takes great pride in his advanced knowledge of all aspects of dentistry and can pass that on to patients instead of passing those patients on to dental specialists.

At Pasco Dental, located in the Wesley Chapel Executive Center on S.R. 54, a little more than a mile east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., “Dr. Dan” takes care of everything from a simple teeth cleaning to more complex matters.

“It makes things convenient for our patients,” Dr. Dan says, “because we offer all phases of dentistry, including cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign aligners, sedation dentistry, dental implants, oral surgery and periodontal surgery.”

Dr. Dan also owns Lutz Dental, located at 19105 U.S. 41. Both practices receive high marks from customers — Pasco Dental has 197 Google reviews with an average 4.9-star rating, and the office in Lutz has 133 ratings and a perfect 5-star rating.

And, at Pasco Dental, you get two Dr. Hwangs for the price of one. Two years ago, Dr. Dan’s son, Dr. Ben Hwang, D.M.D., joined the practice.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Dan was raised in Mt. Vernon, VA, and moved to Brooklyn, NY, for middle school and Queens, NY, for high school.

He received both his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree (in 1987) and his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree (in 1991) from prestigious Columbia University in Manhattan, NY, and spent twelve years learning the ropes of the dental business with his brother, who had a thriving dental practice in Ft. Lee, NJ.

When he was ready, Dr. Dan opened his own chain of Price Dental offices in the Metropolitan New York area.

But, having so many offices took a toll on a father with three young children at home. And in the meantime, Ben had grown into a budding tennis prodigy.

*Dr. Dan (right) and Dr. Ben go over an X-ray at the Pasco Dental office on S.R. 54.*

So, the family moved to Florida, and settled in New Tampa before moving to Wesley Chapel. Dr. Dan, who played tennis at Columbia, trained Ben, who went on to be a key member of three straight State championship teams at Wharton.

His senior year in 2011, Ben — ranked as the No. 10 player in Florida — led the Wildcats to the team title at No. 1 singles, and the next day, also captured the Class 4A individual singles title.

Ben went to prestigious Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, where he earned a B.S. degree in Behavioral Biology. But, he also made the most important decision of his life.

“John Hopkins is pretty well known for medicine and its students becoming doctors, so that is what I was going to do,” Dr. Ben says. “I ended up deciding that wasn’t the best for me. So, I started looking for dental schools and one thing led to another.”

Ben remembered all the time his father had been able to spend with him, training him in tennis and traveling to tournaments. A dentist’s schedule is far different than what a doctor’s might be.

“He was always able to make time,” Ben says. “I thought that might be something I would want to do as well when I have a kid.”

That decision led Ben to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree, and after earning his degree, joined his father at Pasco Dental and Lutz Dental.

“In school, they always talked about how important it was to find yourself a great mentor,” Ben says. “To have my dad, who’s been practicing for 30 years, I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor.”

That gives Pasco Dental two Ivy League-educated dentists, an impressive feat. Next year, Dr. Dan’s younger son Thomas is expected to join the practice after he graduates from the University of Florida College of Dentistry, also regarded as one of the best in the country.

There’s probably a good chance the Hwangs already buy their scrubs in bulk, as Jan Hwang, Dr. Dan’s wife, helps in the office when she’s not working as an emergency room nurse at Moffitt Cancer Center, while daughter Nina is an oncology nurse at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, NY.

Doing It All

Dr. Dan has said that in New York, most general and family dentists provide all dental services, whereas in Florida, many dentists refer their patients elsewhere for braces, dental implants and even gum or root canal procedures.

However, at Pasco Dental, they do all of that, and more. There is an emphasis on patients looking for cosmetic work and implants. Dr. Dan has taken hundreds of hours every year of continuing education, and says he rarely refers patients elsewhere.

Dr. Dan is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and in Orthodontics, where he focuses on Invisalign, rather than traditional braces.

Dr. Dan says his office also is the only one locally that is both a Lumineers and Snap-On Smile provider. Lumineers is a popular brand of porcelain veneers, which are used to correct things like gaps, chips and discolored teeth. While veneers do the same thing, Lumineers are considered to be an easier and more durable solution.

And, they’re quicker, too. A patient can be fitted with a set of Lumineers in just two visits.

“We can show before-and-after smile makeovers with a Lumismile digital smile makeover,” Dr. Dan says. “We can make your smile look amazing in just two visits — just in time to show off your new teeth after many months of hiding behind a mask.”

Pasco Dental also includes some high-tech solutions for determining which dental procedures are needed, like a 3D CT Scan Sirona Orthophos machine that offers more accurate 3D depictions of a patient’s full head, jaw and sinus cavity, which helps when it comes to being as accurate as possible when creating dental implants.

All in all, Dr. Dan says that everyone at Pasco Dental is eager to give you the perfect smile in as little time as possible.

“We are focused on saving time for our patients by minimizing wait times, and getting the job done with fewer appointments,” he says.

And, when the job is done, you’re not rushed out the door. Pasco Dental has a post-op room for patients recuperating from oral surgery. The room features two large massage chairs, a large flatscreen TV and a fireplace.

Recent patient Kara Psolla recently made the switch to Pasco Dental, and walked away smiling.

“The staff is extremely friendly, the office is clean, and the exam rooms are comfortable,” she wrote in her review. “Love the standing X-ray machine! Very happy with my new dentists.”

Assurances About Insurance

Pasco Dental accepts most major dental insurance plans, and Dr. Dan always works closely with his patients to make sure they understand the costs associated with any work they have done.

“I have years of experience in maximizing patients’ dental insurance, and minimizing out-of-pocket costs,” he says.

Dr. Ben says Pasco Dental isn’t like most of the larger dental chains popping up all over. The practice’s business model is not to suggest unnecessary work, or inflate things like the number of cavities. Instead, the Hwangs say they like to keep it simple and honest, by providing easy-to-understand treatment plans, sterling delivery of their services and making sure your bill offers no surprises.

It’s like the logo says – Bad Teeth? Hate To Smile? Call Pasco Dental.

“We love to see our patients smile,” Dr. Dan says.

Pasco Dental is located at 29450 S.R. 54. Its office hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and noon-7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. For more information, call (813) 502-0531, visit PascoDentalTampa.com or see the ad on page 38 of this issue.