3 Natives Opens At The Shops At Wiregrass! 

After sampling two of his tasty sandwiches on my first visit, I’m hopeful that franchise owner/operator Rick Orosco can succeed with his 3 Natives franchise in a location in The Shops at Wiregrass where multiple other similar concepts have failed — next to Macy’s (between Fabletics and Zales Jewelers), at 28211 Paseo Dr. 

3 Natives, started in 2013 by three Florida natives in Tequesta (on the east coast of South Florida, near Jupiter Inlet), although only Tequesta local Anthony Bambino is credited as the founder on 3Natives.com. 

According to the website, Bambino traveled throughout Southern California as a salesperson and “saw little juice bars all over the place. He wanted to bring that type of healthy and quick food (and beverages) to South Florida to see if it would work.” 

The website also notes that, “What started out as a 900-sq.-ft. juice bar has quickly grown into 26+ stores in Florida and Oklahoma,” with more to come. 

Orosco says that his is the first 3 Natives franchise in the Tampa Bay area, with the closest stores in Lakewood Ranch and Orlando. He also says that the simple 3 Natives menu — featuring fresh juices and smoothies, açai bowls, sandwiches and salads has already been “very well received” by his growing list of customers in just a few weeks of being open. 

Rick loves giving away samples of those juices — “Lean n’ Green,” “The Beet” and “Easy Greens”(left photo) — to any and all newcomers, “because we press and bottle them right here in the store.” I’ve never been a veggie-based juice guy, but I did enjoy the sweetest of the three options (Lean n’ Green) after sampling all of them. 

I’ve yet to try the smoothies, salads or açai bowls, but I will say that I enjoyed both the tuna melt on tasty multigrain bread and especially, the hot, pressed Hercules wrap (with chicken breast, spinach, purple cabbage, pico, croutons, parmesan & Caesar dressing) — very yummy and obviously super fresh, too. 

For more info, visit 3Natives.com, call (813) 838-6491 or stop in and tell Rick I sent you! —GN 

Updates On Steak N Shake, The Alley, 3 Natives & Bosphorous

Although some folks online will try to convince you that it’s going to be a different restaurant, I can say with full confidence that the building directly west (southwest?) of The Palms Car Wash will indeed be a Steak ‘n Shake. 

Owner Todd Webb and general manager Jason Good were hoping to have the new restaurant open at 5542 Post Oak Blvd. (off Wesley Chapel Blvd.) by the time this issue reached your mailbox, but Todd says he is now hoping to open sometime around the first or second week of September. 

“It’s definitely been tough,” he says. “But we are confident we will get this place done and open, hopefully soon!”

Todd, who also owns the adjacent Palms Car Wash (5550 Post Oak Blvd.), says that in addition to Grand Opening specials at Steak ‘n Shake, he plans to do cross-promotions between the two businesses.

(L.-r.) General manager Jason Good and owner Todd Webb’s sons Wyatt and J.R. can’t wait until the Wesley Chapel Steak ‘n Shake opens on Post Oak Blvd. 

“We do full detailing at The Palms Car Wash,” he says, “so while your car is being detailed, you can go next door and enjoy a Steak & Shake burger, those famous fries and a milk shake. And, we will have promotions like buy a car wash membership, get a coupon for Steak ‘n Shake.”

He says he and Jason also plan to do kids specials on Thursdays afternoons at Steak ‘n Shake.

“On Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., we’ll have a balloon artist and face painter. We’ll also do a Facebook Live from Steak ‘n Shake every week, with drawings for about 10 prizes, like a $30 gift certificate for The Palms for a free Car Wash Club, free value meals at the restaurant and more.”

Todd, who has owned more than 30 different businesses, says he is as excited about Steak ‘n Shake as he has ever been about any previous business. 

“I just want to get it open,” he says. 

For more information about The Palms Car Wash, go get your car washed or visit ThePalmsCarWash.com. Until the Wesley Chapel location actually opens, visit the Steak ‘n Shake at 17509 N. Palms Village Pl. in New Tampa or SteaknShake.com.

New Food & Beverages At The Mall

If you’ve been hoping for some new food and beverage options to open in our area, the Shops at Wiregrass is getting ready to welcome two new places to replace two that closed.

The first is The Alley Tea • Café • Life (photo right) at 28211 Paseo Dr., Suite 180, in the former location of PhoLicious. But, where PhoLicious was more of a fast casual restaurant with Vietnamese cuisine, The Alley is strictly a place for a variety of boba (bubble) tea drinks (although some locations of the 17-store West Coast-based chain do list desserts on their menu, too). The Alley is expected to open on or around Aug. 15. 

Speaking of beverages, the former location of Clean Juice (and a previous juice/smoothie place) at 28216 Paseo Dr., Suite 170, in the mall is getting ready to reopen as 3 Natives Açai & Juicery, which is a Florida-based chain with more than 30 current locations. What appears to be promising about 3 Natives is that in addition to the usual pressed juices and açai bowls, the online menu also includes nice-looking wrap and pressed sandwiches, as well as salads (photo below). 

According to 3Natives.com: “We source the finest and freshest ingredients possible for all of our menu items…Whether you’re on a lunch break, looking for a quick snack, or just in the mood for sweet and healthy — we’ve got you. Our diverse, fresh and extremely delicious menu items are made to order and hand-crafted to satisfy.” 

3 Natives also is expected to open later this month but also is looking for members to join the team.

There’s a sign out in front of the place with a QR code to scan if you’re interested.

But of course, the new restaurant many people are excited about is Bosphorous, the Turkish cuisine eatery with six existing locations (including one  expected to open soon at 714 S. Howard Ave. in Tampa). Unfortunately, according to a spokesperson for the mall, Bosphorous isn’t likely to open much before the end of this year.

We also hope to have an announcement about the replacement for Irish 31 soon.— GN