PeppaJak Is Already Open In Former Bacon Boss HQ Spot At The KRATEs 

We were saddened to see that The Bacon Boss HQ, one of the original — and most popular — restaurants to open in the KRATE at The Grove container park (at 5888 Grand Oro Ln., #112), had closed on March 30. 

In their Mar. 20 announcement on the Best of Wesley Chapel Facebook page, however, owners Christy and Joshua Norland did say that the Bacon Boss food truck will “continue to grow” and be available and that a new chicken concept food truck called Cluckology (photo left) also is in the planning stages, so at least the delicious burgers, hot dogs, fries, tots, chicken sandwiches and mac & cheese options so many of us have come to know and love will still be available now that the Bacon Boss HQ has closed. 

I did visit The Bacon Boss HQ one last time a few minutes before it opened on the day before it closed and there already was a family and two other people, all of whom said they were “fans” who were already waiting to order. 

At our press time, however, PeppaJak, a similar burger-&-chicken concept, was starting its soft opening in the former Bacon Boss space. 

Owned by my new friends Alex and Ashley, PeppaJak is the “Jak of All Kravz,” and based on my first visit, I think it’s an accurate description! 

Alex and Ashley also own an extremely popular PeppaJak location in Riverview, which also features “kravz” like Philly cheesesteaks, and steak Philly and Southwest chicken eggrolls. 

But, while not all of those menu items are available (at least, not yet) at the PeppaJak KRATE, the cheeseburger shown above was thick and juicy and the skin-on fries were crispy and not over-seasoned. Alex then gave me a small sample of two of the menu items that are available at the new location — crispy and delicious mac-&-cheese bites and some super-yummy boneless chicken tenders. I told Alex I don’t really do spicy (and they are available plain), but I really liked the sweet-&-spicy sauce he suggested! 

Alex says a new online ordering system should be available by the time this issue hits your mailbox, “and we’ll also have a new phone number for this location by then, too!” 

For more info about The Bacon Boss and Cluckology, visit “The Bacon Boss” on Facebook or call (813) 922-9290. For PeppaJak, visit PeppaJak.com or call (813) 374-5846. — GN