The North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) stayed busy in November, with its annual Excellence in Business awards gala at Treble Makers on Nov. 17 (which we featured in our Nov 28 Wesley Chapel issue), as well as three ribbon-cutting events that didn’t make it into our print editions.
On Nov. 2, the Wesley Chapel Contract Postal Unit (CPU) on S.R. 54, which has been open for a few months now, celebrated with an NTBC ribbon cutting. Owner Jevon Willians provided free food and beverages for about 40 guests and introduced attendees to the CPU’s many services, all of which are available at regular U.S. Post Office prices. For more information, call (813) 994-7522.
On Nov. 8, the StoreRightSelf Storage facility, located on Crystal Grove Blvd. (near the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 41 and Sunset Lane) in Lutz, introduced attendees to its 749 storage units, most of which are climate-controlled. Store Right also is opening a similar-sized storage facility the second week in December next to the new El Dorado furniture store near the intersection of S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel Blvd. and S.R. 56 in Land O’Lakes. For more info, call (813) 567-8100 or visit StoreRight.com.
And, on Nov. 14, owner Gail Sickler’s Sustain M.E. on S.R. 56 (in the same plaza as Capital Tacos & Touch Nail Spa) officially finalized its re-branding of the store that previously was a location of Lüfka Refillables Zero Waste Store with its own NTBC ribbon-cutting event. The revamped refillables and health & beauty products store features a similar variety of all-natural products as did Lüfka, but with new products that are all locally sourced. For more info, call (8130 812-8219 or visit SustainMotherEarth.com.
Antony Capers and Grand Hampton kids perform a pre-movie dance number. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Congratulations to local artist and filmmaker Antony Capers (photo, below) for the splashy Oct. 18 premiere at the historic Tampa Theatre (in downtown Tampa) of his YouTube horror serial “Grand Hampton The Movie Series.”
What started as a pandemic project with his family and neighbors in their New Tampa neighborhood has grown into a multi-year endeavor with a loyal cult following. The series takes place in Capers’ upscale Grand Hampton neighborhood that — the viewer soon discovers — was built by “The CONNECTED” solely for the purpose of housing citizens within the government’s witness protection program.
Capers was excited to pose in front of the Tampa Theatre’s marquee before the premiere.
The community has been experiencing some very odd occurrences, and — even more alarming — extraterrestrial beings have been seen roaming the quiet neighborhood’s streets.
Beginning with Season 3, the series began branching out to discover the dark stories of so many of Grand Hampton’s residents. And, as someone who attended the premiere of the “ANTHOLOGY” of new chapters that bring three of these stories to life, I have to say that I came away impressed with Capers and his talented, all-volunteer cast’s efforts.
Jannah, Charmaine, her boyfriend Brendan and I were on hand to find out what happens in the world’s craziest house in “ABBY.” Then, we witnessed the bond being broken between two brothers as they became part of an experiment in “PLACEBO.” And finally, we get to play a game of “SPIN THE BARREL,” where the winner actually loses.
Members of the cast of ‘ANTHOLOGY” answer questions after the new trilogy of “Grand Hampton The Movie Series” episodes was premiered at the historic Tampa Theatre.
After the screening, Capers, the “Grand Hampton” creator, and members of his cast stuck around and discussed the project and answered audience questions. Capers said that Grand Hampton is a community where, “anything can happen and I believe ‘ANTHOLOGY’ proves that.”
“ANTHOLOGY” is part of the historic — and reportedly haunted — Tampa Theatre’s annual “A Nightmare on Franklin Street” film series, which concludes tonight (Oct. 31) with a showing of the original “Halloween.”
“Grand Hampton The Movie Series,” which participated in the Orlando International Film Festival (OIFF) in July, has been at the Tampa Theatre before, as Capers and his crew of talented actors not only got to present his “Super Vita” movie-length episode but also film a portion of it there.
Among those who have provided cameos in the series to date include New Tampa’s District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera and former Tampa Bay Bucs offensive lineman and local radio/ podcast host Ian Beckles, who was chilling and cool in “SPIN THE BARREL.”
The premiere of “ANTHOLOGY” also included lengthy “commercials” from Capers’ sponsors, including EmployEZ, UES-United Employment Solutions, Done Deal Promotions and “Aliens of the Metaverse,” as well as a dance number with Capers and about a dozen Grand Hampton kids, ages 6-12.
All “Grand Hampton The Movie Series” episodes are available on YouTube.
As you drive eastbound on S.R. 56, past the main entrance to the Tampa Premium Outlets (at Grand Cypress Dr., between BJ’s Brewhouse and Cheddar’s), you may not realize that there is another mall entrance (above photo) that currently offers a right-in-only turn just before you reach Rock & Brews (below photo). Pasco County, FDOT, Sierra Properties & Raysor Transportation Consulting are looking into adding a lane that would provide vehicles with another way to exit the mall and get on I-75 southbound. (Photos by Charmaine George
Although we went to press with this issue the weekend before Black Friday, I am among the few local residents who avoids the Tampa Premium Outlets like the plague during the holiday shopping season.
Even though I hope both local shopping malls have a successful year, I just don’t have the patience to fight the traffic entering and exiting the outlet mall during the weeks leading up to Christmas. Case in point, despite the diverging diamond interchange (DDI) being pretty much fully open at S.R. 56 and I-75 last year at this time, the traffic getting both into and out of the Outlets was brutal.
I remember wondering to myself, “Why can’t someone look into adding at least another way to exit the mall?” And the corollary, “Why can’t they improve the interior roads at the mall to better handle the traffic?”
Well, it looks as though someone is trying the do something about it, which surely won’t be able to help the holiday traffic flow this year or probably even next year, but at least it’s becoming a possibility.
Mike Raysor, the president/owner of Raysor Traffic Consulting, LLC, says his company has been retained to study the possibility of adding a right-turn-out exit from, adjacent to the right-turn-in entrance to, the mall. Raysor is studying the possible effects not only on mall traffic but at the DDI itself, since the exit from the mall would put those exiting vehicles in what is now two entrance lanes to get onto southbound I-75.
Pasco County, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and Sierra Properties, which has developed not only the outlet mall itself but also the development both north and south of S.R. 56 between I-75 and Wesley Chapel Blvd., are all working with Raysor’s company to study the potential effects, not only on traffic flow but also on safety, since adding the new mall exit would have an effect not only on southbound I-75, but also on vehicles attempting to head eastbound S.R. 56 and even some trying to cross enough lanes of traffic to get on northbound I-75 once they’ve exited the Outlets.
Raysor also has retained former FDOT transportation engineer Joel Provenzano to help with the traffic studies. Provenzano, who also provides editorial research for this publication, was unable to help with this story because of his new consulting position.
Provenzano was with FDOT when the “Mall Entrance” sign shown in the photo above left was erected at the right-in-only turn near Rock & Brews, in an effort to keep at least some traffic away from the mall’s main entrance at Grand Cypress Dr.
Unfortunately, Raysor says, that additional entrance hasn’t done as much as it possibly might have had there also been a right-out-exit at the same location. “A lot of people don’t even realize that entrance is there,” Raysor says, “but more people might recognize it as an entrance if there also was a way out of the mall in the same area.”
We’ll keep you posted as to the outcome of the study. In the meantime, can someone please look into closing off the median and the left turn at BJ’s right after you enter at the light at Grand Cypress or at least cut the hedges at that median to increase visibility?
The original Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run will again be held at the Tampa Premium Outlets tomorrow — Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23, at 7:30 a.m. If you scan the code shown here before 7 p.m. tonight, you can still get in on the pre-race-day pricing.
Every 100th finisher of the 5K will win a FREE pair of shoes from Fleet Feet (located next to Sprouts on Hunter’s Village Dr.) and long-sleeve shirts are still available if you register now.
The Wiregrass Wobble, the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel area’s original pre-feast calorie burn, will again benefit the New Tampa Family YMCA in Tampa Palms.
Its unique fusion of Italian and Southern cuisine has made Noble Crust in The Shops at Wiregrass the winner of our readers’ Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel for three consecutive years. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Since it only has three locations — Wesley Chapel, Carrollwood and the original in St. Pete — you can’t really call Noble Crust a chain.
What you can call it, however, is a three-peat winner as our readers’ Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel. Noble Crust, which is known for its Southern-inspired Italian fare, craft cocktails and great vibe, has been in our readers’ top-5 every year since it opened in the Shops at Wiregrass in 2017, and has taken home top honors for 2021, 2022 & 2023.
Although runner-up finisher Azteca D’Oro (see below) had the most first-place votes, Noble Crust had more 2nd-, 3rd-, 4th- and 5th-place votes than any other Wesley Chapel restaurant this year to secure the top spot with our readers.
Although it has been open in the Shops at Wiregrass less than a year, Azteca D’Oro’s monster burritos helped make it our readers’ Second Favorite Restaurant in Wesley Chapel for 2023.
A family-owned mini-chain with eight other locations from New Smyrna Beach to Lakeland, Azteca D’Oro opened in the Shops at Wiregrass earlier this year to mostly rave reviews and came within a few points of winning the top spot with our readers in its first year here.
Azteca D’Oro’s quality, authentic Mexican cuisine and huge portions helped the newcomer earn the most first-place votes of the more than 500 Neighborhood News readers who voted in this category this year and it might have finished ahead of Noble Crust had it had as many 2nd-5th-place votes.
Grillsmith has been in our readers’ top-10 Favorite Restaurants in Wesley Chapel every year it has been open, and it gives the mall a clean sweep of the top-3 this year.
Another perennial favorite, this five-location mini-chain has finished in our readers’ top-10 every year since it opened (including first-place honors as recently as 2020), Grillsmith’s third-place finish this year gives the Shops at Wiregrass a clean sweep of the top-three spots in this year’s survey.
The restaurant’s fairly-priced American fare, like its “short-trip fresh fish,” and comfortable bar continue to attract fans among our readers.
Although it’s never finished in the top-10 at its newer location on S.R. 56 before, this former two-time Readers Survey winner jumped up to #3 this year, thanks in part to its revamped menu.
With nearly 200 locations nationwide, Bonefish is a full-fledged chain known for its fresh seafood, like the bang-bang shrimp shown here.
Jumping up from its #19 finish with our readers last year (and #14 in 2021), Zukku-San on S.R. 56 is an upscale, family-owned Japanese restaurant with a premium full-liquor bar and delicious food.
Starting with just a sushi “stall” at Tampa’s Armature Works, Zukku-San has added a full location in North Carolina and another fast casual concept called Ato at the KRATE Container Park at The Grove.
It was only open for a short time when most of our readers submitted their ballots last year, so it came in at #25, but this upscale addition to The Shops at Wiregrass obviously pleased a lot of locals this year.
The original Living Room in downtown Dunedin is a perennial favorite, and the Wesley Chapel location being voted Best Pasco Restaurant by Creative Loafing readers probably didn’t hurt its recognition factor with our readers this year.
Jumping up from #11 with our readers in 2021, BJ’s is another full-fledged chain with more than 200 U.S. locations that is still serving a wide variety of favorites, despite obviously reducing its number of menu options over the past year.
Its ideal location in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets on S.R. 56 definitely helps keep the parking lot and wait list full at our local BJ’s and its fair pricing and premium full-liquor bar has helped keep it among our readers’ favorites
Like BJ’s Brewhouse, Bahama Breeze didn’t crack the top-25 when we asked readers for one list of favorites among all Wesley Chapel and New Tampa restaurants last year, but it was #7 in Wesley Chapel in 2021, the last time we split our areas into separate votes, as we did this year.
This 43-unit chain still attracts plenty of locals with its island-inspired fare.
This is by far Ford’s Garage’s highest finish with our readers since 2019, when it finished 11th.
The 22-location chain, which utilizes the Ford Motor Company’s logo, is located on the north side of S.R. 56 and features a wide variety of hand-crafted burgers and other better-than-the-average-burger-place food, plus a full-liquor bar.
Bubba’s 33, the 27-unit sports bar chain from our friends at Texas Roadhouse, is another eatery that has finished higher with our readers this year than in any of the last five years.
Bubba’s has been a solid top-20 finisher with our readers most years, but its combination of great food, sports and music videos attracted its most votes ever.
