There is no shortage of anticipation of what is coming next to Wesley Chapel, but rarely is there the level of consternation that there has been for previously reported projects involving Chick-Fil-A, Wawa and Aldi.
We’ve got one word for you: relax.
All three are still coming.
For those of you beginning to lose faith in the long-awaited Chick-Fil-A on S.R. 54, just east of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., the never-open-on-Sunday-but-always-delicious chain received its final approval for its second Wesley Chapel restaurant on July 27. While ground has been broken for a while, the constant sight of a dirt lot the past many months has been making a lot of people nervous, according to Facebook.
In between the Walgreens and Chick-Fil-A, Wawa should soon be going vertical as well. The popular gas and convenience store filed permit requests for store signs last week. With a Dunkin Donuts planned a few hundred feet to the east, and a Starbucks right across the street, we might soon be dubbing that stretch Coffee Corner.
And all you Aldi fans can let out a sigh of relief. After moving planned locations twice, the discount supermarket chain has settled on the southeast corner of S.R. 56 and Wesley Chapel Blvd., and the project is currently under review.
At Tampa Bay Jaw & Facial Surgery, Brian Hamilton, D.D.S., sees patients who need specialized care in the area of oral (mouth) and maxillofacial (face and jaws) dentistry.
Dr. Hamilton describes oral and maxillofacial dentistry as a specialty that combines dentistry and medicine, explaining that this includes dentistry for complex cases and those who have health issues, along with wisdom teeth extractions, dental implants, and many other procedures.
The Wesley Chapel office of Tampa Bay Jaw & Facial Surgery is located just off S.R. 54 in the Brookside Professional Park, just east of Saddlebrook resort.
Dr. Hamilton, who is originally from Jamaica, earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY, in 1999. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree from the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, DC, in May 2003. After a general practice residency at the Miami Veteran’s Hospital in Miami, FL, he went on to complete his residency in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery from Columbia University at Harlem Hospital Center in New York, NY, in 2010.
He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons and a Fellow of the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.
The Wesley Chapel office of Tampa Bay Jaw & Facial Surgery is one of five locations, including Carrollwood, Dunedin, Bradenton, Sun City, plus another location is getting set to open in South Tampa soon. The practice is owned by Michael Barbick, D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine), M.D., who works primarily at the Carrollwood office.
The Wesley Chapel office of Tampa Bay Jaw & Facial Surgery has been open for about three years, originally opening on June 1, 2015. Dr. Hamilton has been with the practice for about a year. Prior to his current position, Dr. Hamilton was with a group in Daytona Beach.
Excellent Patient Care
“Patients are our number one priority,” explains Amanda Fraley, the practice’s office manager. “We are very appreciative of them choosing to come to us, and we want them to know how much we appreciate them.”
Dr. Hamilton says Amanda and the staff are one reason a patient should choose his practice. “The staff here is quite wonderful,” he says. “They are friendly and warm, and you are always greeted by a smiling face at the front desk.”
Although many patients are referred to Tampa Bay Jaw & Facial Surgery by other dentists, patients also can contact the office directly.
One reason you might want to see Dr. Hamilton is if you suspect a tooth needs to be removed. He will complete an evaluation and recommend a treatment plan. If it turns out a patient needs a general dentist instead, like if a tooth needs a root canal, Dr. Hamilton and his staff can help that patient find a dentist.
Many patients also come to Tampa Bay Jaw & Facial Surgery because they are missing teeth and have heard about dental implants, maybe through ads such as the one on page 37 of this issue, which offers a free consultation for patients considering dental implants to replace missing and broken teeth. The free consultation includes panoramic X-rays.
Dr. Hamilton also does oral pathology — removing cancerous and benign lesions — and treatment for disorders of the temporomandibular joint, which is the joint connecting the jaw to the skull, commonly known as TMJ.
Dr. Hamilton performs surgical corrections to the TMJ, but he says that surgery is always the last resort.
“The first option is always to treat conservatively,” he explains, with options such as an occlusal splint (or mouth guard), anti-inflammatory medication or muscle relaxers. “Then, we advance the treatment, if (it is still) needed.”
Amanda says the office is “completely electronic with state-of-the-art equipment. We only use digital X-rays and have a cone beam CT scanner.”
She says that the three-dimensional images from the CT scan give more detail than X-rays. “It is beneficial in more complex surgical cases or to rule out unnecessary surgical interventions,” she explains. “It also can aid as a surgical guide for dental implant cases, to ensure that the implants are properly angled.”
Amanda and the staff work with your Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) dental insurance to help you understand your coverage and what your treatment will cost.
“We always schedule a consultation and go over everything to make sure all your questions are answered,” she says, “and everything is clear.”
Always Available When You Need Them
Amanda and Dr. Hamilton agree that another advantage of coming to Tampa Bay Jaw & Facial Surgery for your wisdom teeth extractions and other needs is because of the office’s availability. They often schedule patients for next-day appointments.
“And, if there’s a patient in pain,” Dr. Hamilton says, “we’ll do what we can to see them the same day.”
Garland Davis recommends Tampa Bay Jaw & Facial Surgery for procedures like the one wisdom tooth he had extracted.
“It was a good experience,” he says. “I called them and they got me in the very next day. They handled everything for my insurance and I was in and out in probably an hour and a half, tops. The whole staff was really great.”
Dr. Hamilton says a high priority for him is ensuring that every patient is comfortable, so intravenous (IV) sedation is offered.
Alternatively, for those who don’t want complete sedation, other options are available, including nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, for his patients.
“So, whether they’re asleep or awake, they end up having a comfortable experience,” he explains.
“Some people have a fear of their dental experience, but IV sedation is a big part of what we do,” says Dr. Hamilton, who adds that he is ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support)-certified to be able to offer the IV sedation.
While most procedures are done in the office if the patient is healthy, for more complex procedures or for patients who are in some way medically compromised, procedures also can be performed in a surgery center or hospital. Dr. Hamilton has admitting privileges at both Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa, where he also is an on-call surgeon for cases of facial trauma.
The Wesley Chapel office of Tampa Bay Jaw & Facial Surgery is located at 29164 Chapel Park Dr. It is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. For more information about the practice, call (813) 991-6886, or visit TBJAFS.com.
Local restaurant favorite OTB Delights Café, which currently is located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. across the street from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, is moving a few miles up the road.
According to the county’s permitting records, OTB— which stands for Only The Best — is looking to move into the new Nye Commons Plaza on the west side of BBD, just south of S.R. 54, which is owned by Nye Commercial Developers.
Currently under a zoning review, OTB, which specializes in serving hand-crafted fresh and healthy sandwiches, wraps and salads, would take over a 1,345-sq.-ft. space in the 14,000-sq.-ft. plaza., which now has seven tenants, including Nye Commercial Developers.
“We are all filled up,” says Brent Nye, who says he still fields calls from prospective tenants.
Also potentially moving into the plaza is Board & Brush Creative Studios, which is looking to take over a 1,302-sq.-ft. space.
Board & Brush is a do-it-yourself studio, allowing customers to build “on-trend, farmhouse-classic, inspirational pieces of décor for your home, office or cottage.” Although primarily for wood projects, the studio does have other project materials, like glass, slate, canvas and others. Board & Brush is a franchise that has more than 150 locations across the U.S., including eight currently in Florida, the closest of which is in Clearwater.
Also in permitting to set up shop at the Nye Commons is Keystone Title Agency, Inc., which currently has a location in Port Richey. Avalon Spa & Nails also is opening a second Wesley Chapel location in the plaza, and Nye says a veterinarian and an insurance company have leased space as well.
BUT, ‘CHIPOTLE IS MY LIFE!’: Permitting has been filed with the county for a 15,664-sq.-ft. shell building that is likely to be a commercial strip center right off S.R. 56, in front of the soon-to-open Hyatt Place Hotel & Convention Center.
The strip center could be home to a number of coming projects that have been previously reported, like Golf Galaxy, Total Wine & More and Blaze Pizza. One of the rumored new restaurants coming to that side of S.R. 56, Chipotle Mexican Grill, won’t be located in the new strip center, however. According to permitting records, it will be located closer to the Earth Fare health and wellness supermarket coming to the corner of S.R. 56 and Wesley Chapel Blvd.
General manager Terrance Ramoutar (left) and assistant manager José Ortiz greet you at the Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube flagship location off BBD Blvd. just north of I-75 in New Tampa.
In a day full of appointments and deadlines, basic vehicle maintenance can oftentimes fall into the ”I’ll do it later” box.
At the 14-year-old flagship location of Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube, located off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of I-75 (in North Palms Village), you can move that maintenance out of deferment and into the checked box.
Whether it’s an express or full-service car wash, Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube is going to get you in and out on the hop.
“The quality of the job a customer gets and the in and out time getting it done is something that sets us apart from other car washes,” VP of operations Scott Barone says.
Bay Breeze Car Wash is still expanding, too. The company plans to open a new Express Wash location in Wesley Chapel on SR 54 and Vandine Rd. by the end of this year.
Just how fast is Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube?
If it’s an oil change, Barone says most customers are in and out in 15 minutes once work begins on their car. Coming soon to the New Tampa flagship location, customers will be able to remain inside their vehicle when purchasing Express Car Washes, a new feature that will allow Express Wash customers to get in and out even quicker, as the location now has a much-improved Express Wash lane.
Express Wash lanes are offered at all seven Bay Breeze locations across the Tampa Bay area, including at the company’s otherNew Tampa location off BBD, in the Trout Creek area of New Tampa, just a little south of Wesley Chapel.
The Express Wash aims at getting customers in and out in less than three minutes. Now, there even are payment methods in place so that the customer never has to leave his or her vehicle. “We keep the express in express and this applies to both oil changes and washes,” Barone says. “You’re not getting in and out in 15 minutes (for an oil change) if you go to the dealership.”
For vehicle maintenance, Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube can do more than just oil changes, too.
Most standard vehicle maintenance services are available, including: windshield wipers, air filter, transmission/coolant/engine flush, light bulb replacement and fuel injection. Check out BayBreezeCarWash.com for a full list of available services.
Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube uses Mobil 1 oil and in the month of June and July is offering a free car wash (valued at $20) with the purchase of a full synthetic oil change.
Upgrading & Expanding
The Express Wash area (photo, right) at the flagship location has reopened with a new Express Wash menu, complete with a dedicated lane and easier-to-negotiate new exit from the facility.
And, while the revamped Express Wash lane will not have a free vacuum area included with each wash, the flagship location’s renovation will include a towel dry for each Express Wash purchased, something Barone says is not offered at other Bay Breeze locations.
Along with the physical renovations, Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube also is offering new membership options, ranging from as little as $20 per month to $50 per month. They hope to have a new Unlimited Full Service Membership available within the coming months as well. The $50 Ultimate Package includes a tire shine, application of a nano-polymer sealant and a triple foam polish. Both memberships include unlimited Express Washes.
Express Washes are done using the same spinning rollers that you remember as a kid; however, instead of the coarse bristled brushes, Bay Breeze uses 2nd Generation Envirosoft brushes, which are made from foam.
“It’s closed-cell foam technology where no particles get trapped,” Barone says. “It’s the best material on the market for the surface of your vehicle.”
Home-Grown Talent
New Tampa general manager Terrance Ramoutar and assistant manager José Ortiz have both come up through the ranks at Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube.
Most Bay Breeze locations have between six and 10 employees. The flagship station in New Tampa, however, has 60.
“We call this location (New Tampa) ‘Bay Breeze University’ because it’s where we identify talent,” Barone says. “Most (of our) management staff passes through this store at some point.”
Ramoutar has 15 years of experience in the industry and ran the car wash at the New Tampa location prior to Bay Breeze taking it over in 2004.
Ortiz worked in detailing at Stadium Toyota prior to coming over to Bay Breeze 17 months ago, and helped open the location on BBD in the Trout Creek area.
“José stood out,” Barone says. “We look for people with a hunger and desire to grow and from the beginning, José demonstrated that he was responsible, motivated and dedicated, and he rose to become a manager.”
Ortiz says he learned a lot about the company and managing it at the Trout Creek location.
“Multi-tasking, workload, employee relations, accommodating customers, the experience put me in touch with some of the problems you come in contact with at express locations,” Ortiz said. “When I transitioned over to full service, you’re dealing with many more employees and you have to learn to schedule weeks ahead and forecast things.”
Ramoutar was a greeter at the previous car wash and when the transition to Bay Breeze happened, he was elevated to supervisor and, eventually, to general manager.
“It takes a lot of worry away, knowing these guys, knowing their history, how they work,” Barone says. “Having them in key roles is important. Otherwise, it just doesn’t work.”
Barone himself has worked his way up, too. He was the GM of the Brandon location (2007-13) and has been Bay Breeze corporate’s VP of operations for the last five years.
All three have the same sentiments about working in a family atmosphere.
“In my experience, a family-owned company with a family atmosphere treats employees and customers the same way,” Ramoutar says. “It feels like a family here. That’s why we have people that have been coming to us for 15 years.”
Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube also has gift cards available.
The flagship New Tampa location of Bay Breeze Car Wash & Lube is located at 17501 N. Palms Village Pl. (next to Steak & Shake) and is open Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. For more info, call (813) 615-1333.
The Trout Creek location is at 20306 Trout Creek Dr. and its car wash services are available seven days a week, 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Lube services are available at this location Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. For more info, call (813) 973-0033 or visit BayBreezeCarWash.com.
So, how can one of my favorite local restaurants get even better when the husband-and-wife chefs who opened it — and still own it — hire a new chef?
That’s what has happened recently to my friends Jessica and Carl Meyers of Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering on S.R. 54 in Lutz, less than two miles west of the Tampa Premium Outlets. Jessica and Carl have brought in an authentic Italian chef, born and raised in Napoli (not Naples, FL), who has honed his skills in not only his native country, but also in Germany, Australia, England, Tampa and, most recently, his own place, which was called Manzoni’s, even though neither the chef’s first nor last name is Manzoni.
“Manzoni is-a the street-a I grew up on in-a Napoli,” says Chef Simeone (pronounced “Sih-me-oh-nay”) Chiacchio, who opened Manzoni’s in Tarpon Springs a few years ago, after working at some of the better Italian restaurants in South Tampa. “Manzoni’s was-a the first-a time I ever owned a restaurant, and I found out that I’d-a rather cook for-a someone else and not-a have-a to be the boss.”
That worked out perfectly for Jessica and Carl, who brought in Chef Sam (“or Simon,” says Simeone. “Sam is just-a little easier for-a some people.”) a little over a month ago and have enjoyed not only his “autentico” Neapolitan cuisine, but also his accent, his sense of humor and his ability to multi-task.
“I told him you’re like an octopus,” says Jessica. “Carl and I really admire his skills. He can cook anything and he’s already adding amazing new specials and slowly making changes to our existing menu. We’ll be rolling out our new menu soon.”
Carl, who has been to Italy many times, says he can tell Chef Simeone is authentic because, “he doesn’t let anything go to waste. He cuts up the leftover penne and spaghetti for his pasta fagioli (one of his new specials) and he saves all of the scraps of cut produce, like onions, garlic and more and makes stock to keep his chicken dishes moist.”
Carl also mentioned something I forgot to write down about the beans used in Chef Sam’s pasta fagioli, but all I can tell you is that it is the best I’ve had in the Tampa Bay area. A bowl of it is so big and hearty, it’s a meal unto itself, but don’t get too full to try Sam’s outstanding faggotini pasta, which may not have an appetizing name, but it’s a flavor I’ve never tasted in Italian food before. Faggotini is a pasta “purse,” stuffed with pecorino Romano cheese and pear. Each bite of these filling purses has just a hint of sweetness from the pear, a perfect complement to the salty cheese. But, these faggotini are lightly covered with just the right amount of a creamy, but still light, pink tomato sauce that expertly finishes off this unique pasta dish.
“Just-a don’t-a call it a‘vodka sauce,’” Sam says. “There’s-a no vodka in it.”
New Entrée Specials, Too!
As soon as I saw the new specials board (both the pasta fagioli and faggotini are on it), I got really excited about what Sam’s bringing to the table (pun intended) at Little Italy’s, especially once Jessica and Carl also showed me Sam’s super-extensive menu from Manzoni’s.
Of the new entrées already sampled by yours truly, my surprise favorite was the chicken Vesuvio, which Sam can make for you with the chicken lightly breaded or unbreaded. The chicken surrounds ample, tender slices of eggplant and topped with fresh mozzarella and a light (but not pink), zesty tomato sauce.
My second favorite dish from the specials board was the Caprese chicken over pasta (I’m obviously a tomato/tomato sauce guy). Thick, tender (thanks to that homemade stock?) chicken breasts are topped with also-thick slices of delicious, fresh tomatoes, dense (but perfectly melted) slabs of fresh mozzarella in a thicker tomato sauce more reminiscent of Little Italy’s original sauce, topped with fresh basil. It was served over a helping of spaghetti that provided side dishes for two more meals for me after all that I left over during my visit.
The third new entrée I sampled was the chicken panna, which is served in a thinner-than-Alfredo creamy sauce with pancetta, peas and fresh mushrooms. Jessica said it was her favorite of the new specials and she almost didn’t let me steal even a bite from her (just kidding, Jess).
And of course, yes, you can still order anything from the restaurant’s existing menu, although you might want to ask your server to explain any tweaks Sam may have made to Little Italy’s locally famous lasagne, veal parmigiana (my personal favorite; more on that below), chicken piccata, calzones and huge, rectangular pizzas.
You might just recognize that server, by the way, as Jessica says that she is now going to sometimes work the floor as a server, especially on the weekends, because she really does want Little Italy’s thousands of loyal fans to have full explanations of every new dish and any tweaks Sam may have made to their favorite dishes when they visit.
“All I can say is that the guy is doing amazing things in that kitchen,” Jessica says, “so I want to explain to our customers what goes into making these dishes.”
Carl adds, “This restaurant and kitchen aren’t large enough to do true fine Italian dining. But, what we’re serving now is a step up from what we’ve been doing, without being a step up in price.”
Sam told me not to order the veal parmigiana until the next time I came in because Little Italy’s just started using a new meat purveyor, “and I-a want-a you to-a taste-a the good-a vitello (veal).” He says there will be osso buco (veal shanks on the bone) on the specials board soon and maybe even a steak special.
“Oh, and-a Gary, I know you’re-a not-a the only-a one who likes-a fresh veggies,” Sam says. “We’ll-a give you a choice-a of pasta or veggies with-a your (non-pasta) entrée, too.”
And of course, Sam can create just about anything you want for your next party. Catering has long been a big part of Little Italy’s success the past three years, and I don’t see that side of the business slowing down anytime soon. I guarantee you that a big tray of Little Italy’s lasagne would be the perfect addition to any 4th of July celebration.
And, of course, Little Italy’s still has a “Little Goombas” menu and recently added beer and wine. So, enjoy a delicious glass (or bottle) of delicious chianti, pino grigio or Grandma’s homemade sangria, or a Peroni or domestic beer and get to know the new Little Italy’s. It’ll be “molto delizioso.”
Little Italy’s (24436 S.R. 54, Lutz) is open for dinner only Tues.-Fri. and for lunch & dinner on Sat. & Sun. For info, call (813) 909-2122, or visit LittleItalyFamilyRestaurant.com.
There is no shortage of anticipation of what is coming next to Wesley Chapel, but rarely is there the level of consternation that there has been for previously reported projects involving Chick-Fil-A, Wawa and Aldi.
In between the Walgreens and Chick-Fil-A, Wawa should soon be going vertical as well. The popular gas and convenience store filed permit requests for store signs last week. With a Dunkin Donuts planned a few hundred feet to the east, and a Starbucks right across the street, we might soon be dubbing that stretch Coffee Corner.
