It’s All About Giving Back For The Olympus Pools Family!

When I last owned a home, which was a dozen years ago, most of my neighbors in Hunter’s Green had pools behind their homes. The lot I raised my boys on was plenty big enough for a pool, but we had two big dogs and our yard was used more for throwing around footballs and baseballs than anything else — and I did my lap swimming at the New Tampa Family YMCA in Tampa Palms.

Gary Nager
Editorial

But, one thing I know for sure. If Olympus Pools was around and had the kind of technology they do now that would allow me to build the lap pool of my dreams (with an outdoor grill kitchen for me and a hot tub and maybe a waterfall for the family) closer to when we first moved into that house in 1995, I might have forgotten all about using our yard as a football field.

But, even though Olympus Pools owner James Staten and his family hadn’t yet opened what today is the #1 pool builder in the entire Tampa Bay area (more on that below) that long ago and didn’t start advertising in the Neighborhood News until 2015, there also is no doubt that no company has built more pools in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel since that time than Olympus. I’m also certain that no other swimming pool contractor has ever given back — and/or continues to give back — more to the communities they serve than the Statens.  

So, Why Am I Telling You This?

In the 5-6 years I’ve known the Staten family, all I had ever heard from people in both of our distribution areas was that they 1) had found out about Olympus from the ads and stories about the company in the Neighborhood News and 2) that they loved the pool Olympus built for their family.

That is, until this year, when a few people in a local online community expressed their displeasure with the amount of time it was taking to get their pools built by Olympus, with a couple of them saying to, “use anyone else but Olympus Pools.”

I was stunned and dismayed to see people turn on this wonderful family and their company, especially since it was so soon after my friend Jennifer Murtha had just posted such glowing reviews on the same Facebook community of not only the final result (photos) of her family’s Olympus-built pool, but also the entire process from start to finish.

Beautiful swimming pool with early morning sun in the tropics.

Of course, I called the Statens first to find out what was going on but I also looked into how the pandemic had affected the swimming pool business not only locally but in warmer-weather markets across the U.S.

In a year when almost every industry has taken a major hit from Covid-19, the pool contracting business is up by 38%, which has caused the wait times to get pools built to increase by 50% or more, with few exceptions.

“There are many problems people in our industry have all been dealing with,” James says, “from entire teams of contractors having to quarantine because of Covid, to the shutdown of most government agencies, including those responsible for construction permits, to a shortage of concrete and other building materials. The bottom line is that while this has been a great year for our business, it’s also been the hardest year ever for staying on schedule, which is why we’ve had to extend the lead times from start to finish for new pools.”

In fact, when you visit the Olympus Pools website (OlympusPoolsFL.com), the home page has the following note:

“The swimming pool construction industry has been greatly impacted by the effects of Covid-19. Unprecedented demand, shortages of lumber and other building materials and lack of skilled labor have increased the time it takes to build a backyard resort. Please plan ahead. Currently, expect 6-7 months from sign to swim.”

And, considering that this award-winning company with 78 employees at three locations (Lakeland, Lakewood Ranch and the new Lutz showroom and headquarters on S.R. 54) built more pools (500+) in 2019 than the #2, #3 and #4 Tampa Bay-area pool builders combined — and that number is up to nearly 1,000 pools in 2020 — you can imagine that Olympus also has been more affected by these disturbing industry trends than anyone else locally.

“If we build 1,000 pools and have only 5% of the people unhappy, that’s still 50 families who didn’t get their pool when they expected or weren’t happy in some way. But, no matter what the percentages are, that still hurts.”

Even so, James adds, “Everything we’ve been through this year has made us much more ready for anything that might happen in the years to come. So, that’s one bright spot.”

But, it probably hurts even more for a company that, based on its performance through 2019, was named No. 2,411 on the 2020 “Inc. (magazine) 5000” with three-year revenue growth of 172%. The Inc. 5000 is the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies across all industries. 

Olympus also was listed in the Tampa Bay Business Journal’s 2020 Fast 50 — the fastest-growing companies in the Tampa Bay area — and also was one of fewer than 150 Florida companies to be certified as a Great Place to Work® in 2020.

Year-Round Giving

In addition to building more pools than anyone else in the Bay area, the Statens and their company also give back more to the communities they serve than pretty much any other company. And, this year-round spirit of giving has extended to the entire family, including 11-year-old Jacob Staten.

Jacob Staten

Before we get into what Jacob has been doing, here are some of the charitable organizations Olympus Pools has supported in 2020 alone:

• $10k to Pasco Firefighters Charities, which helped collect food for the Feeding Tampa Bay drive (see below);

• $5k to New Tampa Family YMCA, which served as a food drive collection site ;

• $10k to American Nurses ($100 for each pool Olympus sold this year); 

• Purchased the Amazon wish list of the residents of a local women’s shelter;

• Reimbursed lunches for employees of locally-owned restaurants during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

Meanwhile, rather than gifts, Jacob has been collecting food for his birthday for the past six years, all to benefit Feeding Tampa Bay. Jacob and his entire Olympus family had 13 Tampa Metro-area YMCAs participating as collection sites for the food, which was then dropped off at the Feeding Tampa Bay warehouse near Ybor City (picture below)\

And, Jacob’s collection of more than 2,500 lbs. of food (and $3,100 in cash donations) for his birthday this year didn’t go unnoticed, as he has been featured on (or in) several different local news media, including two TV stations, a radio station, as well as in this and other local publications. 

Olympus even gave out free raffle tickets to everyone who donated food this year, with a chance to win a Sony PS5, AirPods or a flat-screen TV.

The local Olympus Pools showroom (21859 S.R. 54, Lutz) is open Mon.-Fri., 7 a.m.-7 p.m., and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Sat. & Sun. 

For more information, call (813) 983-7854 or visit OlympusPoolsFL.com.

RADDSports Community Open House A Socially Distanced Success!

The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County is doing more than just helping drive sports tourism in Pasco. It is providing a unique venue for locals, both children and adults, to enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor sports. On Jan. 3, the Sports Campus hosted a Community Open House inside the AdventHealth Sports Arena, which introduced mask-wearing, socially distant locals to these programs. And yes, it was a great success.

“We signed up more than 40 new people, mostly kids, from the event,” says RADDSports director of marketing Jannah Nager. “The event also introduced people who attended to our Sports Campus sponsors.”

At the Jan. 3 Community Open House for the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, every attendee was temperature checked. The  USF Bulls cheer squad held a practice inside the AdventHealth Sports Arena at the Sports Campus. Attendees got to meet the Sports Campus sponsors, including Abdoney Orthodontics, which provided a putting green, and Island Fin Poké Co., which had people hula-hooping.

RADD Sports is the private company providing the programs and managing the Sports Campus through a public-private partnership between RADD and the county. RADD Sports founder and CEO Richard Blalock says that although the Sports Campus is already proving to be popular for both locals and competitive tournaments in the “core” sports being offered — basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and soccer (both in and outside of the AdventHealth Sports Arena) — “Events like the Open House allow more local residents the opportunity to check us out and see everything we have to offer.”

Among the sponsors with booths at the Open House were Island Fin Poké Co. (see story on pgs. 34-35), Abdoney Orthodontics, Glory Days Grill, Culver’s, Urban Air Adventure Park, the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel, the Hampton Inn and the Neighborhood News.  

For more info about programs at the Sports Campus, call (833) TEAM-RADD. For sponsorships, email Jannah@RADDSports.com.

Island Fin Poke Co. Wants To Help You Live Healthier

When Island Fin Poké Co. opened last November next to LA Fitness (south of County Line Rd. and west of Bruce B. Downs Blvd.), owners Jeff, Brenda and Jason Sproat never could have anticipated what came in March.

“Fortunately we were able to remain open and were set up for all the pandemic concerns and restrictions,” Jeff says. “We have a very clean environment and quick service for takeout or delivery, while being affordable and healthy.  We added on-line ordering with a curbside pickup option for convenience and safety.”

Jason, Island Fin’s general manager, says that he has seen many pre-Covid regulars starting to return recently.

“More of our guests are dining in and many long-time guests are coming in multiple times per week again,” Jason says.

Jeff, Jason and Brenda Sproat invite you to their Island Fin Poke Co. location next to LA Fitness off County Line Rd. at Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

Island Fin Poke Co. provides guests with “boat to bowl,” locally and responsibly sourced ingredients for each individual to create their own perfect poké bowl. With eight proteins, more than 25 toppings, a variety of house-made sauces and specialty mix-ins, the endless possibilities allow guests to get creative and try something new every visit. The restaurant’s comfortable beach shack environment bring residents on a short trip to Hawaii as they enjoy delicious, fresh and healthy, immune-boosting meals. 

“Sushi lovers love our spicy tuna, salmon and ahi tuna,” Jason says, “while those who are not sushi fans or are hesitant about consuming raw seafood, can choose cooked chicken, shrimp or even octopus for their proteins.” And, Brenda says that the house-made sauces are what separate Island Fin from all others and the friendly, knowledgeable team helps you customize your perfect bowl.

Island Fin’s regular poké bowls typically provide 40g of protein and up to 90g in a double-protein bowl.  Gym members, trainers and health professionals love it! Bowls that are perfect for Keto diets, and vegetarian and even vegan options also are available.

And Now, The Food!

I have been an Island Fin fan from Day One, especially since I can choose from spicy or regular tuna, or even have a scoop of each, in my bowl. Other proteins I didn’t mention before include salmon, Spam and tofu.

I try to stay away from both brown and white rice as my base, so I usually just choose the spring mix lettuce.

I love Island Fin’s mix-ins, although I keep telling Brenda I wish there were even more veggies to choose from, but my faves are the OG veggies, the spicy pickled veggies, edamame and corn. There’s also sweet onions and jalapeños available. 

It’s easy to create your bowl your way by adding your base, proteins, toppings and finishing sauces & crunchy toppings. (Photos by Charmaine George)

The marinating sauces include Shoyu (gluten-free soy), Ponzu (soy with fresh orange, lemon and lime juices), Island Fin Fire (pineapple, habanero peppers, cilantro, wildflower honey & soy), Wicked Wahine (hot and sweet) and my favorite, the OG Sauce (sweet onions & fresh jalapeños, with soy, olive oil and rice vinegar). I avoid most of the crunchy toppings  (like crispy onions, garlic, wontons and tempura crisps), but love adding sesame seeds, seaweed salad, cucumbers and pickled veggies. 

I also don’t usually get a finishing sauce, but available options include avocado cream, wasabi cream, Togarashi and Jamaican cream, but I will probably try the new vegan Ono Ono sauce (sweet Thai chili, fresh cilantro and scallions and chili and ginger paste) in the future. 

I love the Surimi (crab) premium topping. Other premium toppers include avocado, masago (fish eggs) and macadmia nuts, and they all cost you $1 extra per bowl.

Coming soon will be a Stubborn soda fountain drink machine.  Stubborn sodas have unique and “healthier” options using pure cane sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup or processed sugar.

But, speaking of sugar, I also love Island Fin’s cool & creamy Dole Whip desserts, available in rotating flavors. My favorite so far is the strawberry-vanilla swirl.

Community-Minded!

Island Fin has been active in the Wesley Chapel/New Tampa community.  During the pandemic, the restaurant provided bowls and Dole Whips for front line workers at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, participated in community events at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County and recently sponsored a food drive with donations going to the Make A Difference organization.

As a family-owned business, Brenda, Jason and Jeff are most proud of the comments, reviews and ratings from the community. 

“Seeing happy faces and hearing wonderful comments, along with 4.9 and 5.0 ratings on Facebook, Google, Yelp and UberEats, make all the hard work worthwhile,” Brenda says. “Guests realize that they can safely have really delicious tasting food that’s actually boosting their immune systems and is super fresh and healthy, too.”

One of the things Brenda says she loves to do is to bring mini-bowl samples of Island Fin’s delicious food to area gyms, fitness centers and health clubs, because, “it instantly translates into new customers for us! People who are working out and eating healthy really love our bowls!” And, even though Christmas 2020 is behind us, Island Fin does offer gift cards, both Classic (plastic card) and E-cards (send by text or email). Island Fin gift cards make great gifts for your dog sitter, co-worker or anyone who makes your day!

Island Fin Poké Co. is located at 6417 E. County Line Rd. (between LA Fitness and Winn-Dixie) and is open every day, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m., for dine-in (socially distanced), take out, online ordering with curbside delivery and all major delivery services. For more info, call (813) 575-8002 or visit IslandFinPoke.com.

Craft Breweries Bringing A Cool Vibe To Wesley Chapel!

This is just some of the wide selection of craft beers at Florida Avenue Brewing. (Photo: Charmaine George)

The demand for craft beer in Wesley Chapel was already high and now the supply is pouring in.

In the span of a couple of months, not just one, but TWO craft breweries have opened in the ever-changing landscape of Wesley Chapel, one of the fastest-growing communities in the country.

First was Double Branch Artisanal Ales (DBAA), which was all set to open to the public as the pandemic hit, but Covid-19 restrictions had the craft brewery as to-go only until beer enthusiasts were allowed to be inside in late August. Double Branch finally held its official North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 10, and is now a permanent fixture in the revitalized Grove at Wesley Chapel’s The Village shopping district.

“We do get a lot of people who say they’ve come out this way to try it — those beer seekers,” said Double Branch general manager Sam Guyer, who, along with her husband, Cody, is one of the four owners.

Although it hasn’t even been open for a year yet, at the U.S. Open Beer Championship — one of the top three beer competitions in the country, according to its website — recently awarded DBAA’s Purple Floors & Dinosaurs IPA a gold medal in the New England/Juicy DIPA category. The name also was picked as the No. 2 overall favorite beer name, behind Menace To Sobriety, a New York craft beer.

Meanwhile, Florida Avenue Brewing Co. opened its doors on Oct. 5 (also after some pandemic-related delays), and is just a mere 15 minutes (about five miles) away from DBAA in the former space of Sports + Field on S.R. 56.

After an impressive renovation of that fitness facility, Florida Ave. is now a trendy date night locale that, in just two months time, has already seen more than 17,000 customers walk through its doors.

“What we hear a lot from guests is that they’re so happy there’s some (place to dine and drink) on this side of the (S.R. 56 overpass) and a little away from (Tampa Premium Outlets) because they don’t want to get in their car and wait 30 minutes to go half a mile,” says Florida Avenue co-owner and operator Anthony Derby. “But I also think they’re excited for something new and fun with craft beer.”

DBAA will have a kitchen soon to go with it’s funky variety of IPAs. (Photo: Mike Camunas)

Indeed, there has been a real boom of craft beer breweries throughout the Tampa Bay area, which now boasts more than 70 of them. They have helped make places like Dunedin, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Seminole Heights in Tampa trendy places to grab a bite and a beer.

In Pasco County, there are now 11 craft breweries, with more on the way.

The influx of malls, stores, businesses and, of course, more residents in Wesley Chapel has raised the demand for more cool drinking destinations. 

Both Guyer and Derby, who is part of the ownership group that also owns Brew Bus in Seminole Heights, say they are only building on the demand for craft beer that has been present in Wesley Chapel for a while.

The original Brass Tap opened in 2008 at The Shops of Wiregrass mall, whetting the appetites of local beer enthusiasts looking for more than just a cold Budweiser in a smoky bar.

Florida Avenue Brewing. (Photo: Charmaine George)

Derby said he has had a number of conversations with Brass Tap owner Jeff Martin, who is as familiar with the local beer scene as anyone.

“I talked to him numerous times when we were planning on picking our location, so I knew there were definitely pockets of craft beer enthusiasts up here in Wesley Chapel,” Derby says.

The growth in Wesley Chapel may lead to more breweries in the future, perhaps mirroring what Seminole Heights has experienced. In that trendy, older neighborhood, many young people began moving in, so new restaurants and bars, especially more craft beer breweries, emerged as places for them to spend their evenings.

When Derby and his partners wanted to create a second location, but with a different brand than their Brew Bus, they took polls from distributors about where the highest concentration of craft beer sales were.

One of the most popular answers? Wesley Chapel.

“My mother-in-law lives across (S.R 56) in the neighborhood, so I was always up here, say, for a Sunday dinner, making me very familiar with the area and, given how the area bloomed, it was a no-brainer,” Derby says. “We’re very excited to be here and even have Double Branch up the road, because what they’re doing there is awesome and why we have collaborated with them already.”

Florida Avenue and DBAA have created a special brew with a nod towards Wesley Chapel locals, or “Chappies.” (Photo: Mike Camunas)

That’s right. Florida Avenue and Double Branch have already put their hoppy heads together and created a special beer just for Wesley Chapel — “Chappie’s Life,” an American-style light lager that’s available at both locations, and honors the growing area that was once a trucker stop down at the end of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. or, as longtime locals called it, “The Road to Nowhere.”

Now, it’s the road to some innovative and tasty craft beers.

“This area does seem to have its charm, right?,” Guyer asked. “I mean, I have obviously heard that it used to just be cows grazing, and now we have all this stuff and — believe it or not — a real-life craft beer scene.”

The 2020 Neighborhood News Reader’s Survey chose The Brass Tap as the best local bar — Florida Avenue opened after the contest began — with DBAA coming in second. Here’s the top 5 vote getters:

(Photo: Charmaine George)

1 — The Brass Tap is more than just this year’s winner of our readers’ Favorite Bar in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel — because it had to stay closed (as all non-restaurant bars in Florida did) much longer than restaurant/bar combos, owner Jeff Martin and his crew have not only survived, but have come back strong after having to endure this year’s Covid-extended bar closure.

Therefore, it’s a true tribute to Jeff and his crew to be named this year’s Favorite Bar in our distribution areas.

2 — Double Branch Artisanal Ales is like a beer laboratory with how often they churn out new flavors and styles, and it’s a fun spot for a cold brew. Try the new Chappie’s Life light lager! When the kitchen opens, look out!

3 — Joe Whiskey’s is no longer a smoking bar and that may have something to do with this year’s best-ever finish in our Reader Survey. Smokers still have an outdoor patio and non-smokers can now enjoy karaoke four nights a week.

4 — The Basement on Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Lutz also had its best-ever finish in this year’s survey, but the last we heard was that it is not going to re-open. We agree with the readers who voted for it about its cool vibe, so it’s a sad loss.

5 — Linksters isn’t trendy or hip, and that’s not a bad thing, it’s a great thing. It’s a small bar with friendly staff, a pool table, jukebox and cold beer while you catch a game on TV. Perfect!

The Next 8, in order of votes: The Bar, Chapel Cigars, Fat Rabbit, Glory Days, O’Briens, Peabody’s, Mulligans, Stonewood Grill.

NT/WC’s Favorite Greek/Indian Restaurants

The Hungry Greek, like Vallarta’s, also keeps the locals happy (it’s #1 in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel) with great Greek and Mediterranean specialties at super-fair prices — especially when you factor in the quality of the food, the size of the portions served and the restaurant’s ability to get you in and out quickly while still cooking your food to order.

We recommend trying the Greek salads, gyro and chicken pita bread sandwiches (and platters) and variety of kabob entrées, falafel, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), baked pastitsio (Greek lasagne) and spanikopita (spinach pie).

Wash it down with a Mythos or other Greek beer.

2 — Acropolis Greek Taverna New Tampa’s sit-down Greek restaurant has some of the best Greek cuisine around. Try the saganaki (Greek cheese flambé), grilled octopus, lamb chops and the Athenian fish.

3 — Little Greek on BBD in New Tampa is very similar in menu and serving style to Hungry Greek, and does an equally outstanding job of getting customers in and out quickly, even during its lunchtime rush.

4 — Minerva Indian Restaurant was the only Indian eatery to make this top-5 with its extensive menu packed with flavorful options, as well as one of the best Indian buffets around, with plenty of vegetarian choices.

5 — Al-Sham Palace in the Pebble Creek Collection is one of our area’s few truly authentic Syrian/Mediterranean restaurants, featuring a variety of shawarma and gyro sandwiches, plus kafta and chicken kababs & more.

The Next 5, in order of votes: Medilish Med Grill, Ice Spice Cafe, Atithi Indian, Taaza Mart Cafe, Petra Mediterranean Express (OOB).