Updating the story we reported in our Mar. 19 issue, the developer who previously withdrew plans to build a Whole Foods Market on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. at Aronwood Blvd. in Meadow Pointe resubmitted those plans to Pasco County officials on Apr. 23.
After reviewing the revised site plan (above), it appears that the main differences between the new plan and the old plan is that the developer, SJC Ventures, is proposing to add a trucks-only driveway from BBD behind Whole Foods (see map) to make it easier for delivery trucks to get to the loading bay.Â
Also, the new site plan removes the small standalone building near the Lifestyle Family Fitness building and just made the other two standalone buildings a little bigger. SJC also built the recently opened Whole Foods in St. Petersburg.
Although we don’t know when the plan will come up for approval by the Pasco Board of County Commissioners. We’ll keep you posted. — JP
Skilled Nursing Facility Proposed Near The Grove
The location of the proposed skilled nursing facility referred to on its site plan as “Oakley Place” is proposed to be constructed in front of the Avasa Grove West apartments on Oakley Blvd. (Map: NN)
As first reported on Apr. 22 by Kelly Gilroy on the Pasco County Development & Growth Updates Facebook page, plans for a 202-bed, nearly 112,000-sq.-ft. skilled nursing facility (SNF) were submitted to the county.
Planned on a 7.83-acre site at the corner of Oakley Blvd. and Grove Isle Dr., in front of the Avasa Grove West apartments (across Oakley Blvd. from Cost Plus World Market), this would be the second SNF in Wesley Chapel, as the only other such facility is part of the Blue Heron Senior Living residence on Eagleston Blvd. off BBD.
Emorys Rock Realty
Congratulations to Licensed Real Estate Broker Chad Emory and his wife (and fellow Realtor) April on the establishment of Emorys Rock Realty, which has an office in the Signature Workspace at the Shops at Wiregrass.
It’s hard “Keeping Up With The Emorys,” as they attend virtually every North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) ribbon cutting (Chad also is an NTBC Board member) and other local events, but what they want is to help you the next time you buy or sell a home!
For more information, call (813) 404- 2286 or visit EmorysRock.com. — GN
Capstone Communities celebrated the official ribbon cutting & Grand Opening of The Cottages at Cypress Cay on Apr. 17. (Photos provided by Carrie Wildes Photography)Â
Congratulations go out to Capstone Communities, which celebrated the official Grand Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for The Cottages at Cypress Cay with the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (TBCC) on Apr. 17.
As we first reported in our July 2023 issue, The Cottages at Cypress Cay is a cottage-style rental community located off Bruce B Downs (BBD) Blvd.
“With 1,400 member companies and more joining every day, Tampa’s economy is growing rapidly,” said Patie Powers, the TBCC’s director of membership. “Innovative housing concepts like The Cottages at Cypress Cay are crucial for companies to recruit new talent and offer unique housing options to the growing workforce.”Â
For rental units that look & feel more like a home, you should definitely check out The Cottages.Â
With neighborhood amenities including a 24-hour clubhouse, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a resort-style pool, pavilions and grill stations, sidewalks, a dog park and other pedestrian-friendly amenities, The Cottages at Cypress Cay creates a true sense of place for its residents. The Cottages themselves definitely feel more “home-like” than your usual rental communities, with kitchens and even front entrances that are a cut above most apartment units.
“Our team is excited to bring this unique housing option to Tampa renters that builds community you don’t typically find in a traditional apartment setting,” said Amanda Wallis, executive VP of development for Capstone Communities. “Build-for-rent communities are perfect for young professionals, new residents and empty-nesters who may be looking to downsize because they provide the space and privacy of a home with the amenities and convenience of a traditional apartment.”Â
The community offers a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom cottages, each with its own private fenced yard, as well as one-bedroom lofts and carriage house units. Homes range from 650 to 1,350 square feet, with wood-grain flooring, in-unit washers and dryers, a “smart home” technology package, 24/7 on-call maintenance and optional enclosed garage parking.
CBI Construction Services (Capstone’s in-house construction entity) is the general contractor for The Cottages at Cypress Cay, and Capstone Properties (Capstone’s in-house management division) is the leasing and property management team.
Capstone Communities is an Alabama-based real estate firm specializing in development, management and construction of student and multifamily housing. In 2017, Capstone expanded to the multifamily sector at the forefront of the build-for-rent movement with the introduction of its conventional cottage-style development program.
Today, with a mission to be an innovative company dedicated to serving people, building community and delivering exceptional experiences that stand the test of time, Capstone’s growing project footprint now stretches across the Southeast with 11 build-for-rent communities open or under construction in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Less than two weeks after this issue arrives in your mailbox, the vomFass store in the Shops at Wiregrass mall will be closing. On May 3rd, local vomFASS store owner Paula Ayala (photo, left) publicly announced that her location (next to Victoria’s Secret) would be closing the weekend of May 25-26.Â
She wrote that, “These past eight years have been a tremendous journey, and I am immensely grateful to each and every one of you who has been part of this adventure…We will miss all of you…”
Paula’s franchise store beat the odds for many years. Hers was the only vomFASS store left open in Florida, and one of only a handful in the country. “Seven locations in South Florida closed within three years of opening,” she says. As to why those other locations closed so quickly, she says, “The [German] business model was not fully compatible with the U.S. market.”
Paula currently plans to keep food service operating through Friday, May 17, and the store open through the following weekend, after which it will close permanently. All items inside the store are now on clearance.
vomFASS is a franchise company that was founded in Regensburg, Germany, in 1994. The name of the store translates to “From the Barrel.” The company’s social media says that vomFass currently has 300 stores in 28 countries. These stores sell higher priced oils, vinegars, spirits and wines, with some unique offerings you can’t find anywhere else.
Paula said the higher price point on so many of her products was due to higher quality and lower volume, where you could find true one-off, rare, aged single barrels, unique flavor combinations and small-batch offerings. She says, “These are the special occasion products you break out with good food and good company.”
The best part of the store was that you could taste and sample anything you wanted for free (including the really expensive aged spirits that were up to 25 years old), to guarantee you liked them before buying them. You could also get the spirits in different sizes from the standard 750ml (also known as a “fifth”) to 200ml, which were great for gifts.Â
Paula says the best-selling products in her store were the pre-mixed Bourbon Old Fashioned (my personal favorite) and Northern Plains Bourbon Whiskey, which went into the smoothest tasting old fashioned house cocktail I’ve ever had (seriously), made right there at their bar. Even though the pre-mixed Old Fashioned was a huge hit, Paula says she had a hard time keeping some on the shelves because, “it was often on back order from corporate.”
While some of vomFASS’ big bottles of premium spirits cost less than $100, the most expensive one in the store was around $300. She notes, however, that even the more budget-centric ABC Liquors and Total Wine & More have many bottles way above that price, some into the thousands of dollars.
Paula says that ABC Liquors, located less than a half-mile from the mall, was not a huge competitor for her, but when Total Wine & More opened a few miles to the west in the space previously occupied by Earth Fare in 2021, she noticed a big impact in sales, “But that was nothing compared to what COVID did.”
When Paula and her family came to the U.S. from Venezuela in 2016, she was trying to escape poor conditions there. She was able to get a visa in 2015 because of the vomFASS opportunity, which she discovered during a franchise expo in Venezuela.
“I traveled here three times to get things ready… arriving in 2016 and opening that summer. I honestly thought Wesley Chapel was part of Tampa,” she said. Paula explained that there were multiple stores in the space she occupies that didn’t last. “When I first came [to the store], there were still changing rooms in the back.”
In order to do even minor food and alcohol consumption, Pasco required full licenses, and a facility with sinks and grease traps. She says this was a blessing in disguise, and gave her an advantage over other vomFASS stores.
When COVID hit, being able to fulfill online orders helped the store survive, but that was later cut off by corporate. Like many stores, Paula lost workers, and she had to help out family members who became very ill.
The PivotÂ
When she was able, in 2020, Paula added food and bar service to keep vomFass afloat, since it was equipped with a kitchen. The husband-and-wife team of Alvaro Barbado (an expert mixologist) and Ainara Arozena (a gourmet chef), emigrated from Spain and were able to find work at the store.
With bistro-style seating in the front, a bar in the corner, and a large party table in the back, the store transformed into something more relevant, where you could get unique cocktails made with the liquor sold in the store and gourmet dishes (like pillow soft octopus and tender herb crusted ribs) with perfect wine pairings. Paula says that for a couple of years, the addition of the food and on-site cocktails helped out, “but our costs kept increasing.”
In hindsight, Paula says there are a few things she would have done differently, but she was grateful that the business’ run was better than she expected.
For more information, visit vomFass Wiregrass (28249 Paseo Dr., #110) in person or call (813) 907-2167.
Owner Giovanni Gocaj offers flooring and kitchen and bath remodeling at his location in the Super Target-anchored Northwoods plaza on BBD. (Photo by Charmaine George)
If you’ve driven in the SuperTarget shopping center on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. recently, you may have noticed a change at the flooring store next to Marshall’s. In fact, new owner Giovanni Gocaj has not only changed the name of the showroom, he’s also greatly expanded the services that his Giovanni’s Flooring, Kitchen & Bath now provides.
Giovanni, who is originally from Albania, moved to the Trinity area of New Port Richey in 2002 and now has worked for more than 20 years in the flooring and kitchen and bath remodeling business.Â
Giovanni’s can replace your staircase carpeting with real hardwood or luxury vinyl plank. (Photo provided by GiovanniFlooringLLC.com)Â
By 2011, Giovanni had decided to open his own flooring store in Trinity. A decade or so later, he decided to get his own general contractor’s license in order to be able to expand his store’s services.
“As a family-owned business, we understand the importance of creating spaces that reflect the unique style and needs of each family,” Giovanni’s website, GiovanniFlooringLLC.comsays. “From luxurious hardwood floors to durable tile installations, we offer a wide range of flooring options to suit every taste and budget. We also specialize in full bathroom and kitchen remodeling projects, turning outdated spaces into modern, functional and beautiful areas that enhance the overall value and enjoyment of your home.”Â
He decided to bring all of that experience to the fast-growing Wesley Chapel area and starting talking last year to Andy Dunning, who had was the owner of the American Flooring store where Giovanni’s is now located.
“I’ve known Andy for almost 15 years,” Giovanni says. “I used to do installations for his New Port Richey location.”
He adds that, “With the way Wesley Chapel is growing, I thought the time was right for me to give it a try — opening my second location in this area.”
Available ServicesÂ
If you’re looking for a wide variety, colors, styles and flooring types, definitely visit Giovanni’s! (Photo by Charmaine George)Â
Giovanni says that selling and installing all kinds of flooring is still a big part of his business, but he is happy to also bring his full kitchen and bath remodeling services to the Wesley Chapel area.
“I use a lot of different vendors and have a lot of different places we get the kitchen and bath fixtures and other products from,” he says. “My team and I can basically design and install almost anything you want.”
As for the flooring itself, Giovanni says that the most popular requests he gets are for luxury vinyl planks (LVPs) and hardwood flooring. “And I have — or can get — almost every brand that’s out there.”
One new product line he’s now carrying is Mohawk flooring, as well as the equally popular Mannington LVPs, which are scratch-resistant, kid and pet friendly and fully waterproof.
A True Family Affair
And, while American Flooring had installers on staff, Giovanni’s takes that one step further:
“I have all of my family members — my brother Peter, my father Luik, my cousins Julian, Elvis and Emilio and more working with me, and handling our installations.”
And, while many people still believe that the home improvement warehouses always have lower prices, Giovanni says that simply isn’t true.Â
“Why should people check us out before those places?,” he asks. “Because we offer way better quality flooring, even better prices and we stand behind our work.”
As for his business philosophy, Giovanni says that, “Quality is #1 for us. We have so many five-star reviews because people really like the work we do.”
He notes, however, because he’s only been open a month or so in Wesley Chapel, he doesn’t have any local reviews yet.
“But every Google review of our Trinity location is 5 stars out of 5,” he says. “We’ve never had a complaint.”Â
Giovanni’s is currently offering a special on luxury vinyl plank installations, but he says he invites anyone in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa who wants any kind of flooring or remodeling job to come in an see the revamped Wesley Chapel showroom.
“We also have a website, which has pictures of the products we offer,” he says, “and a lot of examples of our work.”
For more information about Giovanni’s Flooring, Kitchen & Bath’s Wesley Chapel showroom, which is located at 1285 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., visit GiovanniFlooringLLC.com, call (813) 461-8686. The Wesley Chapel showroom is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. and it is closed on Sunday. For the Trinity location (2932 Little Rd.), call (727) 264-7279.Â
Giovanni’s also has a large selection of pool tiles available, too. Let the experts at Giovanni’s Flooring, Kitchen & Bath design and install the remodeled bathroom (or kitchen) of your dreams.Â
When the new Rodizio Grill® — America’s First Brazilian Steakhouse® — broke ground on May 14, I’m pretty sure I was the only member of the local media — and perhaps the only one of the nearly 100 people who waited on line for a coupon for a free meal at the new location when it is expected to open in about nine months, or sometime in early 2025 — who had already dined at the Rodizio Grill location on Fruitville Rd. in Sarasota. More on my experience at that Rodizio Grill appears below.
Rodizio Grill Founder and President, Ivan Utrera, and local owner, Charlie Haney, invited the community to join the groundbreaking celebration (next to the At Home store) on May 14.Â
Established in 1995, Rodizio Grill was the first Brazilian “churrasco” steakhouse in the United States. Since then, Rodizio Grill has grown into an esteemed national franchise, with nearly 25 locations across the country.Â
Local Owner Charlie Haney
The Wesley Chapel location will mark the brand’s sixth in Florida. At the groundbreaking, Haney echoed the sentiments of Utrera, who said in a news release, “I am beyond thrilled to break ground on our newest Florida location. Wesley Chapel is experiencing tremendous growth and is a coveted destination for residents and tourists alike. We are thrilled to become part of this thriving community.”Â
Haney added, “I was drawn to the Wesley Chapel area for a multitude of reasons. The area is the perfect fusion of suburban serenity and urban accessibility. However, what captivated me was the community: the people are warm and welcoming, neighborly, and joyful. As Ambassadors of Brazil, we aim to welcome the community into Rodizio Grill — our home — and celebrate the ‘alegria,’ or joy, that is the Rodizio Grill experience. I believe our concept and the community will be a natural fit for one another.”
Locally and nationally, Rodizio Grill is known for its playful Brazilian spirit, authentic menu offerings and family-friendly atmosphere. The unique concept features rotisserie-grilled meats, expertly seasoned and carved tableside by traditionally dressed Gauchos. While the meats are the main attraction, they are complemented with an award-winning gourmet salad bar, authentic hot side dishes, fresh-pressed juices, homemade Brazilian Limeades, signature (full-liquor) cocktails and a selection of exclusive, homemade Brazilian desserts. The whole experience comes at a competitive, affordable price so the whole family can celebrate together.Â
Brazil-native Thiago Navarro will be the General Manager of Rodizio Grill’s newest location, bringing with him close to a decade of experience with the brand.
“Having grown up in Brazil, many of my cherished childhood memories took place at our local churrascaria – whether it was celebrating a special occasion or simply spending quality time with my loved ones,” said Navarro. “Rodizio Grill is truly the embodiment of these memories – the traditional fare, the experience with the Gauchos and the fun atmosphere. I am thrilled to represent Brazil here in Wesley Chapel and am excited to share my passion for our culture and our signature Rodizio Grill experience with the community.”
Our Rodizio Grill will be located at 2082 Grand Cypress Drive in Lutz. The 9,250-square foot restaurant — with room for about 300 diners — will feature several private and semi-private event spaces. The restaurant will create upwards of sixty jobs. To learn more, visit Rodizio.com.Â
About My First-Visit Experience
Knowing that the groundbreaking was coming up, I decided to bring my mom to the Rodizio Grill location in Sarasota on Mother’s Day. There was a $10-per-person upcharge for the event, but there also were additional food items included for that higher price: a beef tenderloin carving station, plus two items I couldn’t sample because of my accursed shellfish allergy — large shrimp in garlic sauce (which my mom enjoyed) and lobster bisque.Â
Speaking of the main event, my mom and I agreed that the Maminha (tri-tip steak) was our favorite of the steak options sliced at our table, although we also enjoyed the Picanha (top sirloin) and Bife con Also (steak basted with traditional house garlic rub). My personal favorite of all of the tableside options was the Presunto (ham grilled and basted in a raw sugar glaze), although I did also enjoy the Pernil (roast pork) served with fresh lime wedges).
We definitely didn’t pace ourselves well enough, so we only sampled two chicken dishes — the Coraçao de Franco (chicken hearts) Temperado and the Frangro Agri-Doce (white meat chicken with a sweet and spicy sauce, like a slightly spicier version of Chinese orange chicken.Â
We filled up pretty quickly on all of these options — I hope, the next time I visit, I will do a better job of pacing myself — so we did not try the two different kinds of sausages available, nor did we see any lamb or fresh fish options before we were ready for dessert.
Rodizio Grill offers a nice selection of five desserts, of which we sampled the Romeo e Julieta-style cheesecake and the Torta Brigadeiro (a rich chocolate mousse torte served with sliced bananas and fresh whipped cream). Please note, because we didn’t, that the desserts cost extra — they are not included with your fixed-price meal.
Overall, my mom and I enjoyed our first experience at Rodizio Grill and I am definitely looking forward to the opening of the Wesley Chapel/Lutz location.
