Business Briefs — Shanks Indoor Golf, O’Reilly Auto Parts & Ribbon Cuttings 

Research by Joel Provenzano 

The area along Wesley Chapel Blvd. in front of the Lexington Oaks development is suddenly alive with new construction. 

We previously reported about the nearly completed Sentosa Lexington apartments, located south of Lexington (Lex) Oaks Blvd., as well as about a new Moe’s SW Grill-anchored retail/office plaza north of Lexington Oaks Blvd. on Wesley Chapel (WC) Blvd. 

Now, however, although construction has not yet begun, The Hub at Lexington is getting ready to begin vertical construction in front of Sonesta by Nov. 1. 

And, although The Hub leasing agent Courtney Bissett-Hayes didn’t confirm it for us, Shanks Indoor Golf & Bar (IGB) reported on its Facebook page that it is “Coming Soon to Wesley Chapel — Nov./Dec. 2024.” 

The Facebook announcement from Sept. 29 says, “Shanks IGB is an indoor facility that offers a realistic golfing experience through the use of advanced technology. Shanks IGB features multiple simulators equipped with high-definition screens, sensors, and computer software that accurately recreate the look and feel of many renowned golf courses. Players can use their own clubs and hit real golf balls into the screen, which tracks the ball’s trajectory and provides instant feedback on distance, accuracy, and shot data. Shanks IGB will provide a comfortable environment with amenities like lounge areas, refreshments, apparel and equipment, DIY Maintenance Stations, and professional instruction, allowing golf enthusiasts to play, practice, and improve their game regardless of weather conditions or time of day.” 

Our editorial researcher Joel Provenzano was able to locate a Pasco County development record stating that, “The project is proposing the development of a 40,000-sq.-ft. retail/restaurant center at the SW corner of WC Blvd. and Lex Oaks Blvd. This project is a part of the Lexington Oaks Plaza MPUD.” The property owner is listed as Specialty Restaurants Corp. in Costa Mesa, CA, and the applicant on the development request is Landis Evans + Partners in Lutz. For more information, visit ShanksIndoorGolfBar.com

O’Reilly Auto Parts Isn’t Shanks 

A while before I heard about Shanks, Jannah and I had been seeing a new building under construction at the southern end of the Sentosa apartments and wondered what it was, so I had Joel check it out and he found that the building (right photo) — which seemed to have no windows so we assumed it wasn’t a restaurant — and Joel found that it was an O’Reilly Auto Parts store, not Shanks (or another restaurant), as I had originally hoped. 

We had no further information about the building at our press time, as Joel couldn’t find any actual plans for the nearly-completed store, other than an application by One Oak Development, LLC, of Clearwater. The property owner also is Specialty Restaurants Corp. 

Recent NTBC Ribbon-Cutting Events 

In addition to the Spinner Law Firm and Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel events in conjunction with the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC), we attended a couple of other recent ribbon cuttings events where the NTBC brought its scissors. 

The first, on Oct. 17 was for Shells Florida Realty (left photo) and Broker/owner Michele Curtin, who has her office at SOAR Co-Working in Tampa Palms. Although she has worked for other real estate companies before, Michele said she named her own company “Shells” because people never spell her first name correctly, so she just calls herself “Shell.” The long-time New Tampa resident says she specializes in residential properties in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, but can help home buyers and sellers anywhere in Florida. 

For more information, call or text Michele at (813) 751-1211 or visit ShellSellsFloridaHomes.com

Then, on Oct. 19, business consultant Jonathan McKeen-Chaff held a ribbon cutting for his Prepense Business Solutions at the Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC)’s SmartStart location at The Grove. 

Jonathan used his joint NTBC and Dade City Chamber ribbon-cutting event (above) to present Prepense’s “Cash Flow River: Our Philosophy of Marketing.” For more info about Prepense Marketing, call Jonathan at (352) 428-6067 or visit PrepenseSolutions.com

For more info about the NTBC, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com or call (813) 994-8534.