Go Check Out The New Hummus Republic In The Hub At Lexington!

If you like both Mediterranean cuisine and crafting your own Chipotle-style bowls and wraps, you now have two options in the Wesley Chapel area. We told you online a few weeks ago that the first of two Wesley Chapel-area CAVA locations had opened in the former location of MOD Pizza on the south side of S.R. 56, but the new Hummus Republic also is now open at 26962 Halter Loop (off Wesley Chapel Blvd.), in the still-developing The Hub at Lexington plaza. 

The Neighborhood News crew has now sampled nearly the entire menu at Hummus Republic, a California-based company founded in 2012 by Nir Giat which features tasty bowls, pita and wrap sandwiches, spicy crispy chicken and veggie “burgers” and more. There literally are so many base, protein, veggie and topping options that you never have to have the same meal twice! 

Owners Annu (at left in top photo, with shift lead Milaika Perez) and her husband Ashish (Ash) Kumar opened their Hummus Republic franchise (now one of 50+ locations in 17 states) on July 20 and Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I have already dined there three times. 

Jannah’s favorites are the bowls (right). She has gotten a mix of the available bases both times, including kale, spinach and a “Farmers Mix” of different leafy veggies. You also can choose Mediterranean couscous, warm garbanzo beans (aka chick peas) and my favorite base, tasty yellow rice, to start off any bowl or sandwich. 

Jannah also has tried both the lemon chicken and crispy chicken for her bowls, although you also can choose chicken shawarma or beef & lamb gyro meat, falafel (ground, fried spiced chickpeas), shitake mushroom shawarma or a “Street Mix” of fried onions, olives and jalapeños as your protein. You can choose up to two of these proteins for your bowl, pita or wrap, but I suggest getting one at a time because the portions of proteins aren’t particularly large. 

You can even add up to three different types of hummus and other spreads and I will say that I have enjoyed the traditional and roasted eggplant hummus options the most, but there’s also harissa (which adds fiery and smoky chili paste to the traditional blend of mashed chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil) and Kalamata olive hummus and a “Zesty Feta” spread that Annu says has been most of her early customers’ favorite, even though it costs $1.25 extra to add it to your creation. 

There are 16 available toppings and you can add an unlimited number of them. These include chopped tomatoes, cucumbers and red onion toppings, as well as red or white cabbage, beets, corn, hot cherry peppers, artichoke hearts, fried eggplant, fried jalapeños and Jannah’s favorites — the crumbled feta and unique chickpea croutons. (Note-Some of these do come with a $0.50 upcharge). You also can add a side of two dolmades (grape leaves stuffed with rice, herbs & spices) for $1 more. 

There also are six different dressings and you can add any two of them without an upcharge. My favorites so far are the creamy tzatziki and garlic jalapeño tahini, but there also are two different hot sauces, plus traditional tahini and a lemon & olive oil sauce. 

I have tried both a pita (above right) and a wrap and I am definitely partial to the beef & lamb gyro meat, although I did also enjoy the delicately spiced chicken shawarma. 

Charmaine’s favorite so far has been the chicken burger (left), which comes with sliced tomatoes, white cabbage, Street Mix, tahini and Moroccan hot sauce. There’s also a Greek (beef & lamb gyro) sandwich and the “Earth Burger,” which is made with a crispy falafel patty. All of these sandwiches are served with your choice of waffle-style sweet potato fries or Jannah’s favorite — the pita chips. 

Hummus Republic also has specials like pita nachos, pita chips & hummus and “street style” sweet potato fries, as well as a side of up to five hummuses and spreads. Beverages include a chocolatey tahini shake blended with vanilla ice cream and almond milk, plus a variety of lemonade flavors, including pomegranate, ginger turmeric and strawberry lychee and more. 

To place an order or for more info, visit TheHummusRepublic.com or call (813) 388- 2998 and please tell Annu and her friendly crew that Gary from the Neighborhood News sent you! — GN, all photos by Charmaine George 

Hub At Lexington Update — Lex Nails, Cinnaholic & Bonchon To Open In May

If you still think The Hub at Lexington will be just like every other development in Wesley Chapel, you haven’t been paying enough attention to what’s already happening at this 40,000-sq.- ft., six-building center that is being developed by Courtney Bissett-Hayes and her brother Paul Bissett of Center Connect Development. 

With several of the first businesses now open at The Hub at Lexington and more opening this month (and others soon), you and your family will soon be able to “Sip, Savor and Socialize” at more than a dozen restaurants and retail shops. There will be a number of events — including a Grand Opening sometime in September of this year — some with live music, centered around The Hub at Lexington’s shade-providing artificial trees. 

So, what’s open now and what’s coming soon to The Hub? Here’s a quick rundown: 

Now Open! 

Headlines Barber Shop — The first tenant to actually open its doors (at 27053 Halter Loop) at The Hub was Headlines Barber Shop, a local chain which has about a dozen Tampa Bay-area locations (and 7,000+ 5-star reviews). 

Favian, the barber in the right photo on this page, is clearly a popular guy, as our Facebook post about the attractive-looking barbershop back on Mar. 19 had received more than 11,500 views by our press time. Fellow barbers Luis, Max and Martha also are available for bookings at Headlines’ Hub at Lexington location. For more info, call (813) 428-5034 or visit HeadlinesBarbersTampaBay.com! 

La Creacion Bistro — The first restaurant to open at The Hub.

The Clubhouse Golf Simulator — Only open for a couple of weeks at our press time, The Clubhouse (above) is owned by Wesley Chapel High grads (and brothers) Mark and Tyler Ward. Tyler says that he and Mark have been thrilled with the response to their new business so far, as more than 200 people had already come in to give it a try and several of those have already signed up for memberships. 

The Clubhouse, which allows you to “play” everything from Augusta National (home of The Masters) to local courses like Heritage Isles Country Club (the course in the photo), also will have local PGA teaching pros available to provide lessons. “Plus, it’s better than playing four hours in this Florida heat,” Mark says. 

In addition, although The Clubhouse doesn’t yet have its beer and wine license, Tyler says it is “coming very soon” and there also are snacks and soft drinks available for purchase, “and you can bring your own beer and even food in the meantime.” For more info, call (813) 904-2867 or visit Clubhouse.golf. 

Pet Wants — Pet Wants, which just opened at our press time, promises “Nutrition You Can Trust,” with fresh dog and cat food and treats, bones and natural chews, pet health and wellness products (like Nootie ear and dental wipes), toys and Pet Wants-created “Natural Spaw” products and more. The Hub Pet Wants franchise owner Nickole Davis, who previously owned All Good Things Gifts in the KRATEs, says that the chain is around 20 years old and today has about 100 locations, including either four or five in Florida. 

“It’s a really cool, fun place to shop for and with your pets,” Nickole says. “Come check us out!” For more info, call (813) 586-1440 or visit PetWantsWesleyChapel.com. 

Opening In May! 

Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken — (below) 

Cinnaholic Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls — This gourmet cinnamon bun chain (photo, left), which was founded in Berkeley, CA, in 2010, today has 85 locations in 26 U.S. states (four in Florida, including a location on S. Howard Ave. in Tampa) and could open around the same time as Bonchon. With 20 frosting flavors and lots of unique toppings, you can design your own Cinnaholic creation or choose from one of the chain’s bes-sellers, like “Cookie Monster” and “Campfire S’Mores.” For more info, visit Cinnaholic.com. 

Lexington Nail Lab — Although it had the first sign up (right) at The Hub several months ago, this upscale nail salon is finally getting ready to open (at 27105 Halter Lp., next to Bonchon) this month. According to its website, Lexington Nail Lab will offer “beautiful, long-lasting nails and a relaxing salon experience,” plus a personalized attention, professional service, a modern setting, cleanliness and hygiene. For more info, visit LexingtonNailLab.com or call (352) 691-6073. 

Still To Come! 

Saigon Pho Restaurant — Although the sign (left) only saying “Vietnamese Restaurant,” we spoke with the owners of the successful (and tasty!) Banh Mi restaurant at The Hub at Bexley, who confirmed both the name and that they also own the upcoming Saigon Pho, which they hope will open by sometime in July. 

And…Urban Crunch Creamery Café, Brew Bar Self Pour, Island Grill, Farmer’s Milk Gourmet Bakery, The Monks Desi-Chinese Indian Fusion Cuisine & Suncoast Charging. 

Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken To Open May 20!

Whether you already love crunchy Korean fried chicken or you’ve never tried it before, you have to try Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken when it opens at The Hub on Wednesday, May 20. 

I stopped in at the Bonchon location on E. Fletcher Ave., where owner and general manager Sam Takla was interviewing prospective employees for both stores and Sam was so excited that we were giving him some publicity that he not only refunded what I had already paid for two items but also brought out several other dishes, so photographer Charmaine George and I “would know just how delicious our food is.” 

He’s right. Even though I always order any kind of fried chicken without sauce on it (above), there are six different sauces (from Korean BBQ to spicy Yangnyeom) to choose from and our six-piece combo (four wings and two jumbo drumsticks) came with our choice of side. We chose cole slaw, but there’s also pickled radish. 

The chicken was crispy and juicy, the pork gyoza dumplings were excellent, too, and the Bulgogi beef bowl (left), sautéed with mushrooms, scallions, onions and sesame seeds, had just the right hint of sweetness. Sam also turned us onto the Japchae (glass noodles, red bell pepper, onions, spinach, mushrooms and bulgogi stir fried with soy garlic sauce), which Charmaine said was her favorite dish, plus a unique Mopo “corn dog,” which is actually mozzarella cheese wrapped in crispy breading, potato cubes and soy garlic on a stick, but no hot dog. We both loved the two-piece Korean donuts and their sweet cream dipping sauce. There are many more items on the menu I can’t wait to try, too! 

For more info, visit Bonchon.com. — GN

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 Café), a pet hospital and a medical or dental office. 

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