Those eager for a green grocer or something other than a Publix in the area, your best bet might be a future grocery store planned for Curley Rd. near the Epperson MetroLagoon.
Plans are in the final stage of permitting to begin a commercial project located at Curley Rd. and Overpass Rd., at the entrance to Wesley Chapel’s lagoon community neighborhood.
Originally reported in December 2019, the project will include an unnamed 55,401-sq.-ft. grocery store with 4,200-sq.-ft. of additional attached retail. The 35-acre site also includes an additional outparcel for future development.
Also at Epperson, the 7.5-acre MetroLagoon itself is getting some upgrades. An expansion of the amenities will include a 4,500-sq.-ft. clubhouse located at the north end of the lagoon, a 700-sq.-ft. restroom building centrally located on the east side of the lagoon (adjacent to the Epperson Lagoon Townhomes), five gazebo/pavilion shade structures, 97 additional parking spaces and 96 golf cart parking spaces.
SPORTS COMPETITION
Academy Sports + Outdoors (AS + O) has been one of the longest-rumored stores coming to the Cypress Creek Town Center North area. It was on some of the original maps touting the area long before many of the businesses that are up and running were ever mentioned. And finally, it’s just about here.
One of the nation’s largest sporting goods and outdoor sellers, AS + O is in permitting to open a 63,700-sq.-ft. store on the same lot as (and adjacent to) PopStroke, which already is under construction, behind the Chipotle and Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar on the north side of S.R. 56, across from the Tampa Premium Outlets.
AS + O, headquartered in Katy, TX, a suburb of Houston, has more than 260 stores, and says on its website that its 2021 sales exceeded $6.77 billion.
Academy is similar to DICK’s Sporting Goods, selling a variety of hunting, fishing, and camping gear, along with name-brand sports equipment and apparel, footwear and bikes.
The sporting goods chain opened its most recent store in Panama City, FL, but the Wesley Chapel location will be just the second in the Tampa Bay area and the 15th in Florida.
The first Tampa Bay store, in Pinellas Park, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The Wesley Chapel location will open sometime in 2023.
“Tampa Bay is not only known for its enthusiastic sports fan base but also boasts renowned fishing, beaches and outdoor activities,” said Sam Johnson, Academy’s executive vice president of retail operations. “Whether you’re soaking up the sun on the beach, hitting the bay, or heading to a Lightning game, our team is eager to serve the local community and make it easier to have fun and gear up by providing great value and unmatched service.”
AS + O is one of a number of businesses coming up in the coming months near the Wesley Chapel Blvd. and S.R. 56/54 intersection, such as St. Luke’s Eye Center (next to Miller’s Ale House), El Dorado Furniture (across S.R. 56 from Miller’s, which is opening soon), Chicken Salad Chick (next to Zaxby’s; see story on pg. 44) and Harley Davidson of Wesley Chapel less than a half-mile north of 56 on Wesley Chapel Blvd.
DONE DEAL!
It’s official — Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant is coming to Wiregrass Ranch.
While we first told you back in early June that it was coming, the much-anticipated eatery finally submitted its plans to Pasco County in July for a 10,570-sq.-ft. restaurant. It will be located at the northwest corner of S.R. 56 and Lajuana Blvd. (the road that leads to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County), just east of the existing Culver’s restaurant.
According to its website, since it was founded in 2005 in Illinois by CEO Tim McEnery as that state’s first winery/restaurant, Cooper’s Hawk has received more than 500 wine awards from various local, national, and international wine competitions.
In 2021, Copper’s Hawk was named by USA Today as the top winery restaurant in the U.S. in a reader’s survey.
It is expected to open in Wiregrass Ranch sometime in mid-2023.
NEW CONVENIENCES
There are two Daybreak Market & Fuel convenience stores now either under construction or in permitting in Wesley Chapel.
One location is at the southeast corner of S.R. 54 and New River Rd., and a second store is being built at the corner of Hueland Pond Blvd. and S.R. 56, right across Hueland Blvd. from where the new Orlando Hospital Wiregrass Ranch (see story on pg. 4) will be located.
Both convenience stores will be roughly 4,800-sq.ft. Daybreak Market & Fuel was founded in 2019, and has six current locations, three of them in Port Charlotte, FL.
Daybreak Market & Fuel carries 76® fuel, which it touts as being top of the line.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
We’re not sure if the name is staying the same, but the Wesley Chapel Latin Market is being built on S.R. 54.
The only thing is, despite its name, the market is located in Zephyrhills, at 35500 S.R. 54.
However, it’s just a short drive (a little more than a mile) east of Wesley Chapel, and will be the area’s first Latin market. The 12,000-sq.-ft. market is in permitting, and there are no other details available at our press time.
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