Cookie Plug Opens 3rd Florida Storefront In The Village At The Grove! 

Nicole (left) and Sommer Cholnik were first in line to buy a dozen cookies at the new Cookie Plug store in The Grove at Wesley Chapel on June 28. (Photos by Charmaine George)

Cookie Plug, an edgy, innovative bakery with more than 25 locations nationwide (and growing), has opened its newest storefront in The Village at The Grove at 6013 Wesley Chapel Grove Blvd., Suite 102 (next to the Ice Dreammm Shop). A nice crowd of locals lined up outside the new Cookie Plug at 11 a.m. on June 28, where they received free samples of the different flavors. There also was a DJ and a great Opening Day special — eight free giant-sized cookies when you purchased four, plus a drink. 

Cookie Plug Wesley Chapel is owned and operated by Florida resident David Johnson, who says he is eager to introduce the uniqueness of the bakery to locals. With support from his wife Jackie, Johnson plans to open more locations in the state, including one in Highwoods Preserve in New Tampa, which is at least a couple of months behind the Wesley Chapel store. 

“I was initially drawn to the creativity of the concept and the nod to hip-hop culture that Cookie Plug brings to the table, but then, the minute I tasted the cookies, I was hooked,” Johnson said in a press release. “We are particularly excited to serve the Wesley Chapel community in a space that is surrounded by thriving businesses, shops and homes. We are eager to bring this sweet addition to the area, offering thick-cut cookies in a variety of flavors that are unlike anything else you can get in Tampa Bay and beyond.” 

Originally founded in Riverside, CA, in 2019, Cookie Plug was inspired by graffiti and street art with the aim to add a unique twist to the conventional bakery. Offering cookies made fresh daily that are part cake, part brownie, part cookie and 100% delicious, the brand’s inventive menu offers 12 different flavors, including: s’mores, chocolate chip, sugar, triple chocolate, strawberry cheesecake (Charmaine and I both loved this one), red velvet, snickerdoodle and two rotating flavors, including this months “Black Ops,” the brownie-flavored cookie with red, white & blue star sprinkles shown in the box held by Nicole and Sommer Cholnik, who were first in line on June 28. 

Cookie Plug also has keto cookie options available, as well as mini “plug popper” cookies, ice cream sandwiches and custom cakes to satisfy any sweet tooth. 

“We have an incredible product and I can’t wait for locals in Wesley Chapel and Tampa Bay to experience it for themselves,” said David Denker, president and chief growth officer of Cookie Plug. 

Cookie Plug Wesley Chapel is open Mon.-Thur., noon-11 p.m.; noon-midnight on Fri. & Sat.; & noon- 9 p.m. on Sun. For more info, follow Cookie Plug on Instagram or Facebook @cookie.plug or visit CookiePlug.com/wesleychapel. For franchising opportunities, visit Franchise.CookiePlug.com. — GN 

WCTG Presents A “One-Act (Play) Festival” 

Theater lovers: mark your calendars for an afternoon of creativity, laughter, and powerful storytelling! The Wesley Chapel Theater Group (WCTG) is proud to present its “One-Act (Play) Festival” on Saturday & Sunday, July 12-13, 2 p.m., both days. The Festival will be a vibrant celebration of local talent that brings original one-act plays to life on stage. 

This exciting event showcases the power of community-driven art, featuring short plays that have been written and will be directed and performed entirely by local artists. From heartfelt dramas to witty comedies, each one-act play promises a unique and captivating experience, all within a single afternoon. 

The Festival performances will be held at the Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center (12118 Lake Blanche Dr., in nearby Odessa). The doors will open at 1:40 p.m. both days, so arrive early to grab your seat and settle in for a memorable ride through the imaginations of our hometown playwrights. 

“This festival is all about celebrating the incredible talent we have right here in our own backyard,” says WCTG Board member Samantha Grahn. “We’re giving local voices the spotlight and inviting the community to come together to laugh, feel and be inspired.” 

Whether you’re a seasoned theatergoer or new to the stage, this is the perfect opportunity to support local artists, enjoy original performances and be part of something truly special. Gather your friends, grab your tickets and get ready to be swept away by the magic of live theater! 

Featured Plays At WCTG’s ‘One-Act Festival’: 

“A Rainy Night in Hollywood,” by Tom Erb 

“ClichĂ©,” by Keith Whalen 

“Three Years,” by WCTG’s Samantha Sacasa 

“Full Frontal Transparency,” by Jenna Jane 

“The Oatmeal,” by Robert Grogan 

“Love, Lost (Rings) & What We Wore,” by Jessica Burchfield 

Tickets to WCTG’s “One-Act Festival” cost just $25 and can be purchased online at Simpletix.com/e/wctg-presents-one-act-festival-2025-tickets-218617. For more information, follow “Wesley Chapel Theater Group” on social media, visit WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org. — Submitted to the Neighborhood News 

The Secret Lounge Is Open In Freedom Plaza!

Located at 30120 S.R. 54 in the Freedom Plaza, between Bosco’s and the Smoke Shop, is The Secret Lounge, which is owned by Ahmed, who also owns the Smoke Shop. Former Bosco’s pizza guy Johnny (left) is among those serving up Halal hamburgers, cheeseburgers and hot dogs at The Secret Lounge, as well as French fries, onion rings, empanadas and tasty San Bernardo ice cream, all at great prices! For more info, call (813) 803-3463. — GN 

BawarcHi Biryani Indian Cuisine Opens In Former Taco Son Location!

Two new restaurants have recently opened in the Freedom Plaza. In the former location of Taco Son, at 30056 S.R. 54, is BawarcHi Biryani Indian Cuisine. Naresh, one of the partners in the Wesley Chapel location, says that BawarcHi is a chain with more than 60 locations, including Brandon, Orlando, Miami and Sanford, FL. 

Photographer Charmaine George and I were impressed with the attractive décor and especially, the truly excellent Southern Indian (and Indo-Chinese) cuisine we sampled on our first visit, including the Karivepaku veggie dumplings in a delicate sauce flavored with curry leaves (left), plus traditional favorites like butter naan bread, butter chicken and my favorite, the noodles with chicken and chicken biryani. The prices are very fair and the food is excellent. For more info, call (813) 991-9099 or visit BawarchiWesleyChapel.com. 

Lexington Oaks Crossings & Patel Brothers To Start Development On WC Blvd. 

Even though I haven’t yet received an update on what is coming to The Hub at Lexington retail/restaurant development — which is coming along nicely, by the way — in front of the Sentosa Lexington Oaks apartments on Wesley Chapel Blvd., I was able to speak with the property owners/developers of two adjacent parcels to the south/west of The Hub. 

The sign closest to The Hub (top photo) proclaims that Patel Brothers Indian Grocery Store — the largest such chain in the U.S., with more than 50 stores in 20 U.S. states, including four in Florida (with a location at 1251 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa being the closest to us) — is coming. 

The sign also says that the Patel Brothers chain — which was founded in Chicago in 1974 — is celebrating its 50th anniversary of providing authentic Indian produce, spices, beverages, snacks and South Asian sweets, as well as prepared Indian foods for the nearly 5 million Asian-Indian diaspora living in our country (nearly a quarter of a million of which live in the Sunshine State). 

I was told by a spokesperson for Patel Brothers that the store should be breaking ground “probably by the end of this year,” but wouldn’t elaborate further about the new location’s size or when it is expected to open. 

Lexington Oaks Crossings 

I was able to get some additional information about the sign a little further to the south/ west on Wesley Chapel Blvd. (above) from David Nekouee, the CEO of Capital Design & Engineering, which is actually planning two similarly-sized retail strip centers next to Patel Brothers. 

The first 15,000-sq.-ft. center, which Nekouee says could break ground as early as the week this issue arrives in your mailbox, is almost fully leased but may have at least one of the six spaces shown on the sign (above) still available. 

Although Nekouee didn’t officially confirm who those tenants will be, he said the right end cap of the plaza will be a “national coffee shop.” There also will be a pizza place (believed to be a Jets Pizza), a sandwich shop (shown on the sign as a Firehouse Subs), a smoothie shop (shown on the sign as a Tropical Smoothie CafĂ©), a pet hospital and a medical or dental office. 

For more information about Lexington Oaks Commons, call David Nekouee at (770) 833-4507. — GN