Nibbles & Bites: Now Open: Slim Chickens, Bad Ass Coffee & Sorbo! 

After a few delays, which certainly isn’t unusual here in Pasco County, Slim Chickens (at 27244 Wesley Chapel Blvd.) is finally open and the Arkansas-based chain with 225+ units and many more on the way is definitely worth a try.. 

The trio of partners who opened the Wesley Chapel Slim Chickens — Patrick Lee, Jared Blair and Charlie Blumberg — also have five additional units in development, with the closest planned for Mirada. 

Jannah, Charmaine and I all enjoyed our sampling of the Slim Chickens menu two days before it opened. We loved the hand-breaded chicken & waffles, the crispy and aptly-named chicken tenders (photo, above), the garlicky Texas toast, the super-crisp wings with multiple different sauces (our favorites so far were the honey BBQ and garlic parmesan) and the signature mason jar brownie dessert. And yes, you can take home the mason jar! 

For more info, visit SlimChickens.com or call (813) 923-7727. 

It Is Bad Ass! 

If you’re like me and crave delicious coffee from someplace other than the “S” word, I definitely recommend visiting the new Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, located inside the same Shell gas station that already is home to a Taco Bus location, at 25195 S.R. 54, where it meets S.R. 56 and Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Lutz. 

Owners Jillian (with Minnie Mouse, the Sicilian mini-donkey, in the photo, left) and Christopher Bruckner, who also own the adjacent Taco Bus, are excited about the response so far from the community. 

And, please don’t be offended by the name. Born on the shores of The Big Island in our 50th state, the coffee is named for the stubborn donkeys who originally carried the coffee down the steep mountains. 

Whether you love the name or hate it, the chain’s 30 locations serve delicious coffee and other beverages as well as a variety of breakfast and dessert items. My favorite beverage so far is the hot Caramel Wave with both caramel and vanilla flavors, while Jannah is partial to the iced blended Chai tea. We both enjoyed the cinnamon Malasada donuts and bacon, egg & cheese breakfast sandwich. We haven’t yet sampled the lunch sandwiches. For more information about Bad Ass Coffee, call (813) 949-2428 or visit BadAssCoffee.com. 

Sorbo Opens On BBD! 

Those who have more upscale taste in coffee and tea but also are partial to baked goods and wine can check out the new Sorbo at 2653 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. Owned by the same owners as Umu Japanese & Thai in the same plaza across from Advent Health Wesley Chapel, Sorbo (right) specializes in Matcha teas, espresso beverages and Refreshers. We’ve only sampled the tasty cappuccino and green matcha tea so far. For info, visit SorboWesleyChapel.com or call (813) 428-5396. 

Shuckin’ Shack: Now Serving Fresh American Seafood! 

The only people who have been waiting for the opening of the 20th Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar (at 25026 Wesley Chapel Blvd. extension) longer than yours truly are the people in the top photo — (l.-r.) co-owners Bill DiPaola and Brad Harper, GM Alie Ragsdale, manager Shane Cllett & kitchen manager Hunter Tilton. 

Well, the wait is over and all I can say is that I genuinely like the North Carolina-based chain. The casual new eatery had only been open a couple of weeks at our press time, but Jannah and I had already sampled quite a few tasty — and properly priced — items, including (left) excellent steamed snow crab legs, (bottom, right) blackened mahi-mahi tacos and steamed local clams. Photographer Charmaine George said the “Greggah” lobster roll sandwich also was spot on. But, my favorite item so far has been the clam-loaded New England-style clam “chowda.” Trust me, this is not just potato soup with a bite or two of clams. So good! 

Jannah and I already feel very much at home at the spacious bar (below left), which has plenty of TVs, full premium alcohol and specialty drinks, as well as beer and wine, just in time for football and hockey seasons! For more info, visit TheShuckinShack.com or call (813) 949-0016. 

Business Briefs — Updates On Crunch Fitness & Sana Dental + Medspa! 

The new Crunch Fitness is going directly next to Ace Hardware in the Wesley Chapel Village Market, in the space formerly occupied by Bealls Outlet, which closed during the summer of 2022 (after a new one opened nearby at the Grove). But, about a year later (May of 2023), Crunch submitted plans to Pasco County for approval. 

The new Crunch will be 33,000 sq. ft. and construction is ongoing, but the current plan is for it to open at the end of this fall. 

This location will be Crunch’s 12th in the Tampa Bay area, with close to 450 locations nationwide. 

In front of the site at the plaza, Crunch’s management sets up a tent every day to answer questions and sign people up to the fitness facility’s email system. 

Jay Valez, the assistant general manager, says that the new Crunch is getting ready for a cyber pre-sale “rate reservation,” where membership plans will be offered for as little as $9.99 per month for a basic membership (normally $14.99/month) and $19.99 for the full membership (normally $29.99/month). 

The first 500 to sign up also will receive a $1 “Joining Fee” on Crunch Wesley Chapel’s “cyber sale day,” which is has not yet been announced, as well as receive their first month free, plus “merch” and other discounts. 

Plus, if you are one of the first 500 members, these “Founders Rates” will be for the lifetime of your membership. An email will be sent out to those who have signed up, letting them know when the one-day sale will be. All Crunch memberships are individually priced, with no family plans offered. Full membership includes access to all available classes, including Zumba, Yoga, Pilates, Cycle, and HIIT Classes, which their website says is a, “high intensity training program unlike any other.” 

Valez says that Crunch plans to offer 55 -60 mixed classes a week, with some starting in the early morning hours, early enough to allow workouts before work. 

For more info, call the Wesley Chapel Crunch at (813) 587-2714 or email Sidney@CRfitness.com. 

Spotlight On: Sana Dental Studio + MedSpa! 
(L.-r.) Tara Clark, Dana Carter, Dr. Sana Yusuf & Jenn Link of Sana Dental Studio + Medspa. 

The renowned Sana Dental Studio + Medspa is thrilled to announce its grand expansion, bringing a wave of excitement to beauty and wellness enthusiasts across Wesley Chapel. The latest addition to their services is the exclusive “Sana Squad” membership, offering an array of unbeatable deals on Botox, Fillers, Lasers, Expert Opinions and Medical-Grade Skin Care. 

Members of the “Sana Squad” will have access to the latest in aesthetic enhancements. Botox treatments, known for their remarkable ability to smooth wrinkles and lines, are now within reach for those seeking a youthful, rejuvenated appearance. Additionally, premium fillers are available to enhance lips, cheeks, and facial contours with expert precision. 

Sana Dental Studio + Medspa’s expanded services also include state-of-the-art laser treatments. Whether you’re looking to remove unwanted hair, reduce the appearance of scars, or rejuvenate your skin’s texture, the spa’s advanced laser technology is designed to meet your unique needs. 

The “Sana Squad” membership extends beyond treatments. Members will receive expert opinions and personalized care plans tailored to their specific goals. The experienced team at Sana Medspa is dedicated to helping clients achieve their desired results while ensuring a comfortable and informed experience. 

Sana Medpsa’s commitment to excellence in aesthetics and wellness has made it a trusted destination for those seeking top-notch treatments and personalized care, led by Sana Yusuf, DMD. The introduction of the “Sana Squad” membership is a testament to their dedication to providing accessible, high-quality services to their valued clients. 

To learn more about the exclusive “Sana Squad” membership and the exciting expansion of Sana Dental Studio + Medspa, visit SanaDentalStudio.com, stop by the spa at 5728 Post Oak Blvd., or see the ad at the bottom of this page. Beauty, confidence and wellness await you. 

Need An IT Expert For Your Home Or Business? Try NerdsToGo! 

(L.-r.) NerdsToGo New Tampa operations supervisor Angie Bosley, owner Michael Varnadore and certified IT tech Abhishek Singhai look forward to serving your personal and business technical needs at the store in the Pebble Creek Collection. (Photos by Charmaine George)

In the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, there is no shortage of places that claim to be able to fix a broken device, such as mobile phone, laptop or computer. 

But, NerdsToGo is the only one owned and run by Michael Varnadore, a U.S. Air Force veteran with four decades of experience and education that have all dovetailed into his latest endeavor. 

Michael enlisted in the U.S. Air Force right out of high school, four days after his 18th birthday. Of his 20-year military career, he says that 15 were spent in computer service, including teaching his entire squadron how to use personal computers when they received them while stationed in Korea. 

Along the way, he earned a Bachelor’s degree and went on to receive a Doctorate degree in information systems management. 

After retiring from the military, Michael started his second career at an aerospace corporation. He served as director of personal computing, responsible for 80,000 end points (personal computers and laptops). After nearly two decades, he retired again, and that’s when he decided to take all of the knowledge he had gained to start something new, as the local franchise owner for NerdsToGo, located in the Pebble Creek Collection plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. 

“Everything I’ve done — starting with working on my first Tandy 1000 in 1986 — has led to where I’m at today,” Michael says, “it’s been a progression of skill sets and responsibilities, and I’m still learning.” 

He teaches, too, as a college professor teaching introductory computer classes at Hillsborough Community College and University of Maryland online. 

Those decades of experience and extensive education have given Michael the expertise to help both consumers and businesses with any computer or IT issue that may arise. 

Since opening the business in 2019, Michael says he’s proud that his small business has served the needs of the New Tampa area and has racked up more than 150 5-star reviews on Google, and an average of 4.9 stars out of 5. 

“As a small business, I don’t have any way to brush off bad reviews,” he says. “We have very few untrue or unfair reviews.” 

NerdsToGo is a growing franchise, with about 35 locations nationwide. 

Michael explains that when you hire NerdsToGo, you’re hiring an IT specialist, and he and his staff provide the expertise to fix your problem. 

Got a cracked phone screen? Bring it in. NerdsToGo can fix most devices and even has a special laser to remove the back glass off iPhones. Without that laser, Michael says, it can take hours to try to pry it off by hand because of the strong glue that holds it in place. At NerdsToGo, repairs are quick and you can generally get your phone back within a couple of hours. 

Virus on your computer? Michael says this is a big issue these days. You clicked on something you didn’t realize was a scam and now you’re having all kinds of problems with your computer? He and the other “nerds” at NerdsToGo know exactly what to do to get rid of any signs of the problem you encountered. 

Michael says he also often helps people upgrade computers that are running slow. It can cost hundreds if not thousands of dollars to replace a computer, but Nerds ToGo can offer upgrades that will keep your computer running efficiently for years without having to buy a whole new system. 

NerdAssure For Business 

But, don’t just think of NerdsToGo for your own personal needs. 

As a small business owner, Michael knows all too well just how many hats have to be worn and how many things small business owners have to become experts in just to get by. 

He promises that those who own small businesses don’t have to learn to be IT experts, as Nerds ToGo’s exclusive NerdAssure program will manage all information technology services for you. 

He says the service uses software to monitor machines for performance and fix hardware before it breaks, along with providing antivirus services, cloud backup to ensure all data and email is backed up and recoverable in case of a problem, and the administration of some kind of office productivity software, which could be Office 365 or something else. 

He says this includes making sure everyone has access to the things they should and not to the things they shouldn’t. 

“For businesses that have no IT department or person, we can remotely manage and monitor the environment,” Michael explains. “For those who have a person or small department, this service complements that and takes a lot of work off their shoulders.” 

That’s how it works at Ridge Manor Christian Academy, where assistant principal Nathan Puentes is responsible for the school’s IT but can’t do it by himself. 

“We’ve worked with five different companies over the last 13 years, and before NerdsToGo, no one was as accessible to us as we needed them to be,” Nathan says. “When something goes wrong, we can’t wait days for it to get fixed. Our students need their devices working immediately.” 

He says that, for the past three years, working with NerdsToGo has met all of the school’s needs and has performed beyond their expectations. 

“These guys are amazing,” he says. “They are performing updates, identifying issues in the system, getting the right people right away to solve problems.” 

NerdsToGo is located at 19651 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Suite C6. The store is open Monday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit NerdsToGo.com, call (813) 321-1700.

Business Briefs — Hobby Town USA To The Grove; The Spa At Saddlebrook Cuts A Ribbon 

Although The Grove at Wesley Chapel already has a Michael’s Arts & Crafts and there also is a Hobby Lobby store on the north side of S.R. 56, a lot of locals are excited that HobbyTown USA is opening in The Grove. 

Whereas Hobby Lobby and Michael’s are both much more crafts-oriented, HobbyTown USA is a much more male-skewing hobby store, focusing mainly on model airplanes, boats, cars, trucks, drones, helicopters, rockets and toys. 

Hobby Town USA, which has more than 125 stores in 39 states (with the closest location being on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Carrollwood; photo left), will move into the former Bed, Bath & Beyond space at The Grove. We had not yet heard of an opening date for the Wesley Chapel location. 

Esthetics813 Cuts A Ribbon At The Spa At Saddlebrook 

Although, as we reported several issues ago, Saddlebrook Resort is currently undergoing major renovations, we send out our congratulations go out to Esthetics813 (located at 1051 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) at owner Kyymara Rosey, who recently reopened the long-dormant 7,000-sq.ft. Spa at Saddlebrook Resort (5700 Saddlebrook Way). 

Kyymara and her husband Kurt Wickiser hosted a well-attended North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 8 (top photo), with tours of the many treatment rooms, where both hotel guests and locals can receive a variety of luxurious spa services — from massages, facials and skin treatments to waxing services, microdermabrasion, brow sculpting, spray tans and many more. There’s even a Far Infrared Wellness Sauna (right), hair salon cuts and blowouts, separate men’s and women’s dressing rooms and much more. 

For more information about the The Spa at Saddlebrook Resort, call (813) 474-4486 or visit spa-at-saddlebrook—esthetics813.square.site and please tell Kyymara and her crew that we sent you! — GN 

Tell Us Your Favorite Asian Restaurant In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel! 

We are giving you another chance to win a FREE dining prize of $100, $60 or $35 to the restaurant of your choice! One entry per person, per question. Please vote for your Favorite Asian Restaurant in (or near) New Tampa & Wesley Chapel by clicking HERE!

Even if you have already entered before, you can still enter and win free dining by also telling us your Favorite Asian Restaurant — which can be Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, Indian or serve a fusion of more than one of those cuisine types — in (or near) New Tampa & Wesley Chapel. 

Each time you answer a different Dining Survey question, you’ll receive an additional chance to win one of our FREE dining prizes â€” to the restaurant of your choice located anywhere in the Tampa Bay area! You all love free dining, right? 

Note — Please don’t forget that we include restaurants located in Lutz (either on Wesley Chapel Blvd., S.R. 56 or S.R. 54, within two miles of I-75) as Wesley Chapel eateries; and those located in the Palms Connection Plaza on E. Bearss Ave. and the Oak Ramble Plaza on BBD Blvd. (both are located in zip code 33613) as acceptable places to vote for in New Tampa. 

Please also be sure to completely fill out the entry forms, whether from our print publications, on our website or by email, because we have had a few people — out of more than 1,000 total entries so far — try to enter with just their first name only, and another who took the time to send us an entry without naming any restaurants. 

Despite those issues, it definitely appears (as we expected) that more of you like this year’s format — with individual questions for you to answer in each issue — than in the recent past, when we asked you to answer the same full page of questions across multiple issues. 

Remember, whether you enter by mail, email or on our website, there is never any purchase necessary to enter and win, but we do need your first AND last name, the community you live in, your daytime telephone number and a valid email address to be eligible to win any of our FREE dining prizes — and please enter all of your Survey entries by no later than November 1 to be eligible to win prizes!

As always, there’s no purchase necessary to enter or win a prize. All we ask is that you follow the following rules: 

1. Enter by filling out the entry form in the issue or HERE!

2. You can mail us your filled-out entry form (send it to “2023 Neighborhood News Dining Contest,” 2604 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Suite 102D, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544) or email it to us at Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com. *Note-Entries filled out on our website do not need to be mailed or emailed to us. 

3. Please check the addresses and zip codes of the restaurants you choose, as we will only consider votes for restaurants in zip code 33543, 33544 and 33545 (Wesley Chapel), 33647, the portion of zip code 33559 (Lutz) and in the Oak Ramble Plaza (33613) as valid votes.

4. In order to be eligible to win any of our free dining prizes to the restaurant of your choice, your entry form with a response to at least one of our questions over the next five months must include your full name, the community you live in (Hunter’s Green, Grand Hampton, etc.), a daytime phone number where you can be reached and your valid email address.

We look forward to seeing how this year’s contest shakes out. Good luck! â€” GN