Total Wine, Spirits, Beer & More!
You long-time readers know how bummed out I was about the closing of the old Earth Fare “green” grocery store on the north side of S.R. 56 at Wesley Chapel Blvd. And, while many had hoped that Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s would open in that space, I continue to be excited that a new Total Wine, Spirits, Beer & More has now opened in that location.
I did a Facebook Live video that received several thousand views in front of the store the morning Total Wine opened and there’s no doubt that the 15,734 different options (over 8,000 wines, nearly 5,000 spirits and 2,700 beers) inside are all at or near the lowest prices you’ll find anywhere.
Store manager Albie Johnson Escoto, who came from Total Wine’s Clearwater location, said she “jumped at the chance” to open and manage the new store in our area — and I may be about the only person as or more excited than Albie, although Total Wine’s happy, friendly staff is right up there, too.
I picked up some outstanding Grand Opening deals on Opening Day, including a 750-ml bottle of my favorite value Irish whiskey, Wolfhound, for only $16.99, plus great deals on Italian reds like Barolo and Amarone, French Meursault (white burgundy) and so much more. And, while they didn’t advertise the deals in this publication, the American bourbons, in particular, appeared to be flying off the shelves.
Hopefully, Total Wine’s marketing department will see fit to advertise some of its upcoming Tastings and other special events in these pages. Total Wine & More is located at 25535 Sierra Center Blvd. and is open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. every day (until 11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.). For more info, visit TotalWine.com or call (813) 435-1207 — and tell Albie and her staff I sent you! — GN
Ice Dreammm -mmm-good!
Shortly after Falabella Family Bistro opened in The Grove, owner Joe Schembri (photo above) opened his second location of the Ice Dreammm Shop directly across from Falabella in the Village at The Grove plaza.
Featuring the same creamy, delicious homemade ice cream (including those amazing alcohol-infused flavors for adults only) as in the original Ice Dreammm Shop on S.R. 54 in Lutz, Schembri promises that the new location will soon add more freshly baked goodies to go with the decadent chocolate chip cookies, hand-made waffle cones, hand-spun shakes and dairy- and gluten-free ice cream options to the mix at the new location.
“Ice cream is my passion,” Schembri says. “I gave up my corporate job (to do this) and I’m excited to scoop for everyone in the Wesley Chapel community.”
The new Ice Dreammm Shop (6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., #101) is open every day 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (& until 10 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.). For info, visit icedreammmshop.com or call (813) 586-3767. — GN
Congrats To Our SVB Contest Winner!
Congratulations to the super-excited winner of our Sarah Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis & Wellness Center contest winner — Jennifer Pedraza of Avalon Park West!
When she picked up her prize package valued at more than $500 at our office, Jennifer told us that she’s been wanting to “check out the new tennis center in our community.”
She also was thrilled that, in addition to winning a 60-minute massage and a 25-minute Salt Room session, plus brunch for two at the Vesh Bistro (that we reviewed in our last issue) and an SVB “swag bag” (which included an SVB logo mask, Mahala cup, lipstick, sunstick, black cup & borosilicate verre water bottle) for herself, she was happiest to receive one week of Recreational Kids Summer Camp for her son.
If you didn’t win the contest, check out all there is to offer at the SVB Tennis & Wellness Center, located less than 20 minutes from most of Wesley Chapel (at 6585 Simons Rd. in Zephyrhills) — from the amazing variety of tennis courts, to the padel and pickleball courts and the delicious Vesh Bistro for breakfast, lunch, weekend brunch or dinner.
For more info, call (813) 361-6660 or visit SVBTennisCenter.com. — GN
Coming Soon!
Although we still don’t know exactly when it is expected to open, the Miller’s Ale House to be located on the south side of S.R. 54, across the Wesley Chapel Blvd. Extension from Aldi, the Tidal Wave Car Wash & and the soon-to-open Zaxby’s chicken restaurant, has now gone vertical. We’ll keep you posted with any news we receive about the new Ale House. — GN
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